System and method for displaying variable duration image scans

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-2016354047-A1
Application number	US-201514729375-A
Country	US
Kind code	A1
Filing date	Jun 3, 2015
Priority date	Jun 3, 2015
Publication date	Dec 8, 2016
Grant date	—

Abstract

A system and method are provided for displaying information related to a medical imaging scan. Visual regions are shown on a display screen to indicate information of pending, current, and completed medical imaging scans. If additional correction time was utilized for particular table positions in a medical imaging scan, this information is shown on the display screen, in the form of icons, shading, or other visual representations. The medical imaging system may include positron emission tomography (PET) and single photon emission computed tomography (SPECT).

First claim

What is claimed is:

1 . In a computer system having a display, an input device, and a connection to an imaging system having a movable table, a method, comprising:
receiving input to initiate an imaging scan, said scan includes multiple table positions; wherein, for each table position, the imaging scan includes an initial scan time and for at least one table position the medical imaging scan includes an additional correction time; and displaying a plurality of regions on the display, one region per table position in said scan; wherein the displayed regions for table positions that include additional correction time are larger than those displayed regions for table positions that do not include additional correction time.

2 . The method of claim 1 , further comprising:
issuing a command to the imaging system to begin the imaging scan; receiving count rate information from medical imaging system during the imaging scan; and displaying count rate information over time on the display within the region associated with a respective table position.

3 . The method of claim 2 , further comprising
issuing a command to the imaging system to stop the imaging scan for the current table position if count rate information reaches a threshold; displaying a first visual indicator in the displayed region related to the current table position if count rate information reaches a threshold; displaying a second visual indicator in the displayed region related to the current table position if count rate information does not reach a threshold; and wherein the first visual indicator is of a different shading, color, or shape from the second visual indicator.

4 . The method of claim 2 , further comprising:
receiving gross patient motion information from the imaging system; and wherein displaying count rate information over time comprises displaying a first rate indicator for time segments without gross patient motion and displaying a second rate indicator for time segments with gross patient motion.

5 . The method of claim 4 , wherein the first rate indicator and second rate indicator are displayed differently by different color, shading, or shape.

6 . The method of claim 1 , wherein displaying a plurality of regions on the display further comprises:
displaying scan-uncompleted regions in a different color or shading from scan-completed regions.

7 . The method of claim 1 , further comprising:
displaying only initial scan time information on the display related to the table position if no additional correction time is selected for the table position.

8 . The method of claim 1 , further comprising:
receiving motion related information from the imaging system; comparing motion related information with a threshold; if motion related information is higher than the threshold, instructing the imaging system to continue scanning into the additional correction time for the current table position; and if motion related information is lower than the threshold, instructing the imaging system to stop scanning for the current table position at the end of the initial scan time.

9 . The method of claim 8 , further comprising:
displaying a count indicator in the region associated with the current table position; displaying an initial scan time section of the displayed region a different color or shading from the additional correction time section of the displayed region.

10 . The method of claim 8 , wherein:
motion related information is generated as a response to detection of respiratory or cardiac motion.

11 . The method of claim 8 , further comprising:
displaying a strength metric related to the received motion information.

12 . The method of claim 11 , wherein:
the displayed strength metric is of a first shading or color if the motion related information is higher than the threshold; and the displayed strength metric is of a second shading or color if the motion related information is lower than the threshold.

13 . The method of claim 8 , further comprising:
displaying at least one icon in the displayed region for the table position, wherein the icon is related to a type of motion.

14 . The method of claim 13 , wherein:
the displayed icon is at least one of a lung icon or a heart icon.

15 . The method of claim 13 , wherein:
the displayed icon is of a first shading or color if the motion related information is higher than the threshold; and the displayed icon is of a second shading or color if the motion related information is lower than the threshold.

16 . The method of claim 1 , further comprising:
receiving image information from the imaging system; reconstructing the image information into output images; and displaying the output images.

17 . The method of claim 16 , wherein:
the image information comprises PET or SPECT data.

18 . An imaging system, comprising;
a gantry comprising image detectors; a movable table for positioning a subject of an imaging operation; an operator console comprising an input device and a display apparatus; and a computer processor for executing instructions to:
receive input from the input device to initiate an imaging scan, said scan includes multiple table positions; wherein, for each table position, the imaging scan includes an initial scan time and for at least one table position the imaging scan includes an additional correction time; and
display a plurality of regions on the display, one region per table position in said scan; wherein the displayed regions for table positions that include additional correction time are larger than those displayed regions for table positions that do not include additional correction time.

19 . The system of claim 18 , the computer processor further:
issuing commands to the gantry and table to begin the imaging scan; receiving count rate information from the image detectors during the imaging scan; and displaying count rate information over time on the display within the region associated with a respective table position.

20 . The system of claim 19 , the computer processor further:
issuing a command to the gantry to stop the imaging scan for the current table position if count rate information reaches a threshold; displaying a first visual indicator in the displayed region related to the current table position if count rate information reaches a threshold; displaying a second visual indicator in the displayed region related to the current table position if count rate information does not reach a threshold; and wherein the first visual indicator is of a different shading, color, or shape from the second visual indicator.

21 . The system of claim 18 , the computer processor further:
receiving count information and motion related information from the image detectors; displaying a count indicator in the region associated with the current table position; comparing motion related information with a threshold; if motion related information is higher than the threshold, instructing the image detectors to continue scanning into the additional correction time for the current table position; if motion related information is lower than the threshold, instructing the image detectors to stop scanning for the current table position at the end of the initial scan time; displaying an initial scan time section of the displayed region a different color or shading from the additional correction time section of the displayed region.

Assignees

• Gen Electric

Inventors

• Huston Jeremy
• Littlejohn David
• Wollenweber Scott
• Muth Joseph

Classifications

• A61B6/541

  involving acquisition triggered by a physiological signal · CPC title

• A61B6/0407

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

• A61B6/032

  Transmission computed tomography [CT] · CPC title

• A61B6/037

  Emission tomography · CPC title

• A61B6/465

  adapted to display user selection data, e.g. graphical user interface, icons or menus · CPC title