Non-invasive plaque detection using combined nuclear medicine and x-ray system
First Claim
1. A diagnostic imaging system, the system comprising:
- a computer workstation for controlling the imaging system, interfacing with an operator and generating images;
a coordinate system in data communication with the computer workstation, the coordinate system adapted to describe relative position in the diagnostic imaging system;
a subject support describable within the coordinate system;
an x-ray sub-system, the x-ray sub-system positionable around the subject support;
position sensors operatively connected to the x-ray sub-system and workstation, the position sensors providing signals to the workstation indicative of the position of components of the x-ray sub-system within the coordinate system;
a nuclear camera sub-system, the nuclear camera sub-system positionable around the subject support;
position sensors operatively connected to the nuclear camera sub-system and workstation, the position sensors providing signals to the workstation indicative of the position of components of the nuclear camera sub-system within the coordinate system;
means for determining the position within the imaging coordinate system of a region of interest in an associated imaging subject from an image generated by the x-ray sub-system; and
means for targeting the nuclear camera sub-system to precisely obtain an image at the region of interest.
1 Assignment
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Accused Products
Abstract
A diagnostic imaging system (20) comprising a computer workstation (26) for controlling the imaging system, interfacing with an operator and generating images. A coordinate system (100) is in data communication with the computer workstation. The coordinate system (100) is adapted to describe relative position of components in the diagnostic imaging system (20). A subject support (30) is describable within the coordinate system and an X-ray sub-system (22) is positionable around the subject support (30). Position sensors (44a) are operatively connected to the x-ray sub-system (22) and they provide signals to the workstation (26) indicative of the position of components of the x-ray sub-system (22) within the space represented by the coordinate system. A nuclear camera sub-system (24) is positionable around the subject support (30). Position sensors (44b) are operatively connected to the nuclear camera sub-system (24) and provide signals to the workstation (26) indicative of position of components of the nuclear camera sub-system within the coordinate system. The workstation (100) includes a region of interest position determination function (108) for determining the position within the imaging system of a region of interest (40) in an image generated by the x-ray sub-system (22). The region of interest (40) is precisely targeted using the control console (26) for imaging by the nuclear camera (50).
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Citations
19 Claims
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1. A diagnostic imaging system, the system comprising:
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a computer workstation for controlling the imaging system, interfacing with an operator and generating images;
a coordinate system in data communication with the computer workstation, the coordinate system adapted to describe relative position in the diagnostic imaging system;
a subject support describable within the coordinate system;
an x-ray sub-system, the x-ray sub-system positionable around the subject support;
position sensors operatively connected to the x-ray sub-system and workstation, the position sensors providing signals to the workstation indicative of the position of components of the x-ray sub-system within the coordinate system;
a nuclear camera sub-system, the nuclear camera sub-system positionable around the subject support;
position sensors operatively connected to the nuclear camera sub-system and workstation, the position sensors providing signals to the workstation indicative of the position of components of the nuclear camera sub-system within the coordinate system;
means for determining the position within the imaging coordinate system of a region of interest in an associated imaging subject from an image generated by the x-ray sub-system; and
means for targeting the nuclear camera sub-system to precisely obtain an image at the region of interest. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8)
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9. A diagnostic imaging system, the system comprising:
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a computer workstation for controlling the imaging system, interfacing with an operator and generating images;
a coordinate system in data communication with the computer workstation, the coordinate system adapted to describe relative position of components in the diagnostic imaging system;
a subject support describable within the coordinate system, the subject support including reference markers able to be registered within the coordinate system;
an x-ray sub-system, the x-ray sub-system positionable around the subject support;
a nuclear camera sub-system including a camera head, the nuclear camera sub-system positionable around the subject support;
means for locating the position of components of the x-ray sub-system within the coordinate system;
means for locating the position of components of the nuclear camera sub-system within the coordinate system;
means for locating a region of interest relative to the reference markers of the subject support; and
means for targeting the nuclear camera head precisely at the region of interest.
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10. A diagnostic imaging system, the system comprising:
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means for positioning a first imaging modality at a determined location in a coordinate system for imaging a subject;
means for generating first image data of the subject from the first imaging modality;
means for evaluating the first image data from the first imaging modality;
means for identifying a region of interest in the imaged subject from the evaluated data;
means for determining the position for the region of interest in the coordinate system from the first image data;
means for determining a position of a nuclear camera in the coordinate system; and
means for re-positioning the nuclear camera to image the region of interest using the determined position of the region of interest. - View Dependent Claims (11, 12)
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13. A diagnostic imaging system, the system comprising:
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means for generating image data of the subject from an x-ray imaging modality;
means for evaluating the image data from the x-ray imaging modality;
means for identifying a region of interest in the imaged subject from the evaluated data;
means for determining the position for the region of interest in a coordinate system from the image data; and
means for automatically controlling positioning a nuclear camera to position the nuclear camera at the region of interest using the determined position of the region of interest.
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14. A diagnostic imaging system, the system comprising:
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means for positioning a first imaging modality including an x-ray source and x-ray detector for imaging a subject;
means for generating image data of the subject from the first imaging modality;
means for evaluating the image data from the first imaging modality;
means for identifying a region of interest in the imaged subject from the evaluated data;
means for determining the position for the region of interest in the coordinate system from the image data;
means for positioning a second imaging modality including a nuclear camera detector head to image the region of interest using the determined position of the region of interest; and
a positional common support member to support and positioning both of the x-ray source and nuclear camera detector head.
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15. A method of targeting and imaging a region of interest in a subject, the method comprising the steps of:
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positioning a first x-ray imaging modality for imaging a subject;
determining a position of the first imaging modality in a coordinate system;
generating image data of the subject from the first imaging modality;
evaluating the image data from the first imaging modality;
identifying a region of interest in the imaged subject from the evaluated data;
determining the position for the region of interest in the coordinate system from the image data;
determining a position of a nuclear camera in the coordinate system; and
,positioning the nuclear camera to precisely target the region of interest using the determined positions of the region of interest and the nuclear camera. - View Dependent Claims (16, 17, 18, 19)
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Specification