Method and device for generating a low-dose x-ray image preview, imaging system and computer program product

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-2016007946-A1
Application number	US-201514795206-A
Country	US
Kind code	A1
Filing date	Jul 9, 2015
Priority date	Jul 9, 2014
Publication date	Jan 14, 2016
Grant date	—

Abstract

A method of generating a preview of at least one low-dose x-ray image includes the followings steps: obtaining an initial volumetric representation of a patient from an x-ray device; creating at least one x-ray image projection from the initial volumetric representation; injecting correlated noise into at least one of the x-ray image projections; and processing the noise-injected x-ray image projections to create at least one preview of a patient-specific low-dose x-ray for showing to a user. There are also described a device for generating at least one preview of a low-dose x-ray image, a corresponding imaging system, and a non-transitory computer readable medium.

First claim

1 . A method of generating a preview of a low-dose x-ray image, the method comprising the following steps:
obtaining an initial volumetric representation of a patient by an x-ray device; creating one or more x-ray image projections from the initial volumetric representation; injecting correlated noise into at least one of the x-ray image projections to form one or more noise-injected x-ray image projections; processing the noise-injected x-ray image projections to generate at least one preview of a patient-specific low-dose x-ray image for display to a user according to a task specific to the patient.

2 . The method according to claim 1 , wherein the initial volumetric representation is a preoperative computed tomography scan.

3 . The method according to claim 1 , which comprises causing a low-dose x-ray image preview to simulate an intraoperative cone-beam computed tomography image.

4 . The method according to claim 1 , wherein the step of creating at least one x-ray image projection based on the initial volumetric representation comprises one of more of the following: simulating tube voltage and filtration, beam hardening, detector energy response of a cone-beam computer tomograph.

5 . The method according to claim 1 , wherein the step of creating an x-ray image projection based on the initial volumetric representation comprises adding scatter to the x-ray image projection.

6 . The method according to claim 1 , wherein the step of creating an x-ray image projection based on the initial volumetric representation comprises introducing system blur into the x-ray image projection.

7 . The method according to claim 1 , wherein the step of creating an x-ray image projection based on the initial volumetric representation comprises virtually inserting an additional object into the x-ray image projection.

8 . The method according to claim 1 , wherein the step of creating an x-ray image projection based on the initial volumetric representation comprises virtually removing material from the x-ray image projection.

9 . The method according to claim 1 , wherein the correlated noise injected into an x-ray image projection represents a reduced x-ray exposure.

10 . The method according to claim 1 , which comprises presenting previews at various, differing dose levels to a user for selection of a protocol for an imaging task.

11 . The method according to claim 10 , wherein the protocol comprises a cone-beam computer tomograph protocol including system geometry, orbit, and technique acquisition parameters; reconstruction parameters; and post-processing algorithms.

12 . A device for generating at least one preview of a low-dose x-ray image, the device comprising:
a data processor and a display device in communication with said data processor, said data processor being configured to: obtain an initial volumetric representation of a patient by way of an x-ray device; create at least one x-ray image projection from the initial volumetric representation; inject correlated noise into at least one of the x-ray image projections to form at least one noise-injected x-ray image projection; process the at least one noise-injected x-ray image projection to generate at least one preview of a patient-specific low-dose x-ray image for display to a user on said display device.

13 . An imaging system for generating a preview of at least one low-dose x-ray image, the imaging system comprising:
a data processor; a display device in communication with said data processor; and an x-ray device in communication with the data processor; wherein said data processor is configured to:
obtain an initial volumetric representation of a patient;
create at least one x-ray image projection from the initial volumetric representation;
inject correlated noise into at least one of the x-ray image projections;
process the noise-injected x-ray image projections to create at least one preview of a patient-specific low-dose x-ray image;
show the at least one low-dose x-ray image preview on the display device to a user for selection of a protocol for an imaging task using said x-ray device.

14 . The imaging system according to claim 13 , wherein said x-ray device is a cone-beam computer tomograph, and the initial volumetric representation of the patient is obtained from a computer tomograph.

15 . A non-transitory computer-readable medium, comprising a computer program product for carrying out the steps of the method according to claim 1 when the computer program product is loaded into a memory and executed by a data processor of the device according to claim 12 .

Assignees

• Siemens Ag
• Univ Johns Hopkins

Inventors

• Kleinszig Gerhard
• Siewerdsen Jeffrey
• Vogt Sebastian
• Wang Adam

Classifications

• A61B6/488

  involving pre-scan acquisition · CPC title

• A61B6/542

  involving control of exposure · CPC title

• A61B6/5258

  involving detection or reduction of artifacts or noise · CPC title

• A61B6/4085

  Cone-beams · CPC title

• A61B6/5205 Primary

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