Computer aided acquisition of medical images

• US 6,574,304 B1
• Filed: 09/13/2002
• Issued: 06/03/2003
• Est. Priority Date: 09/13/2002
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: GE Medical Systems Global Technology Company LLC (GE Healthcare Technologies, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: GE Medical Systems Global Technology Company LLC (GE Healthcare Technologies, Inc.)
• Inventors: Bulkes, Cherik, Hsieh, Jiang, Avinash, Gopal B., Sabol, John M.
• Primary Examiner(s): Bruce, David V.
• Application Number:
  US10/242,975
• Time in Patent Office: 263 Days
• Field of Search: 378/4, 378/8, 378/19, 378/62, 378/901, 382/131, 382/128
• US Class Current: 378/62
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 6/032 Transmission computed tomography [CT]
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 6/5235 combining images from the same or different ionising radiation imaging techniques, e.g. PET and CT
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 6/5247 combining images from an ionising-radiation diagnostic technique and a non-ionising radiation diagnostic technique, e.g. X-ray and ultrasound
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 6/542 involving control of exposure
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 6/545 involving automatic set-up of acquisition parameters
• CPC Class Codes: G06T 7/0012 Biomedical image inspection
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 378/901 Computer tomography program or processor

Abstract

The invention provides a technique for acquiring subsequent image data in a medical diagnostic context based upon analysis of initial image data. The initial image data is processed via a computer aided diagnosis algorithm to determine whether additional image data acquisition is appropriate. Subsequent acquisition processes may be performed on the same imaging system from which the initial image data originated, or a different imaging system. The imaging systems may also be of different modalities. The subsequent acquisition of image data may be performed automatically without operator intervention, or the prescribed subsequent acquisition sequence may be outputted by the system for execution upon command of an operator.

Claims

1. A method for acquiring an image on an imaging system comprising the acts of:

(a) accessing at least first image data from a first imaging system;

(b) processing the first image data in accordance with a CAD algorithm; and

(c) acquiring at least second image data based upon results of the CAD algorithm.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the second image data is acquired from the first imaging system.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein the second image data is acquired from a second imaging system.

4. The method of claim 3, wherein the first and second imaging systems are of different imaging modalities.

5. The method of claim 3, wherein at least one of the first and second imaging systems is a CT system.

6. The method of claim 1, wherein the first imaging system is a CT system.

7. The method of claim 1, wherein the second image data is acquired on the first imaging system but with a different system configuration than that used for acquiring the first image data.

8. The method of claim 1, further comprising displaying a prescription for acquisition of the second image data.

9. The method of claim 1, wherein the second image data is acquired without operator intervention.

38. The computer program of claim 3, wherein at least one of the first and second imaging systems is a CT system.

10. An imaging system comprising:

a first image data acquisition system configured to acquire medical images; and

a computer system coupled to the image data acquisition system and configured to generate a first series of images from image data acquired by the acquisition system to process series of images via a CAD algorithm, and to prescribe acquisition of a second series of images based upon results of the CAD algorithm.

11. The imaging system of claim 10, wherein the second series of images is acquired from the first image data acquisition system.

12. The imaging system of claim 10, further comprising a second image data acquisition system, wherein the second series of images is acquired from the second image data acquisition system.

13. The imaging system of claim 12, wherein the first and second image data acquisition systems are of different imaging modalities.

14. The imaging system of claim 12, wherein at least one of the first and second image data acquisition systems is a CT system.

15. The imaging system of claim 10, wherein the first image data acquisition system is a CT system.

16. The imaging system of claim 10, wherein the second series of images is acquired on the first image data acquisition system but with a different image configuration than that used for acquiring the first series of images.

17. The imaging system of claim 10, wherein the second series of images is acquired without operator intervention.

18. The imaging system of claim 10, wherein the computer system is configured to propose the prescribed acquisition of the second series of images in an operator interface of the first image data acquisition system.

19. A system for generating medical images comprising:

an X-ray source;

a detector configured to receive radiation from the X-ray source and to generate image data based thereon;

a computer system coupled to the detector and configured to analyze the image data in accordance with a CAD algorithm and to prescribe acquisition of additional image data based upon results of the CAD algorithm.

20. The system of claim 19, wherein the additional image data is prescribed to be acquired from the detector.

21. The system of claim 19, further comprising a second image data acquisition system, wherein the additional image data prescribed to be acquired from the second image data acquisition system.

22. The system of claim 19, wherein X-ray source and detector are part of a CT imaging system.

23. The system of claim 19, wherein the additional image data are acquired from the detector but with a different image configuration than that used for acquiring the image data.

24. The system of claim 19, wherein the additional image data are acquired without operator intervention.

25. The system of claim 19, wherein the computer system is configured to prescribe acquisition of the additional image data via an operator interface of the first image data acquisition system.

26. An imaging system comprising:

first means for acquiring medical images; and

means for analyzing acquired medical images by generating a first series of images from acquired image data, processing the first series of images via a CAD algorithm, and to prescribing acquisition of a second series of images based upon results of the CAD algorithm.

27. The imaging system of claim 26, wherein the second series of images is acquired from the first means for acquiring medical images.

28. The imaging system of claim 26, further comprising second means for acquiring medical images, wherein the second series of images is prescribed to be acquired from the second means for acquiring medical images.

29. The imaging system of claim 28, wherein the first and second means for acquiring medical images are of different imaging modalities.

30. The imaging system of claim 28, wherein at least one of the first and second means for acquiring medical images is a CT system.

31. The imaging system of claim 26, wherein the first means for acquiring medical images is a CT system.

32. The imaging system of claim 26, wherein the second series of images is prescribed to be acquired on the first means for acquiring medical images.

33. The imaging system of claim 26, wherein the second series of images is acquired without operator intervention.

34. A computer program for acquiring medical image data, the program comprising:

a machine readable medium; and

a computer program stored on the medium and including routines for acquiring a first series of images from a first imaging system;

processing the first series of images in accordance with a CAD algorithm; and

acquiring a second series of images based upon results of the CAD algorithms.

35. The computer program of claim 34, wherein the second series of images is acquired from the first imaging system.

36. The computer program of claim 34, wherein the second series of images is acquired from a second imaging system.

37. The computer program of claim 36, wherein the first and second imaging systems are of different imaging modalities.

39. The computer program of claim 34, wherein the first imaging system is a CT system.

40. The computer program of claim 34, wherein the second series of images is acquired on the first imaging system but with a different system configuration than that used for acquiring the first series of images.

41. The computer program of claim 34, wherein the second series of images is acquired without operator intervention.