Method for operating a computed tomography apparatus

• US 6,512,808 B2
• Filed: 12/20/2000
• Issued: 01/28/2003
• Est. Priority Date: 12/20/1999
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Siemens Healthcare GMBH (Siemens AG)
• Original Assignee: Siemens AG
• Inventors: Klingenbeck-Regn, Klaus
• Primary Examiner(s): Dunn, Drew A.
• Assistant Examiner(s): Barber, Therese
• Application Number:
  US09/742,152
• Publication Number:
  US 20010004393A1
• Time in Patent Office: 769 Days
• Field of Search: 378/4, 378/8, 378/15, 378/16, 378/18, 378/20, 378/95, 378/162, 378/207, 378/99
• US Class Current: 378/18
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 6/027 characterised by the use of a particular data acquisition trajectory, e.g. helical or spiral
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 6/032 Transmission computed tomography [CT]
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 6/4085 Cone-beams

Abstract

In a method for the operation of a CT apparatus with which volume data for a volume region of an examination subject are registered, markings for identifying reconstruction regions are mixed into an x-ray shadowgram containing the volume region. The reconstruction of image data with respect to each reconstruction region ensues taking reconstruction parameters allocated to the respective reconstruction region into consideration.

Claims

1. A method for operating a computed tomography apparatus wherein volume data for an overall volume region of an examination subject are registered, comprising the steps of:

(a) producing an x-ray shadowgram of a region of an examination subject containing the overall volume region;

(b) mixing a plurality of markings for respectively identifying reconstruction sub-regions in said overall volume region for which image data are to be reconstructed from said volume data;

(c) allocating at least one different reconstruction parameter to each of said reconstruction sub-regions; and

(d) reconstructing image data for each of said reconstruction sub-regions employing the at least one reconstruction parameter allocated to the respective reconstruction sub-region.

2. A method as claimed in claim 1 wherein step (c) comprises allocating at least one different reconstruction parameter selected from the group consisting of slice thickness and convolution kernel to each of said reconstruction sub-regions.

3. A method as claimed in claim 1 wherein step (b) comprises mixing a plurality of markings respectively identifying reconstruction sub-regions which at least partially overlap.

4. A method for operating a computed tomography apparatus comprising the steps of:

(a) obtaining shadowgram data from an examination subject containing an overall volume region from which a reconstructed image is to be obtained, and generating and displaying an x-ray shadowgram from said shadowgram data;

(b) mixing a plurality of markings into the displayed shadowgram for respectively identifying reconstruction sub-regions within said overall volume region for which said reconstructed image is to be produced;

(c) registering volume data from said volume region dependent on said reconstruction sub-regions identified in said shadowgram;

(d) allocating at least one different reconstruction parameter to each of said reconstruction sub-regions; and

(e) reconstructing image data from said volume data for each of said reconstruction sub-regions employing the at least one reconstruction parameter respectively allocated to the reconstruction sub-region.

5. A method as claimed in claim 4 wherein step (c) comprises registering said volume data with a spiral scan.

6. A method as claimed in claim 4 wherein step (b) comprises mixing a plurality of markings respectively identifying reconstruction sub-regions which at least partially overlap.

7. A method as claimed in claim 4 wherein step (d) comprises allocating at least one different reconstruction parameter selected from the group consisting of slice thickness and convolution kernel to each of said reconstruction sub-regions.

8. A method for operating a computed tomography apparatus comprising the steps of:

(a) registering volume data for an overall volume region of an examination subject;

(b) from said volume data, producing and displaying an x-ray shadowgram containing said overall volume region;

(c) in the displayed shadowgram, mixing in a plurality of markings identifying reconstruction sub-regions in said overall volume region for which image data are to be reconstructed;

(d) allocating at least one different reconstruction parameter to each of said reconstruction sub-regions; and

(e) reconstructing image data from said volume data for each of said reconstruction sub-regions employing the at least one reconstruction parameter respectively allocated to the reconstruction sub-region.

9. A method as claimed in claim 8 wherein step (a) comprises registering said volume data with a spiral scan.

10. A method as claimed in claim 8 wherein step (c) comprises mixing a plurality of markings respectively identifying reconstruction sub-regions which at least partially overlap.

11. A method as claimed in claim 8 wherein step (d) comprises allocating at least one different reconstruction parameter selected from the group consisting of slice thickness and convolution kernel to each of said reconstruction sub-regions.