Record and reconstruct x-ray image data on the basis of elliptical cylinders

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-10319117-B2
Application number	US-201715497424-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Apr 26, 2017
Priority date	Apr 26, 2016
Publication date	Jun 11, 2019
Grant date	Jun 11, 2019

Abstract

A recording and reconstruction of image data of a predetermined object of an examination object is performed by an x-ray system. The x-ray system determines a number of elliptical cylinders so that the object is arranged entirely in the volumes of the cylinders. Data within each of the cylinders is recorded by the x-ray system. The image data of the object is reconstructed based on the data recorded for each of the cylinders.

First claim

The invention claimed is:

1. A method for recording and reconstructing image data of a predetermined object of an examination object by means of an x-ray system, which comprises the following steps of:
determining a number of elliptical cylinders so that the predetermined object is disposed entirely in volumes of the elliptical cylinders;
recording data within each of the elliptical cylinders by means of the x-ray system, wherein when the data within each of the elliptical cylinders is recorded for each of the elliptical cylinders, a collimator of the x-ray system is set such that a specific angle, at which x-rays are emitted from an x-ray source of the x-ray system, is selected in dependence on dimensions of a respective cylinder, and the data within the respective cylinder is recorded with the x-rays which are only emitted at the specific angle; and
reconstructing the image data of the predetermined object based on the data recorded for each of the elliptical cylinders.

2. The method according to claim 1 , which further comprises selecting the specific angle such that an x-ray beam on a first side of the specific angle radiates through a first boundary of the respective cylinder and that an x-ray beam on a second side of the specific angle radiates through a second boundary of the respective cylinder.

3. The method according to claim 1 , wherein the recording of the data within each of the elliptical cylinders for each of the elliptical cylinders further comprises the following steps:
determining a scan plane, which is at right angles to a longitudinal central axis of the respective cylinder and runs through the respective cylinder;
determining an ellipse, which lies in the scan plane and whose periphery lies in a lateral area of the respective cylinder;
determining a maximum set angle in the scan plane, at which the x-rays are emitted from the x-ray source of the x-ray system and whose two sides intersect with the periphery of the ellipse; and
recording the data within the respective cylinder, wherein the x-rays are only irradiated at the specific angle.

4. The method according to claim 1 , wherein the step of determining the number of elliptical cylinders further comprises:
subdividing the predetermined object into a number of segments;
assigning one of the elliptical cylinders to a specific segment in each case; and
adjusting the respective cylinder to dimensions of a segment assigned thereto so that the segment lies entirely within the respective cylinder and the respective cylinder has a minimal volume.

5. The method according to claim 4 , which further comprises:
forming the predetermined object such that the predetermined object has an extent in a longitudinal direction, which is larger than an extent in a width direction or than an extent in a height direction of the predetermined object; and
determining at least one point in the predetermined object, at which a central line of the predetermined object that runs substantially in the longitudinal direction has a bend which has an angle which is larger than a predetermined angle threshold value, and two of the segments end at each of the at least one point.

6. The method according to claim 1 , wherein the predetermined object includes a spinal column of the examination object.

7. The method according to claim 1 , which further comprises:
recording two overview x-ray images by means of the x-ray system; and
segmenting the predetermined object on a basis of the overview x-ray images.

8. The method according to claim 7 , which further comprises combining the reconstructed image data of the predetermined object with the two overview x-ray images.

9. An x-ray system, comprising:
a detector;
an x-ray source for emitting x-rays directed onto said detector;
a controller for controlling said x-ray source and said detector;
an image computing unit for receiving data recorded by said detector;
a collimator; and
the x-ray system being configured to record and reconstruct image data of a predetermined object of an examination object, by the x-ray system determining a number of elliptical cylinders so that the predetermined object is disposed entirely in volumes of the elliptical cylinders, by the x-ray system recording data within each of the elliptical cylinders, and based on the data recorded for each of the elliptical cylinders, by the x-ray system reconstructing the image data of the predetermined object by means of said image computing unit, wherein the x-ray system is configured, during the recording of the data within each of the elliptical cylinders for each of the elliptical cylinders, to set said collimator of the x-ray system such that a specific angle, at which x-rays are irradiated from said x-ray source, is selected in dependence on dimensions of a respective cylinder, and in order to record the data within the respective cylinder with the x-rays which are only emitted at the specific angle.

10. The x-ray system according to claim 9 , wherein the x-ray system includes a controller configured to:
determine a number of elliptical cylinders so that the predetermined object is disposed entirely in volumes of the elliptical cylinders;
record data within each of the elliptical cylinders by means of the x-ray system, wherein when the data within each of the elliptical cylinders is recorded for each of the elliptical cylinders, a collimator of the x-ray system is set such that a specific angle, at which x-rays are emitted from an x-ray source of the x-ray system, is selected in dependence on dimensions of a respective cylinder, and the data within the respective cylinder is recorded with the x-rays which are only emitted at the specific angle; and
reconstruct the image data of the predetermined object based on the data recorded for each of the elliptical cylinders.

11. A computer program loadable directly into a non-transitory memory of a programmable controller of an x-ray system, the computer program having program instruction for executing all steps of the method according to claim 1 , when the computer program is executed in a controller of the x-ray system.

12. An electronically readable non-transitory data carrier with electronically readable control information stored thereupon, said control information configuring a controller to:
determine a number of elliptical cylinders so that the predetermined object is disposed entirely in volumes of the elliptical cylinders;
record data within each of the elliptical cylinders by means of an x-ray system, wherein when the data within each of the elliptical cylinders is recorded for each of the elliptical cylinders, a collimator of the x-ray system is set such that a specific angle, at which x-rays are emitted from an x-ray source of the x-ray system, is selected in dependence on dimensions of a respective cylinder, and the data within the respective cylinder is recorded with the x-rays which are only emitted at the specific angle; and
reconstruct the image data of the predetermined object based on the data recorded for each of the elliptical cylinders.

Assignees

• Siemens Healthcare Gmbh

Inventors

• Fieselmann Andreas

Classifications

• G06T12/00 Primary

  Tomographic reconstruction from projections · CPC title

• G06T7/11

  Region-based segmentation · CPC title

• G06T2207/10116

  X-ray image · CPC title

• A61B6/022

  Stereoscopic imaging · CPC title

• G06T7/0012

  Biomedical image inspection · CPC title