Method for operating a medical imaging device and a medical imaging device

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-10706546-B2
Application number	US-201916442725-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Jun 17, 2019
Priority date	Jun 26, 2018
Publication date	Jul 7, 2020
Grant date	Jul 7, 2020

Abstract

A method is provided for operating a medical imaging device when performing an imaging examination. In order to allow an improved preparation of images in the context of such an imaging examination, the method includes: providing an original image of a body region; recording an updated image of the body region; and generating a three-dimensional subsequent image from the original image and from the updated image using a previously trained artificial neural network.

First claim

The invention claimed is:

1. A method for operating a medical imaging device when performing an imaging examination, the method comprising:
providing an original image of a body region;
recording an updated image of the body region; and
generating a three-dimensional subsequent image from the original image and the updated image using a previously trained artificial neural network.

2. The method of claim 1 , wherein the original image is a three-dimensional original image of the body region.

3. The method of claim 1 , wherein the updated image represents the body region at a later time than the original image.

4. The method of claim 1 , wherein the original image is generated in a context of computed tomography, and
wherein the recording of the updated image uses a mobile X-ray device,
wherein the mobile X-ray device is a C-arm X-ray device.

5. The method of claim 1 , wherein, in the generation of the three-dimensional subsequent image, the original image of the body region is at least partly updated using the updated image.

6. The method of claim 1 , wherein the original image and the updated image characterize the body region during different phases of a same surgical intervention.

7. The method of claim 6 , wherein the artificial neural network is trained specifically in one phase of the different phases.

8. The method of claim 1 , wherein a structural change in the body region, which has occurred between the original image and the updated image, is determined and accounted for in the generation of the three-dimensional subsequent image.

9. The method of claim 8 , wherein a change in position of a bone fragment and/or of a medical object is determined in the body region as the structural change.

10. The method of claim 9 , wherein, to account for the structural change, the change in position of the bone fragment and/or of the medical object is determined and is accounted for by moving a representation of the bone fragment or the medical object in the original image.

11. The method of claim 1 , wherein a plurality of original images is provided and/or a plurality of updated images is recorded, and
wherein the three-dimensional subsequent image is generated from the plurality of original images and/or the plurality of updated images.

12. The method of claim 1 , wherein the artificial neural network is at least partly trained using test images, and
wherein the test images comprise updated images of bone fractures from earlier imaging examinations and/or simulated updated images generated using a three-dimensional representation of a bone fracture.

13. The method of claim 1 , wherein the artificial neural network is trained specifically in the body region that is to be examined.

14. A method for operating a medical imaging device when performing an imaging examination, the method comprising:
providing an original image of a body region;
recording an updated image of the body region; and
iteratively generating a three-dimensional subsequent image from the original image and the updated image using a previously trained artificial neural network,
wherein, in an iterative generation, the three-dimensional subsequent image is used as a new original image and a new three-dimensional subsequent image is generated together with a new updated image.

15. A medical imaging device for performing an imaging examination, the medical imaging device comprising:
a providing unit configured to prepare an original image of a body region;
an imaging unit configured to record an updated image of the body region; and
a trained artificial neural network configured to generate a three-dimensional subsequent image from the original image and the updated image.

Assignees

• Siemens Healthcare Gmbh

Inventors

• Gemmel Alexander
• Kleinszig Gerhard
• Kreher Björn
• Kunze Holger
• Magaraggia Jessica
• Schneider Stefan
• Weiten Markus

Classifications

• G06T12/30

  Image post-processing, e.g. metal artefact correction · CPC title

• A61B5/055

  involving electronic [EMR] or nuclear [NMR] magnetic resonance, e.g. magnetic resonance imaging · CPC title

• G06T2211/424

  Iterative · CPC title

• A61B6/5205 Primary

  involving processing of raw data to produce diagnostic data · CPC title

• G06T2207/30008

  Bone · CPC title