System and method for automatic trigger-ROI detection and monitoring during bolus tracking
First Claim
Patent Images
1. A method for bolus tracking, comprising:
- acquiring one or more baseline images;
automatically establishing trigger regions within each of the one or more baseline images by determining an anatomical context of a volume of interest and automatically cross-referencing the anatomical context to the trigger regions;
administering a bolus;
monitoring the automatically established trigger regions for bolus arrival at the trigger regions;
forecasting first and second bolus arrival times at the volume of interest based on the bolus arrival at first and second of the trigger regions;
automatically calculating first and second confidence scores corresponding to the first and second of the trigger regions, wherein each of the first and second confidence scores represents a level of certainty associated with an ability of a corresponding trigger region to accurately predict the bolus arrival within the volume of interest based on identification of the bolus within the corresponding trigger region;
forecasting a third bolus arrival time at the volume of interest based on an average of the first and second bolus arrival times weighted in proportion to the confidence scores; and
acquiring a diagnostic scan of the volume of interest at the forecasted third bolus arrival time.
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Abstract
A method for bolus tracking includes acquiring one or more baseline images. One or more trigger regions are automatically established within the baseline images. A bolus is administered. The automatically established trigger regions are monitored for bolus arrival at the one or more trigger regions. Bolus arrival at a volume of interest is forecasted based on the bolus arrival at the one or more trigger regions. A diagnostic scan of the volume of interest is acquired at the forecasted time.
17 Citations
26 Claims
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1. A method for bolus tracking, comprising:
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acquiring one or more baseline images; automatically establishing trigger regions within each of the one or more baseline images by determining an anatomical context of a volume of interest and automatically cross-referencing the anatomical context to the trigger regions; administering a bolus; monitoring the automatically established trigger regions for bolus arrival at the trigger regions; forecasting first and second bolus arrival times at the volume of interest based on the bolus arrival at first and second of the trigger regions; automatically calculating first and second confidence scores corresponding to the first and second of the trigger regions, wherein each of the first and second confidence scores represents a level of certainty associated with an ability of a corresponding trigger region to accurately predict the bolus arrival within the volume of interest based on identification of the bolus within the corresponding trigger region; forecasting a third bolus arrival time at the volume of interest based on an average of the first and second bolus arrival times weighted in proportion to the confidence scores; and acquiring a diagnostic scan of the volume of interest at the forecasted third bolus arrival time. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19)
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20. A method for bolus tracking, comprising:
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acquiring a scout image; automatically detecting a monitoring line within the scout image; acquiring a baseline image at a location determined by the location of the automatically detected monitoring line within the scout image; automatically establishing a plurality of trigger regions within the baseline image by determining an anatomical context of a volume of interest and automatically cross-referencing the anatomical context to the trigger regions; administering a bolus; monitoring the automatically established trigger regions for bolus arrival at the trigger regions; forecasting first and second bolus arrival times at the volume of interest based on the bolus arrival at first and second of the trigger regions, and forecasting a third bolus arrival time at the volume of interest based on an average of the first and second bolus arrival times weighted in proportion to confidence scores corresponding to the first and second trigger regions, wherein each of the confidence scores represents a level of certainty associated with an ability of a corresponding trigger region to accurately predict the bolus arrival within the volume of interest based on identification of the bolus within the corresponding trigger region; and acquiring a diagnostic scan of the volume of interest at the forecasted third bolus arrival time. - View Dependent Claims (21, 22)
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23. A computer system comprising:
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a processor; and a non-transitory storage medium, readable by the computer system, embodying a program of instructions executable by the processor to perform method steps for bolus tracking, the method comprising; acquiring a scout image; automatically detecting a monitoring line within the scout image; acquiring a baseline image at a location determined by the location of the automatically detected monitoring line within the scout image; automatically establishing trigger regions within the baseline image by determining an anatomical context of a volume of interest and automatically cross-referencing the anatomical context to the trigger regions; administering a bolus; monitoring the automatically established trigger regions for bolus arrival at the trigger regions; forecasting first and second bolus arrival times at the volume of interest based on the bolus arrival at first and second of the trigger regions, and forecasting a third bolus arrival time at the volume of interest based on an average of the first and second bolus arrival times weighted in proportion to confidence scores corresponding to the first and second trigger regions, wherein each of the confidence scores represents a level of certainty associated with an ability of a corresponding trigger region to accurately predict the bolus arrival within the volume of interest based on identification of the bolus within the corresponding trigger region; and acquiring a diagnostic scan of the volume of interest at the forecasted third bolus arrival time. - View Dependent Claims (24, 25, 26)
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Specification