Imaging condition determining method and an X-ray CT apparatus

• US 20050053190A1
• Filed: 08/23/2004
• Published: 03/10/2005
• Est. Priority Date: 09/05/2003
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: GE Medical Systems Global Technology Company LLC (GE Healthcare Technologies, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: GE Medical Systems Global Technology Company LLC (GE Healthcare Technologies, Inc.)
• Inventors: Gohno, Makoto
• Granted Patent: US 7,050,532 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 378/16
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 6/027 characterised by the use of a particular data acquisition trajectory, e.g. helical or spiral
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 6/032 Transmission computed tomography [CT]
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 6/467 characterised by special input means
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 6/469 for selecting a region of interest [ROI]
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 6/545 involving automatic set-up of acquisition parameters
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 2223/419 computed tomograph
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 2223/612 biological material

Abstract

An imaging condition determining method for an x-ray CT apparatus for performing imaging by a helical scan. The method includes making a table of various imaging conditions in advance, extracting at least one imaging condition from the table in accordance with age, imaging region, imaging length of the patient as well as the highest-priority objective specified by a user, and displaying the exposure dose of the patient under the at least one imaging condition, enabling the user to adjust the exposure dose, and determining the imaging condition adjusted in response to the adjustment of the exposure dose to the at least one imaging condition.

Claims

1. An imaging condition determining method for an x-ray CT apparatus for performing imaging by a helical scan, comprising the steps of:

making a table of various imaging conditions in advance;

extracting a candidate imaging condition from said table in accordance with age, imaging region, imaging length of the patient, and the highest-priority objective specified by a user, and displaying the exposure dose of the patient under the candidate of imaging condition;

enabling the user to adjust said exposure dose; and

determining the imaging condition adjusted in response to the adjustment of said exposure dose to said candidate imaging condition.

2. An imaging condition determining method according to claim 1, wherein said highest-priority objective is the exposure dose.

3. An imaging condition determining method according to claim 1, wherein said highest-priority objective is one of exposure dose, image quality, and imaging speed.

4. An imaging condition determining method according to claim 2, wherein said exposure dose is indicated as DLP.

5. An imaging condition determining method according to of claim 1, wherein when there are plural candidates of said imaging condition, the imaging condition is determined based on the second priority objective specified by the user.

6. An imaging condition determining method according to claim 5, wherein said second priority objective is one, which is different from the highest-priority objective, of the exposure dose, image quality and imaging speed.

7. An imaging condition determining method according to claim 1, wherein said imaging condition contained in said table is the imaging condition based on the performance.

8. An imaging condition determining method according to claim 1, wherein said imaging condition contained in said table is the imaging condition based on a simulation.

9. An X-ray CT apparatus, comprising:

a memory device for storing a variety of imaging condition previously made as a table;

a display device for extracting a candidate imaging condition from said table in accordance with the age, imaging region, imaging length of the patient, and the highest-priority objective specified by the user for displaying the exposure dose of the patient under the candidate imaging condition;

an adjusting device for enabling the user to adjust said exposure dose; and

a determining device for determining an imaging condition by performing correction in response to the adjustment of said exposure dose to said candidate imaging condition.

10. An X-ray CT apparatus according to claim 9, wherein said highest-priority objective is the exposure dose.

11. An X-ray CT apparatus according to claim 9, wherein said highest-priority objective is any one of exposure dose, image quality, and imaging speed.

12. An X-ray CT apparatus according to claims 10, wherein said exposure dose is indicated as DLP.

13. An X-ray CT apparatus according to claim 9, wherein when there is a plurality of candidates of said imaging condition, the imaging condition is determined based on the second priority objective specified by the user.

14. An X-ray CT apparatus according to claim 13, wherein said second priority objective is one, which is different from the highest-priority objective, of the exposure dose, image quality and imaging speed.

15. An X-ray CT apparatus according to claim 9, wherein said imaging conditions contained in said table are imaging conditions based on the performance.

16. An X-ray tomographic imaging helical scan CT apparatus according to claim 9 in which:

said imaging conditions contained in said table are imaging conditions based on a simulation.