Real-Time Sinogram Analysis for Cardiac CT Scan Gating
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current cardiac CT scanning techniques face challenges in accurately timing diagnostic image acquisition due to heart and respiratory motion, requiring ECG devices and separate monitoring phases, which are time-consuming and prone to errors, especially when using contrast agents.
Innovation Solution
A method that performs a monitoring scan using different parameters to estimate the object motion phase in real-time, determining a diagnostic scan trigger based on this phase, allowing for real-time diagnostic image acquisition without the need for ECG devices or separate timing bolus scans, using sinogram analysis and machine learning models like neural networks.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Manufacturing precision
If ECG devices and separate monitoring phases are used to time diagnostic scans, then image quality is improved by minimizing motion artifacts, but examination time increases and operator burden increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent combines the monitoring scan and diagnostic scan into a single continuous acquisition process. The system performs low-dose monitoring and high-dose diagnostic scanning without interruption, using the monitoring data to trigger diagnostic acquisition at the optimal cardiac phase. This eliminates the need for separate monitoring phases and reduces total examination time while maintaining image quality.
Solution Approach 2:
The system uses the monitoring scan data itself to automatically determine the optimal timing for diagnostic acquisition. The monitoring phase provides real-time information about cardiac phase and contrast agent arrival, which the system uses to self-trigger the diagnostic scan without requiring separate ECG devices or manual intervention. This reduces operator burden and streamlines the workflow.
2Measurement precision
If ECG devices are placed on patients for cardiac phase monitoring, then scan timing accuracy is improved, but patient stress increases and procedure complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts the cardiac phase monitoring function from the separate ECG device and integrates it directly into the CT scanning system. The monitoring scan data acquired during the CT examination is used to determine cardiac phase, eliminating the need for external ECG leads and reducing procedure complexity while maintaining timing accuracy.
Solution Approach 2:
The monitoring scan serves multiple functions simultaneously: it provides low-dose imaging data for diagnostic purposes, tracks contrast agent arrival, determines cardiac phase, and triggers the high-dose diagnostic acquisition. This multi-functionality eliminates the need for separate ECG monitoring equipment and reduces overall system complexity.
3Measurement precision
If separate timing bolus scans are performed to track contrast agent arrival, then contrast timing accuracy is improved, but radiation exposure increases and time consumption increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent combines the contrast timing monitoring function with the diagnostic scan acquisition. The same monitoring scan that tracks contrast agent arrival using low-dose imaging is also used to determine cardiac phase and trigger the high-dose diagnostic acquisition. This eliminates the need for separate timing bolus scans and reduces total radiation exposure while maintaining contrast timing accuracy.
4Measurement precision
If traditional monitoring and reconstruction steps are performed repeatedly to track contrast bolus, then contrast level measurement is improved, but productivity decreases due to time consumption
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements continuous monitoring scan acquisition during the entire examination, providing uninterrupted data for contrast level tracking. Instead of performing discrete, repeated monitoring phases followed by reconstruction and analysis, the system continuously acquires low-dose monitoring data that is processed in real-time to track contrast bolus and trigger the diagnostic scan at the optimal moment, improving scan efficiency.
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 reduces patient stress, operator burden, saves time and radiation, and improves image quality by minimizing motion-related artifacts and contrast level inaccuracies, enabling precise timing of diagnostic scans directly from raw scan data.
Implementation Method 1
non-invasive imaging technologies rely on various physical principles (such as the differential transmission of X-rays through a target volume)
Data Source
AI summary
In accordance with the present disclosure, the present technique finds a diagnostic scan timing for a non-static object (e.g., a heart or other dynamic object undergoing motion) from raw scan data, as opposed to reconstructed image data. To find the scan timing, a monitoring scan of a patient's heart is performed. In the monitoring scan, the patient dose may be limited or minimized. As the projection data is acquired during such a monitoring scan, the projection data may be subjected to sinogram analysis in a concurrent or real-time manner to determine when to start (or trigger) the diagnostic scan.