Method and medical imaging apparatus for planning an image acquisition based on a previously-generated reference image

• US 20060293588A1
• Filed: 06/22/2006
• Published: 12/28/2006
• Est. Priority Date: 06/22/2005
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Siemens Healthcare GMBH (Siemens AG)
• Original Assignee: Siemens AG
• Inventors: Mayer, Klaus, Beck, Walter, Mohr, Cecile, Zeltner, Jochen
• Granted Patent: US 7,725,154 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 600/410
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/055 involving electronic [EMR] or nuclear [NMR] magnetic resonance, e.g. magnetic resonance imaging
• CPC Class Codes: G16H 30/20 for handling medical images, e.g. DICOM, HL7 or PACS
• CPC Class Codes: G16H 30/40 for processing medical images, e.g. editing
• CPC Class Codes: G16H 40/63 for local operation

Abstract

In a method and device for planning an examination of an examination subject in an imaging diagnosis device, a reference image is selected, and an image of the examination subject is to be made that corresponds to the reference image. A workflow protocol is determined with which the reference image was generated. The acquisition of all required images of the examination subject is planned using this workflow protocol. The workflow protocol is executed for creation of an image of the examination subject that corresponds to the reference image.

Claims

1. A method for planning acquisition of image data from an examination subject in a medical imaging apparatus, comprising the steps of:

selecting a previously-generated reference image, corresponding to which a current image of an examination subject is to be obtained;

automatically electronically determining a workflow protocol with which the reference image was generated;

automatically electronically planning acquisition of data for said current image using said workflow protocol; and

executing the workflow protocol for acquiring data for said current image corresponding to said reference image.

2. A method as claimed in claim 1 comprising including, in said workflow protocol, imaging parameters and post-processing steps allowing a post-processing procedure used to generate said reference image to be completely reconstructed and used for said current image.

3. A method as claimed in claim 2 comprising including, in said workflow protocol, imaging parameters for generating a raw reference and post-processing steps for operating on said raw reference image to generate said reference image.

4. A method as claimed in claim 1 wherein said reference image is comprised of a plurality of individual images and comprising, in said workflow protocol generation of said individual images and post-processing thereof to form said reference image, and wherein said workflow protocol for generating said current image comprises acquiring data for a plurality of individual images and combining said individual images to form said current image.

5. A method as claimed in claim 1 wherein said examination subject is a patient, and comprising the additional steps of:

in said workflow protocol for generating said reference image, including recording of patient-specific data of a patient from whom said reference image was obtained;

comparing the patient-specific data of the patient from whom the current image is to be obtained with the patient-specific data associated with the reference image to obtain a comparison result; and

adapting the workflow protocol for generating said current image dependent on said comparison result.

6. A method as claimed in claim 5 wherein said workflow protocol for said reference image comprises acquiring a plurality of individual images at respectively different positions of the patient and combining the individual images to form said reference image, and wherein the step of adapting said workflow protocol for generating said current image comprises adapting respective positions for said patient dependent on said patient-specific data and acquiring data for respective images of said patient at said different positions and combining said respective images to form said current image.

7. A method as claimed in claim 6 comprising placing said patient in said medical imaging apparatus on a displaceable table, and comprising, in said workflow protocol for generating said current image, designating respective table positions for said respective images that form said current image.

8. A method as claimed in claim 1 wherein said medical imaging apparatus is a magnetic resonance imaging apparatus, and wherein the step of executing said workflow protocol for generating said current image comprises executing a workflow protocol for acquiring magnetic resonance image data from said subject for generating said current image.

9. A method for planning acquisition of image data from an examination subject in a medical imaging apparatus, comprising the steps of:

selecting a previously-generated reference image, corresponding to which a current image of an examination subject is to be obtained;

automatically electronically determining a workflow protocol with which the reference image was generated, comprising imaging parameters and post-processing steps for a post-processing procedure for completely reconstructing said reference image;

automatically electronically planning acquisition of data for said current image using said workflow protocol including said post-processing steps; and

executing the workflow protocol for acquiring data for said current image corresponding to said reference image.

10. A medical imaging apparatus comprising:

a scanner adapted to interact with an examination subject to acquire image data therefrom;

a storage unit containing a plurality of reference images previously acquired with said scanner using respective workflow protocols, said reference images and the workflow protocol therefor being linked with each other in said storage unit;

an input unit that accesses said storage unit to allow manual selection of a reference image from said storage unit together with the workflow protocol linked thereto; and

a control unit for operating said scanner to acquire medical imaging data for a current image of an examination subject corresponding to said reference image, said control unit being supplied with said workflow protocol linked to said reference image obtained from said storage unit and operating said scanner according to said workflow protocol to generate said current image corresponding to said reference image.

11. A medical imaging apparatus as claimed in claim 10 wherein said workflow protocol linked to said reference image comprises imaging parameters for generating at least one raw reference image and post-processing steps for operating on said raw reference image to generate said reference image, and wherein said control unit operates said scanner and a post-processing device to generate a raw current image according to said workflow protocol and to operate said processing device to post-process said raw current image to generate said current image.