Processing of interventional radiology images by ECG analysis

• US 10,709,403 B2
• Filed: 01/24/2013
• Issued: 07/14/2020
• Est. Priority Date: 01/24/2012
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: General Electric Company
• Original Assignee: General Electric Company
• Inventors: Cazalas, Maxime, Vaillant, Regis
• Primary Examiner(s): Fairchild, Aaron B
• Application Number:
  US13/748,794
• Publication Number:
  US 20130190612A1
• Time in Patent Office: 2,728 Days
• Field of Search: 600424
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 34/20 Surgical navigation systems; Devices for tracking or guiding surgical instruments, e.g. for frameless stereotaxis
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 6/4208 characterised by using a particular type of detector
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 6/4441 the rigid structure being a C-arm or U-arm
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 6/461 Displaying means of special interest
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 6/485 involving fluorescence X-ray imaging
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 6/486 involving generating temporal series of image data
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 6/504 for diagnosis of blood vessels, e.g. by angiography
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 6/5288 involving retrospective matching to a physiological signal
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 6/54 Control of apparatus or devices for radiation diagnosis
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 6/541 involving acquisition triggered by a physiological signal
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 6/548 Remote control of the apparatus or devices
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 25/09 Guide wires

Abstract

A method of processing images for interventional imaging, wherein a region of interest is visualized, is provided. The method comprises acquiring a series of 2D images of the region of interest in a patient during at least one respiratory phase, acquiring an electrocardiographic signal which is synchronized with the acquisition of the series of 2D images, processing the electrocardiographic signal to estimate at least one deformation phase of the region of interest induced by the patient'"'"'s respiratory movement, and registering the different successive 2D images in relation to the estimated deformation phase.

Claims

1. A method of processing images for interventional imaging, wherein a region of interest is visualized, the method comprising:

acquiring a series of 2D X-ray images of the region of interest in a patient during at least one respiratory phase;

acquiring a first electrocardiographic signal in synchronization with the acquisition of the series of 2D X-ray images so that the series of 2D X-ray images are acquired at the rate of patient'"'"'s cardiac cycle;

estimating, via a processor, from the electrocardiographic signal a period of deformation of the region of interest caused by respiratory motion of the patient; and

registering, via the processor, different successive 2D X-ray images in relation to the estimated deformation period,

wherein estimating the period of deformation from the electrocardiographic signal comprises detecting, via the processor, an envelope of the electrocardiographic signal to infer the respiratory motion of the patient therefrom.

2. The method according to claim 1, further comprising:

acquiring a plurality of 2D X-ray images of the region of interest, wherein the patient'"'"'s respiratory movement is blocked; and

utilizing, via the processor, each of the plurality of 2D X-ray images to form a mask of the region of interest.

3. The method according to claim 2, further comprising:

reconstructing, via the processor, a 3D image of the patient from the plurality of 2D X-ray images of the region of interest; and

utilizing, via the processor, the reconstructed 3D image to form a 3D mask of the region of interest.

4. The method according to claim 3, further comprising superimposing, via the processor, a registered 2D X-ray image over the 3D mask of the region of interest.

5. A medical imaging system comprising:

an acquisition unit configured to acquire a series of 2D X-ray images of a region of interest in a patient during at least one respiratory phase, and to acquire an electrocardiographic signal in synchronization with the acquisition of the series of 2D X-ray images so that the series of 2D X-ray images are acquired at the rate of the patient'"'"'s cardiac cycle; and

a computing unit configured to,

estimate from the electrocardiographic signal a deformation period of the region of interest caused by respiratory motion of the patient by detecting an envelope of the electrocardiographic signal to infer the respiratory motion of the patient therefrom; and

register different successive 2D X-ray images in relation to the estimated deformation period.