Contrast agent-based vascular imaging

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-12594047-B2
Application number	US-202017779637-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Nov 4, 2020
Priority date	Nov 29, 2019
Publication date	Apr 7, 2026
Grant date	Apr 7, 2026

Abstract

Embodiments of the present invention relates to an X-ray contrast agent. The X-ray contrast agent has an X-ray absorption the change of which between at least two different X-ray photon energy levels differs from the change in X-ray absorption of calcium between the at least two different X-ray photon energy level. Embodiments of the present invention also relates to an X-ray imaging method. Embodiments of the present invention additionally relates to an image reconstruction device. Embodiments of the present invention further relates to an X-ray imaging system.

First claim

The invention claimed is:

1 . An X-ray contrast agent including,
at least one selected material having a first X-ray absorption that is different from a second X-ray absorption of calcium, to cause a visual difference on a resulting image between the X-ray contrast agent and calcium when subjected to at least two different X-ray photon energies.

2 . The X-ray contrast agent of claim 1 , wherein the X-ray absorption of the X-ray contrast agent for the at least two different X-ray photon energies is not significantly different.

3 . The X-ray contrast agent of claim 1 , wherein a spectrum of the X-ray absorption of the X-ray contrast agent is similar to a spectrum of the X-ray absorption of water or soft tissue.

4 . The X-ray contrast agent of claim 1 , wherein the at least one selected material has at least one of the following materials:
tungsten, tantalum, hafnium, or gold.

5 . An X-ray imaging method, comprising:
selecting the X-ray contrast agent of claim 1 , capturing X-ray raw data from a region of an examination object using a multi-energy recording method, the region of the examination object including the X-ray contrast agent, carrying out a material decomposition based on the X-ray raw data in relation to the X-ray contrast agent and calcium, and reconstructing at least two image datasets based on the material decomposition, the at least two image datasets including, a first image dataset representing a first image region defined by an area subjected to the X-ray contrast agent, and a second image dataset representing a second image region, the second image region including at least one calcified structure and being complementary to the first image region.

6 . The X-ray imaging method of claim 5 , further comprising:
a multi-energy imaging method including, specifying at least two different X-ray tube voltages at which a change in the X-ray absorption of the X-ray contrast agent significantly differs from calcium, capturing at least two datasets of X-ray image recordings that have been recorded with the at least two different X-ray tube voltages for acquisition of a first raw dataset and at least one second raw dataset, and carrying out the material decomposition based on the first raw dataset and the at least one second raw dataset.

7 . The X-ray imaging method of claim 5 , further comprising:
capturing X-ray raw data using a photon-counting detector in an energy-resolved manner, wherein energy thresholds of the photon-counting detector are set such that therewith, a change in the X-ray absorption of the X-ray contrast agent differs from the change in the X-ray absorption of calcium, carrying out the material decomposition based on the X-ray raw data.

8 . The X-ray imaging method of claim 5 , further comprising:
a CT angiographic imaging method.

9 . An image reconstruction facility, having:
a memory configured to store instructions; and a processor configured to execute the instructions to cause the image reconstruction facility to
ascertain at least two different X-ray photon energies at which the X-ray contrast agent of claim 1 differs significantly from a change in the X-ray absorption of calcium between the at least two different X-ray photon energies,
receive X-ray raw data from a region of an examination object which is partially flooded by the X-ray contrast agent via a multi-energy recording method,
carry out a material decomposition based on the X-ray raw data in relation to the X-ray contrast agent and calcium, and
reconstruct at least two image datasets based on the material decomposition, the at least two image datasets including,
a first image dataset representing a first image region affected by the X-ray contrast agent, and
a second image dataset representing a second image region, the second image region being complementary to the first image region.

10 . An X-ray imaging system, having the image reconstruction facility of claim 9 .

11 . The X-ray imaging system of claim 10 , having a CT angiography facility.

12 . A computer program product having a computer program, when executed by a storage facility of an X-ray imaging system, cause the X-ray imaging system to perform the method of claim 5 .

13 . A non-transitory computer-readable medium on which program portions that can be read in and executed by a computer unit are stored, is configured to cause the computer unit to perform the method of claim 5 .

14 . The X-ray contrast agent of claim 2 , wherein a spectrum of the X-ray absorption of the X-ray contrast agent is similar to a spectrum of the X-ray absorption of water or soft tissue.

15 . The X-ray contrast agent of claim 2 , wherein the at least one selected material has at least one of the following materials:
tungsten, tantalum, hafnium, or gold.

16 . The X-ray contrast agent of claim 3 , wherein the at least one selected material has at least one of the following materials:
tungsten, tantalum, hafnium, or gold.

17 . The X-ray contrast agent of claim 1 , wherein the X-ray absorption for the X-ray contrast agent for the at least two different X-ray photon energies is less than half a change in the X-ray absorption of calcium for the at least two different X-ray photon energies.

Assignees

• Siemens Healthineers Ag
• Bayer Ag

Inventors

• Flohr Thomas
• Schmidt Bernhard
• Jost Gregor
• Pietsch Hubertus

Classifications

• G06T12/00

  Tomographic reconstruction from projections · CPC title

• G06T2210/41

  Medical · CPC title

• A61K49/04

  X-ray contrast preparations · CPC title

• A61B6/5205

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

• A61B6/4241

  using energy resolving detectors, e.g. photon counting · CPC title