Sinogram Data Gating for Medical Imaging Motion Correction
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Existing PET and CT imaging systems face challenges in maintaining image quality due to physiological patient motion, leading to unfocused or faint images of moving features like lung nodules and cardiac wall features without proper correction, and the setup and calibration of external devices for respiratory gating can be complex and error-prone.
Innovation Solution
A method and system for device-less gating of sinogram data, where changes in the sinogram data corresponding to object movement are detected, and specific portions are selected to generate images, eliminating the need for external monitoring devices and reducing errors in image correction.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Measurement precision
If external devices (spirometers, bellows, ultrasonic devices, infrared camera systems) are used for respiratory gating, then physiological motion detection capability is improved, but device complexity and calibration difficulty increase
Solution Approach 1:
The imaging system uses its own acquired sinogram data to detect physiological motion, eliminating the need for external monitoring devices. The system serves itself by analyzing changes in the sinogram data stream to identify respiratory and cardiac motion patterns, thereby reducing device complexity while maintaining motion detection capability
Solution Approach 2:
The patent extracts motion information directly from the sinogram data stream without requiring separate external sensing systems. By identifying changes in the sinogram data that correspond to physiological motion, the system separates motion detection from the imaging process itself, simplifying the overall system architecture
2Reliability
If external monitoring devices are used for gating, then motion correction capability is improved, but setup and calibration time increase
Solution Approach 1:
The system performs motion detection and correction using only the acquired sinogram data, requiring no external device setup or calibration. The self-service approach eliminates the time-consuming calibration procedures associated with external monitoring devices while maintaining reliable motion correction through direct analysis of sinogram changes
Solution Approach 2:
The patent detects physiological motion patterns directly from the acquired sinogram data during the imaging process itself, without requiring preliminary setup or calibration steps. The motion detection is performed as part of the normal data acquisition workflow, eliminating separate calibration time
3Manufacturing precision
If external devices are used for respiratory gating, then image quality improvement is achieved, but error introduction in therapy planning increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent merges the motion detection function with the existing imaging system by using the same sinogram data for both image formation and motion detection. This integration eliminates the interface between separate systems that can introduce errors, ensuring consistent and reliable motion information for therapy planning while maintaining image quality through motion correction
Data Source
AI summary
A method of imaging an object using a medical imaging system is provided. The imaging method acquires a stream of sinogram data. Changes in the stream of sinogram data corresponding to movement of the object are detected. The method selects portions of the stream of sinogram data. An image of the object based on the selected portions of the sinogram data is generated.