Method and control apparatus for tracking a contrast agent in an examination subject using a medical imaging device
First Claim
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1. A method for tracking a contrast agent in an examination subject, comprising the steps of:
- disposing an examination subject in a medical imaging apparatus;
injecting a test bolus of a contrast agent into said examination subject;
subsequently injecting a liquid into said examination subject which is free of contrast agent;
subsequently injecting a main bolus of contrast agent into said examination subject at a predetermined time interval Δ
ti following injection of said test bolus so that said test bolus, said liquid and said main bolus are injected in immediate succession;
monitoring an arrival of said test bolus within an observation volume of said examination subject by periodically and repeatedly obtaining survey images of said observation volume of said examination subject using said medical imaging apparatus; and
subsequent to identifying the arrival of said test bolus in said observation volume, beginning data acquisition for a diagnostic image of said examination subject using said medical imaging apparatus for a time interval Δ
tm, and selecting Δ
tm dependent on said predetermined time interval Δ
ti.
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Abstract
In a method and control apparatus for tracking a contrast agent using an imaging medical device a test bolus of a contrast agent is initially injected into an examination subject, followed by an injection of a main bolus at a time interval of Δti. The arrival of the test bolus in the observation volume is chronologically determined by periodically repeated survey measurements. An image data measurement is started at a time interval Δtm subsequent to the detection of the test bolus, this time interval Δtm being defined according to the prescribed time interval Δti.
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Citations
13 Claims
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1. A method for tracking a contrast agent in an examination subject, comprising the steps of:
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disposing an examination subject in a medical imaging apparatus;
injecting a test bolus of a contrast agent into said examination subject;
subsequently injecting a liquid into said examination subject which is free of contrast agent;
subsequently injecting a main bolus of contrast agent into said examination subject at a predetermined time interval Δ
ti following injection of said test bolus so that said test bolus, said liquid and said main bolus are injected in immediate succession;
monitoring an arrival of said test bolus within an observation volume of said examination subject by periodically and repeatedly obtaining survey images of said observation volume of said examination subject using said medical imaging apparatus; and
subsequent to identifying the arrival of said test bolus in said observation volume, beginning data acquisition for a diagnostic image of said examination subject using said medical imaging apparatus for a time interval Δ
tm, and selecting Δ
tm dependent on said predetermined time interval Δ
ti.- View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9)
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10. In a medical imaging apparatus wherein image data are acquired and wherein a diagnostic image is produced from said image data, the improvement of a control apparatus for tracking a contrast agent in said examination subject comprising:
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a first infusion pump adapted for connection to an examination subject for infusing a contrast agent into said examination subject;
a second infusion pump for infusing a liquid into said examination subject which is free of contrast agent;
a controller connected to said first infusion pump and to said second infusion pump, said controller operating said first infusion pump to inject a first contrast agent bolus into said examination subject followed at a predetermined time interval Δ
ti by injection of a second contrast agent bolus into said examination subject, with an injection of said liquid which is free of contrast agent from said second infusion pump during said interval Δ
ti, so that said first contrast agent bolus, said liquid and said second contrast agent bolus are injected in immediate succession;
said controller having an input for receiving a status signal from said medical imaging apparatus indicating arrival of said first bolus of contrast agent in an examination volume; and
said controller having a control output for starting image data acquisition by said medical imaging apparatus at a time interval Δ
tm after receiving said status signal, with Δ
tm being determined dependent on said time interval Δ
ti.- View Dependent Claims (11, 12, 13)
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Specification