Method and control device for controlling a tomogram acquisition device

• US 6,792,066 B1
• Filed: 05/15/2003
• Issued: 09/14/2004
• Est. Priority Date: 05/15/2002
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Siemens Healthcare GMBH (Siemens AG)
• Original Assignee: Siemens AG
• Inventors: Harder, Martin, Oesingmann, Niels
• Primary Examiner(s): BRUCE, DAVID VERNON
• Application Number:
  US10/438,546
• Time in Patent Office: 488 Days
• Field of Search: 378/4, 378/8, 378/15, 378/19, 378/901, 250/363.04, 250/370.09
• US Class Current: 378/4
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/7285 for synchronising or triggering a physiological measurement or image acquisition with a physiological event or waveform, e.g. an ECG signal A61B6/5205, A61B6/541, A61B8/5207, A61B8/543 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 6/032 Transmission computed tomography [CT]
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 6/465 adapted to display user selection data, e.g. graphical user interface, icons or menus
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 6/469 for selecting a region of interest [ROI]
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 6/488 involving pre-scan acquisition
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 6/541 involving acquisition triggered by a physiological signal
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 23/04 and forming images of the material
• CPC Class Codes: G01R 33/4833 using spatially selective excitation of the volume of interest, e.g. selecting non-orthogonal or inclined slices
• CPC Class Codes: G01R 33/546 Interface between the MR system and the user, e.g. for controlling the operation of the MR system or for the design of pulse sequences
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 378/901 Computer tomography program or processor

Abstract

In a method for controlling a tomogram acquisition device acquiring tomograms of a subject and a control device and tomography apparatus operating according to the method, reference images of the subject are presented at a graphic user interface, and the positions of tomograms to be subsequently acquired are defined by slice position markings within the displayed reference images. A sequence of time-dependent slice position markings is first set in the reference images, with a time mark being allocated to the individual slice position marking of the sequence. On the basis of this sequence of time-dependent slice position markings, the positions of the tomograms to be subsequently acquired are determined dependent on the acquisition time of each tomogram relative to a reference time.

Claims

1. A method for controlling a tomogram acquisition device for acquiring tomograms of a subject, comprising the steps of:

presenting a plurality of reference images of a subject at a graphic user interface;

setting a sequence of time-dependent slice position markings respectively in the reference images with a time mark allocated to each of said slice position markings in said sequence; and

dependent on said sequence, determining respective positions of tomograms to be acquired from said subject by designating respective acquisition times for the tomograms relative to a reference time.

2. A method as claimed in claim 1 comprising generating said reference images in a reference image sequence showing said subject at respectively different relative points in time, and setting said sequence of time-dependent slice position markings in said reference image sequence.

3. A method as claimed in claim 2 comprising setting the respective slice position markings in said reference images, as said time mark, as a same relative point in time as the relative point in time of the respective reference image.

4. A method as claimed in claim 2 comprising setting one and only one slice position marking in each of said reference images.

5. A method as claimed in claim 4 comprising generating said sequence of reference images to show a specified structure of said subject in respectively different positions, and wherein the slice position markings in the respective reference images designate a slice of said subject comprising said structure.

6. A method as claimed in claim 1 comprising generating a time-dependent positioning function from said sequence of time-dependent slice position markings and storing said positioning function and using said function at a subsequent measuring time for obtaining said tomograms at said respective positions.

7. A method as claimed in claim 1 comprising generating a time-dependent look-up table from said sequence of time-dependent slice position markings and storing said look-up table and using said function at a subsequent measuring time for obtaining said tomograms at said respective positions.

8. A method as claimed in claim 1 comprising employing, as said reference time, a starting time of an exposure series in which said tomograms are acquired.

9. A method as claimed in claim 1 comprising employing, as said reference time, a time of occurrence of a specified event associated with said subject.

10. A method as claimed in claim 8 comprising employing a periodically re-occurring event as said specified event.

11. A method as claimed in claim 9 comprising acquiring said time of occurrence of said specified event with a measuring instrument interacting with said subject.

12. A method as claimed in claim 11 comprising generating a trigger signal at said point of time of occurrence of said specified event for triggering a start of an exposure series in which said tomograms are acquired.

13. A control device for controlling a tomogram acquisition device for acquiring tomograms of a subject, comprising:

a graphic user interface for presenting a plurality of reference images of a subject at a graphic user interface and for setting a sequence of time-dependent slice position markings respectively in the reference images with a time mark allocated to each of said slice position markings in said sequence;

a slice position determination unit for, dependent on said sequence, determining respective positions of tomograms to be acquired from said subject by designating respective acquisition times for the tomograms relative to a reference time; and

a control unit for operating a tomogram acquisition device to acquire said tomograms at said respective positions.

14. A control device as claimed in claim 13 wherein said graphic user interface presents said reference images in a reference image sequence showing said subject at respectively different relative points in time, and sets said sequence of time-dependent slice position markings in said reference image sequence.

15. A control device as claimed in claim 14 wherein said graphic user interface sets the respective slice position markings in said reference images, as said time mark, at a same relative point in time as the relative point in time of the respective reference image.

16. A control device as claimed in claim 15 wherein said graphic user interface sets one and only one slice position marking in each of said reference images.

17. A control device as claimed in claim 16 wherein said graphic user interface presents said sequence of reference images to show a specified structure of said subject in respectively different positions, and wherein the slice position markings in the respective reference images designate a slice of said subject comprising said structure.

18. A control device as claimed in claim 13 wherein said slice position determination unit generates a time-dependent positioning function from said sequence of time-dependent slice position markings and comprises a memory accessible by said control unit for storing said positioning function, and wherein said control unit uses said function at a subsequent measuring time for obtaining said tomograms at said respective positions.

19. A control device as claimed in claim 13 wherein said slice position determination unit generates a time-dependent look-up table from said sequence of time-dependent slice position markings and comprises a memory accessible by said control unit for storing said look-up table, and wherein said control unit said uses said function at a subsequent measuring time for obtaining said tomograms at said respective positions.

20. A control device as claimed in claim 13 wherein said slice position determination unit employs, as said reference time, a starting time of an exposure series in which said tomograms are acquired.

21. A control device as claimed in claim 13 wherein said slice position determination unit employs, as said reference time, a time of occurrence of a specified event associated with said subject.

22. A control device as claimed in claim 20 wherein said slice position determination unit employs a periodically re-occurring event as said specified event.

23. A control device as claimed in claim 21 comprising a measuring instrument adapted to interact with said subject for acquiring said time of occurrence of said specified event.

24. A control device as claimed in claim 23 wherein said control unit generates a trigger signal at said point of time of occurrence of said specified event for triggering a start of an exposure series in which said tomograms are acquired.

25. A tomogram acquisition device comprising:

a graphic use interface for presenting a plurality of reference images of a subject at a graphic user interface and for setting a sequence of time-dependent slice position markings respectively in the reference images with a time mark allocated to each of said slice position markings in said sequence;

a slice position determination unit for, dependent on said sequence, determining respective positions of tomograms to be acquired from said subject by designating respective acquisition times for the tomograms relative to a reference time;

a tomogram acquisition unit adapted to interact with said subject to acquire tomograms from said subject; and

a control unit for operating said tomogram acquisition unit to acquire said tomograms at said respective positions.