Method for registering and merging medical image data

• US 20050245807A1
• Filed: 01/26/2005
• Published: 11/03/2005
• Est. Priority Date: 01/29/2004
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Siemens Healthineers AG (Siemens AG)
• Original Assignee: Siemens AG
• Inventors: Rahn, Norbert, Boese, Jan, Heigl, Benno
• Granted Patent: US 8,244,064 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 600/407
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/1127 using markers
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/721 using a separate sensor to detect motion or using motion information derived from signals other than the physiological signal to be measured
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 6/032 Transmission computed tomography [CT]
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 6/527 using data from a motion artifact sensor
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 6/583 using calibration phantoms
• CPC Class Codes: G06T 2207/30004 Biomedical image processing
• CPC Class Codes: G06T 7/30 Determination of transform parameters for the alignment of images, i.e. image registration

Abstract

The present invention relates to a method for the registration and superimposition of image data when taking serial radiographs in medical imaging, wherein a plurality of image data sets for a region of a patient (17) that is being investigated are constructed at time intervals using an imaging system (1) and are referenced with a first image data set for the region that is being investigated that was constructed previously using said imaging system (1). In the above method, a location system (2) is used during the production of serial radiographs constantly, or at least at a respective proximity in time to the construction of individual data sets, to determine a current spatial position of the region being investigated in a reference system that is firmly connected to the imaging system (1), whereby in the construction of the first image data set, a first spatial position of the region that is being investigated is recorded. In the construction of some or all further image data sets, the respective current spatial position of the region that is being investigated is determined and an image content of each first image data set is geometrically adapted on the basis of the difference between the first and the current spatial position, such that compensation is made for a different spatial position of the region that is being investigated. The geometrically adapted first image data set or an image data set derived therefrom, or an image data set that is positionally connected thereto by registration is then displayed superimposed with the respective further image data set.

Claims

1-10. -10. (canceled)

11. A method of registering and merging medical image data, comprising:

recording an initial image data set and a first spatial position of an examination area of a patient by an imaging system;

recording a plurality of serial examination image data sets of the examination area at specified time intervals by the imaging system;

determining a current spatial position of the examination area relative to a frame of reference assigned to the imaging system while recording a current serial examination image data set, by a location detecting system;

determining a difference between the first and the current spatial position;

adapting the initial image data set using the determined difference such that the adapted initial image data set corresponds to the current spatial position; and

merging and jointly displaying the adapted initial image data set and the current serial examination image data set.

12. The method according to claim 11, wherein the adapted initial image data set includes a further image data set registered with the adapted initial image data set with regard to corresponding spatial positions present both in the adapted initial image data set and the further image data set.

13. The method according to claim 11, wherein the current serial examination image data set includes a further image data set derived from the current serial examination image data set.

15. The method according to claim 11, wherein the current spatial position is determined substantially simultaneously with recording a serial examination image data set.

16. The method according to claim 11, wherein the initial image data set is a three-dimensional image data set.

17. The method according to claim 11, wherein the serial examination image data sets are two-dimensional image data sets.

18. The method according to claim 11, wherein the imaging system comprises an x-ray C-arm device.

19. The method according to claim 11, wherein an image data set recorded by a further imaging system is registered with the initial image data set with regard to corresponding spatial positions present both in the initial image data set and the image data set recorded by a further imaging system, and the registered image data set and the current serial examination image data set are merged and jointly displayed.

20. The method according to claim 11, wherein adapting the initial image data set includes a retrospective image processing method for correcting a remaining difference between the first and the current spatial position.

21. The method according to claim 11, wherein the steps of adapting the initial image data set and merging and jointly displaying the adapted initial image data set and the current serial examination image data set are executed in real time.

22. The method according to claim 11, wherein adapting the initial image data set includes a translation having one, two or three degrees of translation freedom and/or a rotation having one, two or three degrees of rotation freedom.

23. An imaging system, comprising:

at least one radiation source;

a radiation detector;

a treatment table;

a control unit for controlling a recording of a plurality of radiographic medical images;

a registration unit for registering at least two medical images with each other with regard to corresponding spatial positions present in both medical images;

an image processing unit; and

an image display unit, wherein the registration unit and the image processing unit are arranged and configured to perform the following steps;

recording an initial image data set and a first spatial position of an examination area of a patient by the image processing unit;

recording a plurality of serial examination image data sets of the examination area at specified time intervals by the image processing unit;

determining a current spatial position of the examination area relative to a frame of reference assigned to the image processing unit while recording a current serial examination image data set, by the image processing unit;

determining a difference between the first and the current spatial position by the registration unit;

adapting the initial image data set using the determined difference such that the adapted initial image data set corresponds to the current spatial position, by the registration unit; and

merging and jointly displaying the adapted initial image data set and the current serial examination image data set by the image display unit.

24. The imaging system according to claim 23, wherein the imaging system is an x-ray C-arm device.