Multi-Contrast CT Imaging for Liver Lesion Differentiation
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current CT protocols for liver imaging require multiple scans, exposing patients and operators to high radiation doses, as they need to image both the arterial and portal blood supplies to differentiate lesion types based on contrast agent dynamics.
Innovation Solution
A method using multi-phase K-Edge CT imaging with two or more contrast agents, where one agent is in the portal phase and the other in the arterial phase during a single acquisition, allowing for separation using K-Edge detection and/or iodine delineation to create partial blood volume maps of each network, reducing the need for multiple scans.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Measurement precision
If multiple scans are performed to image both arterial and portal blood supplies, then diagnostic value is improved, but radiation dose increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent combines multiple contrast agents (iodine-based and gadolinium-based) into a single CT scan acquisition, allowing simultaneous imaging of both arterial and portal blood supplies. This merging approach maintains diagnostic value by capturing all necessary blood flow phases in one scan, thereby reducing the cumulative radiation dose compared to performing separate scans for each phase.
Solution Approach 2:
The imaging method uses a dual-contrast agent approach where iodine-based contrast highlights arterial blood supply while gadolinium-based contrast highlights portal venous supply within the same scan. This multi-functional technique allows a single scan to serve multiple diagnostic purposes, eliminating the need for multiple separate scans and reducing radiation exposure.
2Measurement precision
If multiple scans are performed to evaluate different blood supply phases, then lesion differentiation is improved, but scan time increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent merges the imaging of arterial and portal venous phases into a single CT scan by using two different contrast agents with distinct temporal dynamics. The iodine-based contrast agent provides arterial phase information while the gadolinium-based contrast agent provides portal venous phase information, both captured simultaneously. This eliminates the time required to perform separate scans for each phase while maintaining accurate lesion differentiation.
Solution Approach 2:
The method involves preliminary administration of both contrast agents before the scan, with timing coordinated so that during the single acquisition window, one agent is in the arterial phase and the other is in the portal phase. This preliminary preparation enables the single scan to capture both blood supply phases without requiring sequential scanning.
3Object-affected harmful factors
If multiple contrast agents are used in a single scan, then radiation dose is reduced, but image processing complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies local quality by exploiting the different attenuation characteristics of iodine and gadolinium at specific energy levels. By using spectral CT or dual-energy techniques, the system can selectively detect and separate the signals from each contrast agent based on their unique K-edge energies. This allows the processing system to isolate and analyze each contrast agent's contribution to specific blood supply phases, managing complexity through targeted spectral analysis rather than attempting to process all data uniformly.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent uses spectral decomposition as an intermediary process that separates the mixed signals from iodine and gadolinium contrast agents. By applying material decomposition algorithms that utilize the known atomic properties of each contrast element, the system can mathematically separate their contributions and generate independent maps of arterial and portal venous blood supply, thereby managing processing complexity through a structured intermediate decomposition step.
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
This approach significantly decreases radiation exposure by allowing for the calculation of exclusive blood maps, particularly for portal-venous blood supply, enhancing diagnostic value and reducing the number of scans required for liver imaging.
Implementation Method 1
Processing said image data using K-Edge detection and/or iodine delineation to separate data associated with each contrast agents
Implementation Method 2
Performing a single acquisition of image data from at least two contrast agents into a blood vessel network
Data Source
AI summary
The invention relates to a method of Computed Tomography imaging comprising: a. Performing a single acquisition of image data from at least two contrast agents into a blood vessel network, a first contrast agent among said at least two contrast agents having been in said blood vessel network for a longer time than a second contrast agent among said at least two contrast agents, b. Processing said image data using K-Edge detection and/or iodine delineation to separate data associated with each contrast agents in order to obtain a concentration map of each contrast agent, c. Determining from said image data a first part of the blood vessel network comprising both the first contrast agent and the second contrast agent, and a second part of the blood vessel network comprising only the first contrast agent, d. Calculating a partial blood volume map of the first part of the blood vessel network based on the total amount of second contrast agent and on the concentration map of the second contrast agent, e. Calculating a partial blood volume map of the second part of the blood vessel network based on the total amount of first contrast agent, on the concentration map of the first contrast agent and on the partial blood volume map of the first part of the blood vessel network.