Nuclear Medicine Scan Timing for Motion-Adaptive Acquisition
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Solution Overview
Problem
Nuclear medicine diagnosis apparatuses like PET and SPECT face issues with insufficient data acquisition due to troubles during the acquisition period, leading to degraded image quality when conventional systems fail to complete data acquisition within the set time.
Innovation Solution
A PET-CT apparatus equipped with processing circuitry that extends the acquisition period by detecting body movements or other disruptions, allowing for additional data collection through a step-and-shoot scanning scheme and a user interface to manually extend the scan duration via an extension button.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If the acquisition period is extended to compensate for patient movements or delays, then sufficient data can be acquired and image quality is improved, but the examination time is increased and productivity decreases
Solution Approach 1:
The acquisition period is made dynamic rather than fixed. The system automatically extends the acquisition period when patient movement is detected or when the current acquisition is insufficient, allowing the scan duration to adapt to actual scanning conditions. This resolves the contradiction by enabling reliable data acquisition when needed while maintaining standard throughput during normal operations.
Solution Approach 2:
The system implements feedback mechanisms by monitoring acquisition quality and patient movement in real-time. When insufficient data or movement is detected, the system automatically triggers an extension of the acquisition period. This feedback loop ensures sufficient data acquisition without manually increasing examination time for all patients, thus maintaining productivity while ensuring reliability when necessary.
2Measurement precision
If the acquisition period is extended manually via user interface, then additional count information can be collected to improve image quality, but the operation complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The system performs self-service by automatically detecting insufficient acquisition or patient movement and extending the acquisition period without requiring manual user intervention. The processing circuitry autonomously monitors scan quality and adjusts acquisition duration accordingly, eliminating the need for operators to manually extend scans and reducing operational complexity while maintaining image quality.
Solution Approach 2:
The system takes preliminary action by continuously monitoring acquisition quality during the scan and proactively extending the acquisition period before the scan is completed if insufficient data is detected. This prevents the need for repeat scans and simplifies operation by automatically handling quality assurance without requiring manual assessment or intervention.
Data Source
AI summary
A nuclear medicine diagnosis apparatus according to an embodiment includes processing circuitry. The processing circuitry is configured: to acquire nuclear medicine data by scanning an examined subject; to specify timing of a body movement of the examined subject during the acquisition of the nuclear medicine data; and to extend an acquisition period of the scan on the basis of the timing.


