Method and apparatus for volumetric cardiac computed tomography imaging
First Claim
1. An apparatus for performing a diagnostic cardiac imaging session of a patient'"'"'s heart, the apparatus comprising:
- a survey imaging means for survey imaging the heart to determine optimized imaging parameter values for a received diagnostic objective;
a monitor imaging means for monitor imaging a limited portion of the heart during influx of a contrast agent using a low patient x-ray exposure condition to detect a trigger condition;
a volume imaging means for volume imaging the heart responsive to detection of the trigger condition using the optimized imaging parameter values to obtain volumetric imaging data;
a cardiac cycle recording means for recording cardiac cycle data during at least a portion of the survey imaging, the monitor imaging, and the volume imaging; and
a volumetric reconstructing means for high resolution reconstructing at least a portion of the volumetric imaging data to produce high resolution image representations of at least a portion of the heart.
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Accused Products
Abstract
In a diagnostic cardiac imaging session of a patient'"'"'s heart using a computed tomography imaging scanner (10) and a cardiac cycle monitor (42), a diagnostic objective (100) is received. Survey imaging (104) of the heart is performed to determine optimized imaging parameter values for the received diagnostic objective (100). Monitor imaging (108) of a limited portion of the heart is performed during influx of a contrast agent (22) using a low patient x-ray exposure condition to detect a trigger condition. Volume imaging (110) of the heart responsive to detection of the trigger condition is performed using the optimized imaging parameter values to obtain volumetric imaging data. Cardiac cycle data is recorded during at least a portion of the survey imaging (104), the monitor imaging (108), and the volume imaging (110). High resolution reconstructing (130) of at least some volumetric imaging data is performed to produce high resolution image representations (132).
87 Citations
33 Claims
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1. An apparatus for performing a diagnostic cardiac imaging session of a patient'"'"'s heart, the apparatus comprising:
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a survey imaging means for survey imaging the heart to determine optimized imaging parameter values for a received diagnostic objective;
a monitor imaging means for monitor imaging a limited portion of the heart during influx of a contrast agent using a low patient x-ray exposure condition to detect a trigger condition;
a volume imaging means for volume imaging the heart responsive to detection of the trigger condition using the optimized imaging parameter values to obtain volumetric imaging data;
a cardiac cycle recording means for recording cardiac cycle data during at least a portion of the survey imaging, the monitor imaging, and the volume imaging; and
a volumetric reconstructing means for high resolution reconstructing at least a portion of the volumetric imaging data to produce high resolution image representations of at least a portion of the heart. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24)
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25. A method for performing a diagnostic cardiac imaging session of a patient'"'"'s heart using a computed tomography imaging scanner and a cardiac cycle monitor, the method comprising:
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survey imaging the heart to determine optimized imaging parameter values for a received diagnostic objective;
monitor imaging a limited portion of the heart during influx of a contrast agent using a low patient x-ray exposure condition to detect a trigger condition;
volume imaging the heart responsive to detection of the trigger condition using the optimized imaging parameter values to obtain volumetric imaging data;
recording cardiac cycle data during at least a portion of the survey imaging, the monitor imaging, and the volume imaging; and
volumetric reconstructing at least a portion of the volumetric imaging data to produce high resolution image representations of at least a portion of the heart. - View Dependent Claims (26, 27, 28, 29, 30, 31)
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32. A cardiac computed tomography imaging apparatus for performing a diagnostic cardiac imaging session, the apparatus comprising:
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a computed tomography imaging scanner that acquires imaging data of a patient'"'"'s heart;
an electrocardiograph that acquires electrocardiographic data to monitor a cardiac phase of the patient'"'"'s heart; and
an imaging controller that communicates with the imaging scanner and the electrocardiograph to coordinate the diagnostic cardiac imaging session, the imaging controller performing an imaging session method including;
survey imaging the heart to determine optimized imaging parameter values for a received diagnostic objective, monitor imaging a limited portion of the heart during influx of a contrast agent using a low patient x-ray exposure condition to detect a trigger condition, volume imaging the heart responsive to detection of the trigger condition using the optimized imaging parameter values to obtain volumetric imaging data, recording electrocardiographic data during at least a portion of the survey imaging, the monitor imaging, and the volume imaging, and high resolution reconstructing at least a portion of the volumetric imaging data to produce high resolution image representations of at least a portion of the heart. - View Dependent Claims (33)
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Specification