Dynamic normalization of data for perfusion comparison and quantification

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-10932739-B2
Application number	US-201214004195-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Feb 28, 2012
Priority date	Mar 18, 2011
Publication date	Mar 2, 2021
Grant date	Mar 2, 2021

Abstract

The invention relates to x-ray imaging technology as well as image post-processing. Particularly, the present invention relates to post-processing of perfusion image data acquired by an x-ray imaging apparatus by absolutely or relatively normalizing perfusion image data to allow a preferred comparison of the image data, both with regard to different acquisitions as well as different patients. To allow normalization of perfusion image data, it may be desirable to know the amount of contrast agent injected, which remains in a coronary. Subsequently, image parameters may be adapted or normalized based on the known amount of contrast agent within the coronary for normalization of perfusion image data. To obtain a precise amount of injected contrast agent, the injected volume of contrast agent flowing through a defined region or section of a vessel may be estimated. Said injected volume of contrast agent may thus be deduced from the estimation of the total volume flow at this location. Accordingly, a method ( 10 ) is provided for dynamic normalization of data for perfusion comparison and quantification, comprising the steps of determining ( 20 ) a total volume flow or an amount of a contrast agent in a blood vessel and normalizing ( 34 ) perfusion data based on the determined total volume flow or amount of contrast agent.

First claim

The invention claimed is:

1. An apparatus configured for perfusion assessment, comprising:
a contrast agent injection device for injecting contrast agent in a blood vessel;
a medical imaging device that acquires image data; and
a processing device configured to:
determine an integrated volume of contrast agent flowing through a defined section of blood vessel, wherein the integrated volume of contrast agent is determined by integrating volume flow in said defined section of said blood vessel over time as a function of a total volume flow in said defined section of said blood vessel and an average contrast observed over said defined section of said blood vessel, and wherein the total volume flow is determined by a locally arranged flowmeter within a main collector; and
normalize the image data based on the determined integrated volume of contrast agent.

2. The apparatus of claim 1 , further comprising
a visualization element;
and configured for, via said visualization element, visually providing, to a user, at least one of first normalized perfusion x-ray image data of a first image acquisition and second normalized perfusion x-ray image data of a second image acquisition.

3. The apparatus of claim 1 , further comprising
an x-ray source, and
an x-ray detector,
wherein an object, having a region of interest, is arrangeable between the x-ray source and the x-ray detector, and
wherein the x-ray source and the x-ray detector are operatively coupled for acquisition of said perfusion data to be normalized, said perfusion data to be normalized being perfusion x-ray image data of said region of interest.

4. The apparatus of claim 1 , said blood vessel being a coronary artery.

5. The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the normalizing is dynamically performed.

6. The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein said assessment operates on said blood vessel, said blood vessel has a region into which said contrast agent is injected, said injecting is performed in an injection direction, the derived total volume flow is in said direction, and, with said injection device being disposed such that backflow of the injected contrast agent occurs in said blood vessel in a direction opposite to said injection direction, said determining of said amount entails determining a volume flow of the injected contrast agent over a defined cross-section of said region that is beyond a point at which said backflow occurs.

7. A method for dynamic normalization of image data for perfusion comparison and quantification, comprising the steps of:
determining an integrated volume of contrast agent flowing through a defined section of blood vessel, wherein the integrated volume of contrast agent is determined by integrating volume flow in said defined section of said blood vessel over time as a function of a total volume flow in said defined section of said blood vessel and an average contrast amount observed over the defined section of said blood vessel; and wherein the total volume flow is determined by a locally arranged flowmeter within a main collector and,
normalizing the image data based on the determined integrated volume of contrast agent.

8. The method according to claim 7 , wherein the total volume flow is determined by estimating a total fluid flow in x-ray image information at the defined section of the blood vessel.

9. The method according to claim 7 ,
wherein at least one of:
a) an absolute integrated volume of contrast agent Q I (t) is determined by the equation

Q
l

⁡

(
t
)

=

∫

t
0

t

⁢

q
l

⁡

(
t
)

⁢

⁢
dt

=

1
α

·

∫

t
0

t

⁢

q
T

⁡

(
t
)

·

C
⁡

(
t
)

⁢

⁢
dt

and;
b) a relative integrated volume of contrast agent Q′ I (t) is determined by the equation

Q
I
′

⁡

(
t
)

=

∫

t
0

t

⁢

q
T
′

⁡

(
t
)

·

C
⁡

(
t
)

⁢
dt

wherein q I (t) corresponds to an absolute volume flow of contrast agent at a defined section of the blood vessel;
wherein q T (t) corresponds to an absolute total volume flow at the defined section of the blood vessel; and
wherein q′ T (t) corresponds to a relative volume flow of contrast agent at the defined section of the blood vessel;
wherein C(t) corresponds to observed average contrast over the defined section; and
wh

Assignees

• Florent Raoul
• Dufour Cecile
• Auvray Vincent
• Bonnefous Odile
• Koninklijke Philips Nv

Inventors

• Florent Raoul
• Dufour Cecile
• Auvray Vincent
• Bonnefous Odile

Classifications

• A61B6/464

  involving a plurality of displays · CPC title

• A61B6/507

  for determination of haemodynamic parameters, e.g. perfusion CT · CPC title

• A61B6/5235

  combining images from the same or different ionising radiation imaging techniques, e.g. PET and CT · CPC title

• A61B6/583

  using calibration phantoms · CPC title

• A61B6/503

  for diagnosis of the heart · CPC title