Integrated expert system for medical imaging scan, set-up, and scheduling
First Claim
1. A medical imaging system comprising:
- non-invasive examination means for examining a subject and producing electrical signals indicative thereof, the examination means having a plurality of adjustable operating parameters;
an image reconstructing means for reconstrucing an image from the electrical signals, the image being described by a plurality of performance indices which are related to the operating parameters by a preselected mathematical model, each performance index having a preselected idal value which ideal values are unattainable for all performance indices simultaneously, the image reconstruction means being operatively connected with the examination means to receive the electrical signals therefrom;
a performance index means for calculating selected relative priorities for optimizing each performance index value from received clinical information on the subject and an intended diagnostic application for the image;
an optimizing means for optimizing conformity of the performance index values predicted by the mathematical model and the ideal values in accordance with the relative priorities and providing an output of corresponding operating parameter adjustments, the optimizing means being operatively connected with the performance index means for receiving the priorities therefrom and with the examination means for supplying the operating parameter ajustments thereto.
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Abstract
A magnetic resonance or other diagnostic imaging scanner (A) is connected with an image reconstruction module (B) for reconstructing diagnostic images. An integrated expert system (C) selects scan parameter settings for conducting the scan such that utility of the image is optimized for the intended diagnosis. A keyboard (12) receives subject and intended diagnostic application data such as the age of the patient, the region of the patient to be imaged, the anticipated size of the lesion, and the like. A first expert system (10) derives appropriate constraints on values for each performance index and priorities for each performance index from the subject and intended application data. The performance indices include contrast, resolution, scan suration, and the like. A scan parameter estimator look-up table (14) is addressed by the performance index constraints and priorities and retrieves corresponding estimated scan parameters. A second expert system (16) adjusts the estimated scan parameter settings to optimize a performance function (26). That is, the performance index values are predicted by a preselected mathematical model which relates scan parameters and performance indices. The scan parameters settings are adjusted until the predicted performance indices have an optimal fit with preselected ideal performance index values with higher priority performance indices being weighted more heavily than lower priority indices and with the predicted performance values being within the constraints.
This application is a continuation of application Ser. No. 799,427, filed Nov. 19, 1985, to Raymond E. Gangarosa, et al., entitled "Integrated Expert System for Medical Imaging Scan, Set-up, and Scheduling" now abandoned.
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Citations
22 Claims
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1. A medical imaging system comprising:
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non-invasive examination means for examining a subject and producing electrical signals indicative thereof, the examination means having a plurality of adjustable operating parameters; an image reconstructing means for reconstrucing an image from the electrical signals, the image being described by a plurality of performance indices which are related to the operating parameters by a preselected mathematical model, each performance index having a preselected idal value which ideal values are unattainable for all performance indices simultaneously, the image reconstruction means being operatively connected with the examination means to receive the electrical signals therefrom; a performance index means for calculating selected relative priorities for optimizing each performance index value from received clinical information on the subject and an intended diagnostic application for the image; an optimizing means for optimizing conformity of the performance index values predicted by the mathematical model and the ideal values in accordance with the relative priorities and providing an output of corresponding operating parameter adjustments, the optimizing means being operatively connected with the performance index means for receiving the priorities therefrom and with the examination means for supplying the operating parameter ajustments thereto.
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2. A magnetic resonance imaging apparatus comprising:
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a magnetic resonance means for causing magnetic resonance in selected dipoles of a subject to be imaged and for receiving magnetic resonance signals from the resonating dipoles, the resonance apparatus having a plurality of adjustable scan parameters including scan sequence, sequence duration, and the like; an image reconstruction means for reconstructing and displaying a resultant image from the received magnetic resonance signals, the image reconstruction means being operatively connected with the resonance apparatus to receive the resonance signals therefrom; and
,a scan parameter selection means for selectively setting for the adjustable scan parameters from input clinical information on the subject to be imaged and an intended application for the resultant image, the scan parameter selection means being operatively connected with the magnetic resonance means, whereby the image is reconstructed from resonance signals caused with appropriate scan parameters for the subject and intended use of the image. - View Dependent Claims (3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8)
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9. An operating parameter selection system for medical diagnostic imaging equipment comprising:
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an input means for receiving intended application data; a first expert system for deriving constraints for values of each of a plurality of preselected image performance indices and a relative priority for each image performance index from the received intended application data, the first expert system being operatively connected with the input means; a second expert system for deriving operating parameter settings from the image performance index constraints and priorities, the image performance indices and the operating parameters being interrelated such that at least some of the image performance indices affect more than one operating parameter and at least one operating parameter is affected by several image performance indices, the second expert system being operatively connected with the first expert system to receive the image performance indices and priorities therefrom; means for generating a signal indicative of the operating parameter settings; and
,means adapted for communicating the signal to the associated medical diagnostic imaging equipment. - View Dependent Claims (10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16)
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17. A method of medical imaging comprising:
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selecting clinical data on a subject to be imaged and intended image diagnostic utility; in a first expert computer system, converting the clinical data into a plurality of image performance index constraint and priority values, the image performance index constraint and priority values and the clinical data being interrelated such that at least one of the image performance index constraint and priority values is affected by a plurality of the clinical data and such that at least one value of the clinical data affects a plurality of the image performance index constraint and priority values; in a second expert computer system, deriving a plurality of operating parameter settings from the image performance index constraint and priority values, the image performance index constraints and priority values and the operating parameter settings being related such that at least one of the operating parameter settings is affected by a plurality of the image performance index constraint and priority values and at least one of the image performance index constraint and priority values affects a plurality of operating parameter settings; scanning a subject to be imaged using the derived operating parameter settings. - View Dependent Claims (18, 19, 20)
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21. A method of operating parameter optimization for medical diagnostic imaging comprising:
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receiving intended use data in a computer; deriving in the computer constraints on values of each of a plurality of preselected image performance indices and a relative priority for each image performance index from the received data; deriving in the computer operating parameter settings from the image performance index constraints and priorities; generating a signal indicative of the operating parameter settings; communicating the signal to an associated medical diagnostic imaging device; and
,adjusting the associated medical diagnostic imaging device to operate with the derived operating parameter settings. - View Dependent Claims (22)
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Specification