Respiratory-Synchronized CT Imaging for Tumor Motion Tracking
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current CT scanning methods fail to accurately capture the full range of motion of tumors in the chest region during respiration, particularly in severely ill individuals who cannot hold full expiration or inspiration breaths, limiting the generation of comprehensive digital images.
Innovation Solution
A CT imaging system and method that scans the internal anatomy at multiple positions along an axis over at least one respiratory cycle, generating cross-sectional and 3-D digital images, and processing these to create a resultant 3-D image indicating tumor positions throughout the respiratory cycle, utilizing a respiratory monitoring device to synchronize scanning with the patient's breathing state.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Measurement precision
If patients are required to hold breath at full expiration or full inspiration to perform CT scans, then tumor location can be determined at specific respiratory states, but patients who are extremely ill and cannot stop breathing cannot provide complete respiratory phase data
Solution Approach 1:
The system automatically tracks respiratory phases using a respiratory monitor without requiring patient cooperation. The respiratory monitor continuously monitors breathing and automatically triggers scans at identified respiratory phases, allowing the system to serve itself by autonomously capturing tumor positions throughout the respiratory cycle without patient intervention.
Solution Approach 2:
Instead of requiring discrete breath-hold moments, the system performs continuous scanning throughout the respiratory cycle. The CT scanner continuously acquires data while the respiratory monitor tracks breathing, ensuring uninterrupted capture of tumor motion from inspiration through expiration, thereby providing complete respiratory phase information without relying on patient breath-holding capability.
2Loss of information
If multiple separate scans are performed at different respiratory states, then comprehensive tumor motion data can be obtained, but the procedure requires repeated breath-holding instructions and increases scan time
Solution Approach 1:
The system merges multiple scanning functions into a single continuous respiratory cycle. By synchronizing the CT scanner with the respiratory monitor, it combines breath-hold positioning with continuous scanning, capturing tumor positions at multiple respiratory phases (inspiration, mid-respiration, expiration) within one unified procedure rather than requiring multiple separate breath-hold instructions.
Solution Approach 2:
The respiratory monitor continuously tracks respiratory phases in advance, identifying optimal scanning moments before they occur. This preliminary identification of respiratory phases allows the system to prepare and execute scans at the correct moments automatically, reducing the need for repeated breath-holding instructions and minimizing overall scan time.
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
Enables the generation of detailed digital images showing tumor locations and movements within the chest region during a respiratory cycle, improving diagnostic accuracy for tumor treatment planning without requiring patients to hold specific breaths.
Implementation Method 1
Computerized tomography (CT) scanning devices have been utilized to generate digital images of an internal anatomy of a person
Implementation Method 2
A respiratory monitoring device generating a first signal indicative of a respiratory state of the person
Implementation Method 3
processing the plurality of 3-D digital images to obtain a resultant 3-D digital image indicating positions of at least a portion of the internal anatomy of the person during at least the respiratory cycle
Data Source
AI summary
A system and a method for generating a digital image indicative of an internal anatomy of a person over a respiratory cycle are provided. The method includes scanning the internal anatomy of the person at a plurality of positions along an axis to obtain scanning data, wherein the scanning at each position is performed over at least one respiratory cycle of the person. The method further includes generating a plurality of cross-sectional digital images based on the scanning data. The method further includes generating a plurality of cross-sectional digital image groups, each group comprising at least two digital images of the plurality of cross-sectional digital images wherein each of the two digital images indicate the internal anatomy at a substantially similar respiratory state. The method further includes generating a plurality of 3-D digital images, wherein each digital image of the plurality of 3-D digital images is determined from a corresponding one of the plurality of cross-sectional digital image groups. Finally, the method includes processing the plurality of 3-D digital images to obtain a resultant 3-D digital image indicating positions of at least a portion of the internal anatomy of the person during at least the respiratory cycle.