Method and system for radiation application

• US 20040116804A1
• Filed: 10/03/2003
• Published: 06/17/2004
• Est. Priority Date: 10/23/1998
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Varian Medical Systems Incorporated (Siemens AG)
• Original Assignee: Varian Medical Systems Incorporated (Siemens AG)
• Inventors: Mostafavi, Hassan
• Granted Patent: US 8,788,020 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 600/428
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2090/371 with simultaneous use of two cameras
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/0064 Body surface scanning
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/0077 Devices for viewing the surface of the body, e.g. camera, magnifying lens
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/02028 Determining haemodynamic parameters not otherwise provided for, e.g. cardiac contractility or left ventricular ejection fraction
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/055 involving electronic [EMR] or nuclear [NMR] magnetic resonance, e.g. magnetic resonance imaging
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/1127 using markers
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/1128 using image analysis A61B5/1127 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/113 occurring during breathing
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/7285 for synchronising or triggering a physiological measurement or image acquisition with a physiological event or waveform, e.g. an ECG signal A61B6/5205, A61B6/541, A61B8/5207, A61B8/543 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/7289 Retrospective gating, i.e. associating measured signals or images with a physiological event after the actual measurement or image acquisition, e.g. by simultaneously recording an additional physiological signal during the measurement or image acquisition
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/741 using synthesised speech
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/743 Displaying an image simultaneously with additional graphical information, e.g. symbols, charts, function plots
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 6/032 Transmission computed tomography [CT]
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 6/4085 Cone-beams
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 6/4417 related to combined acquisition of different diagnostic modalities
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 6/461 Displaying means of special interest
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 6/463 characterised by displaying multiple images or images and diagnostic data on one display
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 6/465 adapted to display user selection data, e.g. graphical user interface, icons or menus
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 6/5288 involving retrospective matching to a physiological signal
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 6/541 involving acquisition triggered by a physiological signal
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 90/39 : Markers, e.g. radio-opaque or breast lesions markers
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 2005/1059 : using cameras imaging the patient
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 5/1049 : for verifying the position of the patient with respect to the radiation beam
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 5/1064 : for adjusting radiation treatment in response to monitoring
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 5/1067 : in real time, i.e. during treatment

Abstract

A method for generating one or more images includes collecting data samples representative of a motion of an object, acquiring image data of at least a part of the object over a time interval, synchronizing the data samples and the image data to a common time base, and generating one or more images based on the synchronized image data. A method for generating one or more images includes acquiring image data of at least a part of an object over a time interval, associating the image data with one or more phases of a motion cycle, and constructing one or more images using the image data that are associated with the respective one or more phases.

Claims

1. A method for generating one or more images, comprising:

collecting data samples representative of a motion of an object;

acquiring image data of at least a part of the object over a time interval;

synchronizing the data samples and the image data to a common time base; and

generating one or more images based on the synchronized image data.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the collecting comprises performing a computed tomography procedure, an MRI procedure, or a PET procedure.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein the time interval comprises at least one physiological cyclic interval.

4. The method of claim 3, wherein the at least one physiological cyclic interval comprises one interval within a physiological breathing cycle.

5. The method of claim 1, wherein the generating comprises constructing a volumetric image.

6. The method of claim 1, wherein the generating comprises constructing a plurality of volumetric images.

7. The method of claim 6, wherein the plurality of volumetric images are displayed in sequence to form a video.

8. The method of claim 1, wherein the generating the one or more images is performed retrospectively.

9. The method of claim 1, further comprising identifying an interval of interest, wherein the generating the one or more images comprises constructing an image using image data associated with the interval of interest.

10. The method of claim 1, wherein the generating comprises using image data that are associated with a phase of the motion to generate an image.

11. The method of claim 1, wherein the generating comprises using image data that are associated with a first phase of the motion to generate a first image, and using image data that are associated with a second phase of the motion to generate a second image.

12. The method of claim 11, further comprising displaying the first and the second images in a sequence to form a video.

13. The method of claim 1, wherein the object comprises at least a portion of a patient.

14. The method of claim 1, wherein the object comprises at least a portion of a structure that is undergoing stress testing.

15. A system for generating one or more images, comprising:

means for collecting data samples representative of a motion of an object;

means for acquiring image data of at least a part of the object over a time interval;

means for synchronizing the data samples and the image data to a common time base; and

means for generating one or more images based on the synchronized image data.

