Extended volume imaging

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-2016206262-A1
Application number	US-201514602051-A
Country	US
Kind code	A1
Filing date	Jan 21, 2015
Priority date	Jan 21, 2015
Publication date	Jul 21, 2016
Grant date	—

Abstract

The present disclosure relates to the acquisition of image data over an extended field of view using an interventional tomosynthesis system. In one embodiment, the interventional tomosynthesis system has a base offset from the longitudinal axis of a patient table, such that movement of the table relative to the imager may be performed during tomosynthesis projection acquisition. One or both of the imager and the table may move to accomplish such relative motion.

First claim

1 . An imaging method, comprising:
moving an X-ray source and an X-ray detector of a tomographic imaging system within a limited angular range along an orbital path with respect to an imaged volume, wherein the X-ray source is constrained to move on a first side of the imaged volume and the X-ray detector is constrained to move on a second side of the imaged volume opposite the first side; moving the X-ray source and the X-ray detector relative to a patient table in one or two dimensions concurrent with and in addition to the orbital path motion; acquiring a projection dataset using the X-ray source and the X-ray detector while moving the X-ray source and the X-ray detector in the orbital path and relative to the patient table; and generating one or more three-dimensional images having an extended field of view using the projection dataset.

2 . The imaging method of claim 1 , wherein the movement of the X-ray source and the X-ray detector along the orbital path and the relative motion of the X-ray source and the X-ray detector with respect to the patient table are coordinated to provide a specified angular sampling.

3 . The imaging method of claim 1 , wherein a sampling rate of the X-ray source and the X-ray detector is varied to provide a specified angular sampling.

4 . The imaging method of claim 1 , wherein the X-ray source and the X-ray detector are moved continuously

5 . The imaging method of claim 1 , wherein the X-ray source is moved in a first two-dimensional plane on the first side of the imaged volume and the X-ray detector is moved in a second two-dimensional plane on the second side of the imaged volume opposite the first side.

6 . The imaging method of claim 1 , wherein a support structure coupled to the X-ray source and X-ray detector is positioned offset from the longitudinal axis of the patient so as to allow the patient table supporting the patient to move without contacting the support structure.

7 . The imaging method of claim 1 , wherein a support structure coupled to the X-ray source and X-ray detector is positioned offset from the longitudinal axis of the patient so as to allow the support structure to move relative to the patient table without contacting the patient table.

8 . The imaging method of claim 1 , wherein moving the X-ray source and the detector relative to the patient table comprises moving one or both the patient table supporting or a support structure supporting the X-ray source and the X-ray detector.

9 . The imaging method of claim 1 , wherein moving the X-ray source and the X-ray detector relative to the patient table comprises moving X-ray source and the X-ray detector relative to the patient table along one or both of a longitudinal axis associated with the patient table or an perpendicular axis to the longitudinal axis.

10 . The imaging method of claim 9 , wherein relative movement along one or both of the longitudinal axis or the perpendicular axis is accomplished by moving the patient table.

11 . The imaging method of claim 1 , wherein movement of the X-ray source and the X-ray detector relative to the patient table in a longitudinal dimension is coordinated so as to do one or both of: improve angular sampling or gate a dynamic physiological process.

12 . The imaging method of claim 1 , comprising:
administering a contrast bolus to a patient; wherein the movement of the X-ray source and the X-ray detector relative to the patient table tracks the contrast bolus through the patient;

13 . The imaging method of claim 12 , wherein the one or more three-dimensional images having the extended field of view comprise one or both of a digital subtraction image generated using a previously acquired mask image or a contrast enhanced image.

14 . The imaging method of claim 1 , further comprising:
acquiring a concurrent projection dataset using an additional X-ray source and an additional X-ray detector offset from the X-ray source and the X-ray detector along the longitudinal axis; and reconstructing the concurrent projection dataset in conjunction with the first projection dataset to generate the one or more three dimensional images.

15 . An imaging system, comprising:
an X-ray source constrained to move on a first side of a patient support; an X-ray detector constrained to move on a second side of the patient support opposite the first side; one or more support structures configured to support the X-ray source and the X-ray detector, wherein the support structures are offset to a longitudinal axis of the patient support so as to allow motion of the support structures and the patient support relative to one another; a controller and one or more processing components configured, alone or in combination, to:
operate the X-ray source and X-ray detector during an image acquisition so as to acquire a set of projections;
move the X-ray source and the X-ray detector on their respective sides of the patient support during the image acquisition;
move one or both of the patient support or the support structures during the image acquisition relative to one another; and
reconstruct the set of projections to generate one or more three-dimensional images having an extended field of view.

16 . The imaging system of claim 15 , wherein one or both of the patient support or the support structure are moved during the image acquisition to track a contrast bolus.

17 . The imaging system of claim 16 , wherein the one or more three-dimensional images comprise one or both of a contrast enhanced image or digital subtraction image generated using a previously acquired mask image and the contrast enhanced image.

18 . The imaging system of claim 15 , wherein one or both of the motion and speed of the patient support and the support structure relative to one another are coordinated so as to allow one or both of angular sampling or gating of a dynamic physiological process.

19 . An imaging method, comprising:
moving a support arm relative to a side of a patient table, wherein the support arm connects to a C-arm supporting an X-ray source configured to move on a first side of the patient table and an X-ray detector configured to move on a second side of the patient table opposite the first side; during a first acquisition, acquiring a mask set of projections while moving the X-ray detector and the X-ray source at least longitudinally along the side of the patient table; administering a contrast bolus to a patient; during a second acquisition, acquiring a contrast set of projections while moving the X-ray detector and the X-ray source at least longitudinally along the side of the patient table; and generating a volumetric reconstruction of vasculature of the patient using the mask set of projections and the contrast set of projections.

20 . The imaging method of claim 19 , wherein generating the volumetric reconstruction comprises performing a digital subtraction of the mask set of projections and the contrast set of projections or of respective images generated from the mask set of projections and the contrast set of projections.

21 . The imaging method of claim 19 , wherein one or both of the motion or speed of the support arm relative to the side of the patient table are coordinated so as to facilitate angular sampling.

22 . The imaging method of claim 19 , wherein the X-ray source is configured to move in a first two-dimensional plane on the first side of the patient table and the X-ray detector is configured to move in a se

Assignees

• Gen Electric

Inventors

• Langan David Allen
• Claus Bernhard Erich Hermann
• Lai Hao
• Idelchik Gary Michael

Classifications

• A61B6/481 Primary

  involving the use of contrast agents · CPC title

• A61B6/0457

  Human Necessities · mapped topic

• A61B6/5205

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

• A61B6/0407

  Supports, e.g. tables or beds, for the body or parts of the body · CPC title

• A61B6/025

  Tomosynthesis · CPC title