Radiographing plan assisting method and X-ray CT system

• US 7,502,445 B2
• Filed: 09/14/2006
• Issued: 03/10/2009
• Est. Priority Date: 09/15/2005
• Status: Active Grant

• 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: Shi, Yilun, Wang, Xueli
• Primary Examiner(s): Glick; Edward J
• Assistant Examiner(s): Artman; Thomas R
• Application Number:
  US11/531,929
• Publication Number:
  US 20070211844A1
• Time in Patent Office: 908 Days
• Field of Search: 378/62, 378/95, 378/115
• US Class Current: 378/115
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 6/032 Transmission computed tomography [CT]
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 6/469 for selecting a region of interest [ROI]
• CPC Class Codes: G16H 30/40 for processing medical images, e.g. editing
• CPC Class Codes: G16H 40/63 for local operation

Abstract

With a view to providing a radiographing plan assisting method which can easily prepare a radiographing plan by utilizing a user interface, it is made possible to select an anatomical region through a user interface, select through a user interface an anatomical area belonging to the selected anatomical region, select a radiographing protocol for the selected anatomical area through a user interface, and select a feature of the selected radiographing protocol through a user interface.

Claims

1. A radiographing planning method comprising:

selecting an anatomical region through a first user interface, the first user interface including a first selection screen for selecting the anatomical region from a plurality of anatomical regions;

selecting an anatomical area belonging to the selected anatomical region through a second user interface, the second user interface including a second selection screen for selecting the anatomical area from a plurality of anatomical areas belonging to the selected anatomical region, the second user interface displayed after selection of the anatomical region;

selecting a radiographing protocol for the selected anatomical area through a third user interface, the third user interface including a third selection screen for selecting the radiographing protocol from a plurality of radiographing protocols associated with the selected anatomical area, the third user interface displayed after selection of the anatomical area; and

selecting a feature of the selected radiographing protocol through a fourth user interface, the fourth user interface including a fourth selection screen for selecting the feature from a plurality of features associated with the selected radiographing protocol, the fourth user interface displayed after selection of the radiographing protocol, the selected feature having a configuration file including a matrix with one of columns and rows corresponding to the plurality of anatomical regions and the other of the rows and the columns corresponding to the plurality of anatomical areas.

2. A radiographing planning method according to claim 1, wherein selecting an anatomical area belonging to the selected anatomical region comprises customizing, by a user, the second user interface.

3. A radiographing planning method according to claim 1, wherein selecting a radiographing protocol for the selected anatomical area comprises customizing, by a user, the third user interface.

4. A radiographing planning method according to claim 1, wherein selecting an anatomical region through a first user interface comprises selecting at least one of a head, an orbit, a spine, a shoulder, a chest, an abdomen, a lumbar, a pelvis, a lower extremity, and a general area of a patient.

5. A radiographing planning method according to claim 1, further comprising reconstructing an image based on the selections.

6. An X-ray CT system configured to reconstruct a tomographic image based on scan data obtained by scanning a subject with X-ray, said X-ray CT system comprising:

a first user interface comprising a first selection screen for selecting an anatomical region from a plurality of anatomical regions;

a second user interface comprising a second selection screen for selecting an anatomical area from a plurality of anatomical areas belonging to the selected anatomical region, said second selection screen displayed after selection of the selected anatomical region;

a third user interface comprising a third selection screen for selecting a radiographing protocol from a plurality of radiographing protocols associated with the selected anatomical area, said third selection screen displayed after selection of the selected anatomical area; and

a fourth user interface comprising a fourth selection screen for selecting a feature from a plurality of features associated with the selected radiographing protocol, said fourth selection screen displayed after selection of the selected radiographing protocol, the selected feature having a configuration file including a matrix with one of columns and rows corresponding to the plurality of anatomical regions and the other of the rows and the columns corresponding to the plurality of anatomical areas.

7. An X-ray CT system according to claim 6, wherein said second user interface is customized by a user.

8. An X-ray CT system according to claim 6, wherein said third user interface is customized by a user.

9. An X-ray CT system according to claim 6, wherein said first selection screen is configured to display the plurality of anatomical regions, the plurality of anatomical regions including at least one of a head, an orbit, a spine, a shoulder, a chest, an abdomen, a lumbar, a pelvis, a lower extremity, and a general area of a patient.

10. An X-ray CT system according to claim 6, further comprising an operator console configured to reconstruct the tomographic image based on the selections.

11. A radiography plan assisting device comprising:

a first user interface for selecting an anatomical region, said first user interface comprising a first selection screen configured to display a plurality of anatomical regions including the selected anatomical region;

a second user interface for selecting an anatomical area associated with the selected anatomical region, said second user interface comprising a second selection screen configured to display a plurality of anatomical areas associated with the selected anatomical region and including the selected anatomical area, said second user interface displayed after the selection of the selected anatomical region;

a third user interface for selecting a radiographing protocol associated with the selected anatomical area, said third user interface comprising a third selection screen configured to display a plurality of radiographing protocols associated with the selected anatomical area and including the selected radiographing protocol, said third user interface displayed after the selection of the selected anatomical area; and

a fourth user interface for selecting a feature associated with the selected radiographing protocol, said fourth user interface comprising a fourth selection screen configured to display a plurality of features associated with the selected radiographing protocol and including the selected feature, said fourth user interface displayed after the selection of the selected radiographing protocol, the selected feature associated with the selected radio radiographing protocol having a configuration file including a matrix with one of columns and rows corresponding to the plurality of anatomical regions and the other of the rows and the columns corresponding to the plurality of anatomical areas.

12. A radiography plan assisting device according to claim 11, wherein said second user interface comprises a customizable user interface for selecting an anatomical area associated with the selected anatomical region.

13. A radiography plan assisting device according to claim 11, wherein said third user interface comprises a customizable user interface for selecting a radiographing protocol associated with the selected anatomical area.

14. A radiography plan assisting device according to claim 11, wherein said first selection screen is configured to display the plurality of anatomical regions, the plurality of anatomical regions including at least one of a head, an orbit, a spine, a shoulder, a chest, an abdomen, a lumbar, a pelvis, a lower extremity, and a general area of a patient.