16. The system of claim 15, wherein the means for generating is configured to construct an image using image data associated with an interval of interest.

17. The system of claim 15, wherein the means for generating is configured to generate an image using image data that are associated with a phase of the motion.

18. The system of claim 15, wherein the means for generating is configured to generate a first image using image data that are associated with a first phase of the motion, and a second image using image data that are associated with a second phase of the motion.

19. The system of claim 18, further comprising means for displaying the first and the second images in a sequence to form a video.

20. The system of claim 15, wherein the means for collecting comprises an optical device and a marker block.

21. The system of claim 15, wherein the means for acquiring is selected from the group consisting of a CT machine, a MRI machine, and a PET machine.

22. The system of claim 15, wherein the means for synchronizing and the means for generating comprises a processor.

23. A computer product having a set of stored instruction, the execution of which causes a process to be performed, the process comprising:

collecting data samples representative of a motion of an object;

acquiring image data of at least a part of the object over a time interval;

synchronizing the data samples and the image data to a common time base; and

generating one or more images based on the synchronized image data.

24. The computer product of claim 23, wherein the generating comprises constructing a volumetric image.

25. The computer product of claim 23, wherein the generating comprises constructing a plurality of volumetric images.

26. The computer product of claim 25, wherein the plurality of volumetric images are displayed in sequence to form a video.

27. The computer product of claim 23, wherein the generating comprises using image data that are associated with a phase of the motion to generate an image.

28. The computer product of claim 23, wherein the generating comprises using image data that are associated with a first phase of the motion to generate a first image, and using image data that are associated with a second phase of the motion to generate a second image.

29. The computer product of claim 28, further comprising displaying the first and the second images in a sequence to form a video.

30. A method for generating one or more images, comprising:

acquiring image data of at least a part of an object over a time interval;

associating the image data with one or more phases of a motion cycle; and

constructing one or more images using the image data that are associated with the respective one or more phases.

31. The method of claim 30, wherein the image data is associated with a plurality of phases of a motion cycle, and a plurality of images are constructed.

32. The method of claim 31, further comprising displaying the plurality of constructed images in a sequence to form a video.

33. A method of gating an application of radiation, comprising:

measuring a first set of signal data representative of a physiological movement of a patient during a first time period;

comparing the first set of signal data with a second set of signal data related to measured physiological movement of a patient during a second time period to identify degree of deviation from periodicity of the physiological movement; and

gating radiation to the patient if the degree of deviation from periodicity exceeds a threshold based upon results of the pattern matching.

34. The method of claim 33, wherein the first set of signal data and the second set of signal data are compared using an autocorrelation function.

35. The method of claim 33, wherein the first set of signal data and the second set of signal data are compared using an absolute difference function.

36. The method of claim 33, further comprising determining a degree of match between the first set of signal data and the second set of signal data.

37. The method of claim 36, wherein the degree of match is determined by a secondary peak value of an autocorrelation function.

38. The method of claim 36, wherein the degree of match is determined by a secondary minimum value of an absolute difference function.

39. The method of claim 36, further comprising comparing the degree of match to a threshold range.

40. The method of claim 33, further comprising predicting a period of the physiological movement during a third time period.

41. The method of claim 40, further comprising predictively actuating a gating system component based upon the predicted period.

42. The method of claim 33, wherein the second set of signal data comprises a data model of the physiological movement of the patient.

43. The method of claim 33, wherein the comparing comprises performing pattern matching the first set of signal data with the second set of signal data.

44. A method of gating an application of radiation for a CT procedure, comprising:

obtaining signal data representative of at least a portion of a physiological movement to form a set of ordered measurement samples;

comparing the set of ordered measurement samples against prior measurement samples of the physiological movement to determine deviation from periodicity of the set of ordered measurement samples; and

gating CT radiation to the patient if the deviation from periodicity is outside a threshold range.

45. The method of claim 44, wherein the physiological movement comprises breathing movement.

46. The method of claim 44, wherein the physiological movement comprises cardiac movement.

47. The method of claim 44, wherein the comparing comprises pattern matching the set of ordered measurement samples against the prior measurement samples of the physiological movement.

48. The method of claim 47, wherein the pattern matching is performed using an autocorrelation function.

49. The method of claim 47, wherein the pattern matching is performed using an absolute difference function.