Method, apparatus and product for acquiring cardiac images
First Claim
1. A method for acquiring a cardiac image from a patient having a paced heart rhythm, an abnormal EKG, or an irregular heartbeat, the method comprising:
- receiving a gated electrocardiogram signal having local maxima and minima values and trigger points;
determining for a period of time the time between each trigger point and the local maxima or minima associated therewith;
in response to the trigger point occurring at the associated local maxima or minima, calculating a zero time differential for a corrected trigger for gating; and
in response to the trigger point not occurring at the associated local maxima or minima, calculating a time differential for the corrected trigger for gating based on the time difference between the trigger point and the associated local maxima or minima.
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Accused Products
Abstract
A method for acquiring a cardiac image from a patient having a paced heart rhythm, an abnormal EKG, or an irregular heartbeat, is disclosed. A gated electrocardiogram signal having local maxima and minima values and trigger points is received. For a period of time, the time between each trigger point and the associated local maxima or minima is determined. In response to the trigger point occurring at the associated local maxima or minima, a zero time differential for a corrected trigger for gating is calculated, and in response to the trigger point not occurring at the associated local maxima or minima, a time differential for the corrected trigger for gating based on the time difference between the trigger point and the associated local maxima or minima is calculated.
97 Citations
18 Claims
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1. A method for acquiring a cardiac image from a patient having a paced heart rhythm, an abnormal EKG, or an irregular heartbeat, the method comprising:
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receiving a gated electrocardiogram signal having local maxima and minima values and trigger points;
determining for a period of time the time between each trigger point and the local maxima or minima associated therewith;
in response to the trigger point occurring at the associated local maxima or minima, calculating a zero time differential for a corrected trigger for gating; and
in response to the trigger point not occurring at the associated local maxima or minima, calculating a time differential for the corrected trigger for gating based on the time difference between the trigger point and the associated local maxima or minima. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10)
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11. An apparatus having electrocardiogram-gated acquisition and cardiac imaging capabilities, the apparatus comprising:
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an electrocardiograph;
a cardiac scanner in signal communication with the electrocardiograph;
an interface board in signal communication intermediate the electrocardiograph and the cardiac scanner; and
a storage medium, readable by a processing circuit, storing instructions for execution by the processing circuit for;
receiving from the electrocardiograph a gated electrocardiogram signal having local maxima and minima values and trigger points;
determining for a period of time the time between each trigger point and the local maxima or minima associated therewith;
in response to the trigger point occurring at the associated local maxima or minima, calculating a zero time differential for a corrected trigger for gating; and
in response to the trigger point not occurring at the associated local maxima or minima, calculating a time differential for the corrected trigger for gating based on the time difference between the trigger point and the associated local maxima or minima. - View Dependent Claims (12, 13, 14)
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15. A computer program product for acquiring a cardiac image from a patient having a paced heart rhythm, an abnormal EKG, or an irregular heartbeat, the product comprising:
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a storage medium, readable by a processing circuit, storing instructions for execution by the processing circuit for;
receiving from an electrocardiograph a gated electrocardiogram signal having local maxima and minima values and trigger points;
determining for a period of time the time between each trigger point and the local maxima or minima associated therewith;
in response to the trigger point occurring at the associated local maxima or minima, calculating a zero time differential for a corrected trigger for gating; and
in response to the trigger point not occurring at the associated local maxima or minima, calculating a time differential for the corrected trigger for gating based on the time difference between the trigger point and the associated local maxima or minima. - View Dependent Claims (16, 17, 18)
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Specification