PET Parameter Imaging With Tracer-Aware Overlap Analysis
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing PET imaging techniques face inaccuracies due to merging overlapping regions of adjacent bed positions without considering tracer activity changes, leading to errors in parameter images, and traditional kinetic model fitting methods result in unrealistic parameter values.
Innovation Solution
Employ different analysis approaches for overlapping and non-overlapping regions in PET imaging, incorporating tracer activity changes and using bounded functions to constrain kinetic parameter fitting, ensuring accurate and physiologically valid results.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If overlapping regions from adjacent bed scans are merged into one frame for pharmacokinetic analysis, then the sensitivity in recovering edges of scanning regions is enhanced, but the accuracy of parameter images deteriorates when frame duration is long or activity concentration changes rapidly
Solution Approach 1:
The patent segments the overlapping region analysis by treating it as a separate entity from non-overlapping regions. It identifies and extracts the overlapping region from adjacent bed scans, applies dedicated framing and pharmacokinetic analysis methods specifically to this segmented region, thereby resolving the contradiction between edge recovery sensitivity and parameter accuracy.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent implements local quality by applying different analysis approaches to different regions: overlapping regions receive specialized treatment with separate framing and pharmacokinetic analysis, while non-overlapping regions use standard methods. This localized differentiation ensures optimal performance for each region type, maintaining edge sensitivity while improving parameter accuracy in overlapping areas.
2Ease of manufacture
If traditional nonlinear fitting methods are used for kinetic model parameters, then the solving process is simple, but the computed kinetic parameters may not conform to physiological properties (e.g., negative blood volume fraction)
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies preliminary anti-action by pre-defining physiological constraint boundaries before the nonlinear fitting process. It establishes lower and upper bounds for kinetic parameters based on physiological knowledge, and incorporates these constraints into the fitting algorithm to prevent unrealistic solutions, thereby maintaining both simplicity and physiological validity.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent changes the parameter space by transforming the fitting problem to work with bounded parameters. It modifies the kinetic model parameter representation to inherently satisfy physiological constraints, converting the optimization problem to operate within valid physiological ranges, thus ensuring reliable results without complicating the solving process.
Data Source
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AI summary
Embodiments of the present disclosure provide a method for parameter imaging. The method includes: obtaining two scan images of an object, wherein scanning ranges of the two scan images have an overlapping region; obtaining frame information by framing the two scan images or two sets of scan data corresponding to the two scan images, wherein the overlapping region in the two scan images corresponds to two frames; and determining metabolic information of a tracer inside the object based on the frame information.