System and method of extended field of view image acquisition of an imaged subject

• US 7,940,972 B2
• Filed: 04/09/2008
• Issued: 05/10/2011
• Est. Priority Date: 05/16/2007
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: General Electric Company
• Original Assignee: General Electric Company
• Inventors: Lee, Warren, Wildes, Douglas G., Griffin, Weston B., Topka, Terry M.
• Primary Examiner(s): Seth; Manav
• Application Number:
  US12/099,862
• Publication Number:
  US 20080285824A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,126 Days
• Field of Search: 382/103, 382/106, 382/107, 382128-132, 382153-154, 382/294, 850 1- 8, 850 21- 61, 600/11, 600/459, 600/462
• US Class Current: 382/128
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/0205 Simultaneously evaluating both cardiovascular conditions and different types of body conditions, e.g. heart and respiratory condition
• 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 6/5247 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 6/541 involving acquisition triggered by a physiological signal
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 8/12 in body cavities or body tracts, e.g. by using catheters catheters per se A61M25/00
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 8/14 Echo-tomography
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 8/4245 involving determining the position of the probe, e.g. with respect to an external reference frame or to the patient
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 8/4254 using sensors mounted on the probe
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 8/4263 using sensors not mounted on the probe, e.g. mounted on an external reference frame
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 8/445 Details of catheter construction
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 8/4461 Features of the scanning mechanism, e.g. for moving the transducer within the housing of the probe
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 8/543 involving acquisition triggered by a physiological signal

Abstract

A system and method of imaging an imaged subject is provided. The system comprises a controller, and an imaging system including an imaging probe in communication with the controller. The imaging probe includes a transducer array operable to move through a range of motion along a first imaging path at a first speed to acquire a first set of image data. The transducer array can be operable to move through the range of motion along the first imaging path at a second speed greater than the first speed so as to acquire an update image data at a rate faster than acquisition of the first set of image data.

Claims

1. A system to acquire an image of an imaged subject, comprising:

a controller; and

an imaging system including an imaging probe in communication with the controller, the imaging probe having a transducer array operable to move through a range of motion along a first imaging path at a first speed to acquire a first set of image data, and the transducer array operable to move through the range of motion along the first imaging path at a second speed greater than the first speed so as to acquire an update image data at a rate faster than acquisition of the first set of image data.

2. The system of claim 1, further comprising a tracking system in communication with the controller, the tracking system having a tracking element integrated with the imaging probe, wherein the controller registers a location of acquisition of the first set of image data with a location of acquisition of the update image data, and wherein the controller combines the first set of image data with the update image data.

3. The system of claim 1, further comprising a tracking system in communication with the controller, the tracking system having a tracking element integrated with the imaging probe, wherein the controller registers the first set of image data with the update image data, and wherein the controller overlays the first set of image data with the update image data.

4. The system of claim 1, further comprising a tracking system in communication with the controller, the tracking system having a tracking element located at a second instrument moving independently of the imaging probe, wherein the controller instructs the transducer array to acquire the update data in a direction of movement of the second instrument as tracked by the tracking system.

5. The system of claim 1, wherein the controller instructs the imaging probe to perform image acquisition intermittently at the first speed and the second at specified time intervals.

6. The system of claim 1, wherein the controller instructs the imaging probe to acquire a second set of update image data of the acquired first set of image data in response to detecting a predetermined measure of change between sets of prior acquired image data.

7. The system of claim 1, wherein the controller instructs movement of the transducer array to acquire update image data at the second speed over a portion less than the range of motion of the transducer array to acquire the first set of image data.

8. The system of claim 1, wherein the controller instructs the transducer array to acquire image data intermittently between the first and second speeds dependent on one of the group comprising a tracked cardiac cycle and a tracked respiratory cycle.

9. A method of image acquisition of an imaged anatomy, the method comprising the steps of:

providing an imaging system including an imaging probe having a transducer array;

rotating the transducer array about a longitudinal axis at a first speed along a first imaging path to acquire a first set of image data;

rotating the transducer array about the longitudinal axis at a second speed greater than the first speed so as to acquire an update image data along the first imaging path at a rate faster than acquisition of the first set of image data along the first imaging path; and

generating a display of the first set of image data combined with the update image data.

10. The method of claim 9, further comprising the step of:

tracking a position of the imaging probe;

registering the first set of image data with the update image data; and

combining the update image data into the first set of image data.

11. The method of claim 9, further comprising the step of:

tracking a position of the imaging probe;

registering a location of acquisition of the first set of image data with a location of acquisition of the update image data; and

overlaying the first set of image data with the update image data.

12. The method of claim 9, further comprising the step of:

detecting a direction of movement of a second instrument moving independently of the imaging probe, wherein the rotating step at the second speed includes acquiring the update image data at the second speed in the direction of movement of the second instrument.

13. The method of claim 9, wherein the rotating steps at the first and second speeds include acquiring the first set of image data at the first speed intermittently at specified time intervals with acquiring the update image data at the second speed.

14. The method of claim 9, wherein the rotating step at the second speed is to acquire a second set of update data in response to detecting a predetermined measure of change between prior acquired sets of image data.

15. The method of claim 9, wherein the controller instructs movement of the transducer array to acquire update image data at the second speed over a portion less than the range of motion of the transducer array to acquire the first set of image data.

16. The method of claim 9, further including the step of:

instructing the transducer array to acquire the image data intermittently between the first and second speeds dependent on one of the group comprising a tracked cardiac cycle and a tracked respiratory cycle.