Imaging condition determining method and an X-ray CT apparatus

• US 7,050,532 B2
• Filed: 08/23/2004
• Issued: 05/23/2006
• Est. Priority Date: 09/05/2003
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• 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: Gohno, Makoto
• Primary Examiner(s): Bruce, David V.
• Assistant Examiner(s): SONG, HOON K
• Application Number:
  US10/924,365
• Publication Number:
  US 20050053190A1
• Time in Patent Office: 638 Days
• Field of Search: 378/16, 378/4, 378/901, 378/108, 378114-117, 378/8
• US Class Current: 378/8
• 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 6/467 characterised by special input means
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 6/469 for selecting a region of interest [ROI]
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 6/545 involving automatic set-up of acquisition parameters
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 2223/419 computed tomograph
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 2223/612 biological material

Abstract

An imaging condition determining method for an x-ray CT apparatus for performing imaging by a helical scan. The method includes making a table of various imaging conditions in advance, extracting at least one imaging condition from the table in accordance with age, imaging region, imaging length of the patient as well as the highest-priority objective specified by a user, and displaying the exposure dose of the patient under the at least one imaging condition, enabling the user to adjust the exposure dose, and determining the imaging condition adjusted in response to the adjustment of the exposure dose to the at least one imaging condition.

Claims

1. An imaging condition determining method for an x-ray CT apparatus for performing imaging by a helical scan, comprising the steps of:

making a table of various imaging conditions in advance;

extracting a first candidate imaging condition from said table in accordance with an age, imaging region, imaging length of a patient, and the highest-priority objective specified by a user, and displaying an exposure dose of the patient under the first candidate of imaging condition;

enabling the user to adjust said exposure dose; and

determining a second candidate imaging condition adjusted in response to the adjustment of said exposure dose.

2. An imaging condition determining method according to claim 1, wherein said highest-priority objective is the exposure dose.

3. An imaging condition determining method according to claim 1, wherein said highest-priority objective is one of exposure dose, image quality, and imaging speed.

4. An imaging condition determining method according to claim 2, wherein said exposure dose is indicated as a dose length product (DLP).

5. An imaging condition determining method according to of claim 1, wherein when there are plural candidates of said imaging conditions, one of the imaging conditions is determined based on a second priority objective specified by the user.

6. An imaging condition determining method according to claim 5, wherein said second priority objective is one, which is different from the highest-priority objective, of the exposure dose, image quality and imaging speed.

7. An imaging condition determining method according to claim 1, wherein said imaging conditions contained in said table are the imaging conditions based on the performance.

8. An imaging condition determining method according to claim 1, wherein said imaging conditions contained in said table are the imaging conditions based on a simulation.

9. An X-ray CT apparatus, comprising:

a memory device for storing a variety of imaging conditions previously made as a table;

a display device for extracting a first candidate imaging condition from said table in accordance with an age, imaging region, imaging length of a patient, and the highest-priority objective specified by a user for displaying an exposure dose of the patient under the first candidate imaging condition;

an adjusting device for enabling the user to adjust said exposure dose; and

a determining device for determining a second candidate imaging condition by performing correction in response to the adjustment of said exposure dose.

10. An X-ray CT apparatus according to claim 9, wherein said highest-priority objective is the exposure dose.

11. An X-ray CT apparatus according to claim 9, wherein said highest-priority objective is any one of exposure dose, image quality, and imaging speed.

12. An X-ray CT apparatus according to claims 10, wherein said exposure dose is indicated as a dose length product (DLP).

13. An X-ray CT apparatus according to claim 9, wherein when there is a plurality of candidates of said imaging conditions, one of the imaging conditions is determined based on a second priority objective specified by the user.

14. An X-ray CT apparatus according to claim 13, wherein said second priority objective is one, which is different from the highest-priority objective, of the exposure dose, image quality and imaging speed.

15. An X-ray CT apparatus according to claim 9, wherein said imaging conditions contained in said table are imaging conditions based on the performance.

16. An X-ray tomographic imaging helical scan CT apparatus according to claim 9 in which:

said imaging conditions contained in said table are imaging conditions based on a simulation.