Method and apparatus for increasing field of view in cone-beam computerized tomography acquisition
First Claim
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1. A method of increasing Field Of View (FOV) dimensions in an apparatus for cone-beam computerized tomography (CBCT) acquisition, the method comprising:
- A. selecting an image data acquisition protocol comprising a sequence of sub acquisition steps, each sub acquisition step including acquiring raw image data of a subvolume covering one of a first or a second adjacent to and partially overlapping anatomic areas;
B. positioning a patient to be imaged;
C. performing a first subacquisition step of the first anatomic area;
D. repositioning the apparatus for a second subacquisition step of said sequence of sub acquisition steps;
E. performing the second subacquisition step of the second anatomic area, said second anatomic area being adjacent to and partially overlapping said first anatomic area;
F. generating volumetric images of first and second subvolumes respectively covering the first and the second anatomic areas starting from the corresponding raw image data acquired during each of the first and the second subacquisition steps; and
G. reconstructing a single global volumetric image from said volumetric images of the first and the second subvolumes,wherein the step of reconstructing said single global volumetric image is performed through an image registration process that includes stitching and blending of at least part of said volumetric images of the first and the second subvolumes.
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Abstract
A method and apparatus for Cone-Beam Computerized Tomography, (CBCT) is configured to increase the maximum Field-Of-View (FOV) through a composite scanning protocol and includes acquisition and reconstruction of multiple volumes related to partially overlapping different anatomic areas, and the subsequent stitching of those volumes, thereby obtaining, as a final result, a single final volume having dimensions larger than those otherwise provided by the geometry of the acquisition system.
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Citations
20 Claims
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1. A method of increasing Field Of View (FOV) dimensions in an apparatus for cone-beam computerized tomography (CBCT) acquisition, the method comprising:
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A. selecting an image data acquisition protocol comprising a sequence of sub acquisition steps, each sub acquisition step including acquiring raw image data of a subvolume covering one of a first or a second adjacent to and partially overlapping anatomic areas; B. positioning a patient to be imaged; C. performing a first subacquisition step of the first anatomic area; D. repositioning the apparatus for a second subacquisition step of said sequence of sub acquisition steps; E. performing the second subacquisition step of the second anatomic area, said second anatomic area being adjacent to and partially overlapping said first anatomic area; F. generating volumetric images of first and second subvolumes respectively covering the first and the second anatomic areas starting from the corresponding raw image data acquired during each of the first and the second subacquisition steps; and G. reconstructing a single global volumetric image from said volumetric images of the first and the second subvolumes, wherein the step of reconstructing said single global volumetric image is performed through an image registration process that includes stitching and blending of at least part of said volumetric images of the first and the second subvolumes. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13)
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14. A method of increasing Field Of View (FOV) dimensions in an apparatus for cone-beam computerized tomography (CBCT) acquisition, the method comprising:
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A. selecting an image data acquisition protocol comprising a sequence of sub acquisition steps, each sub acquisition step including acquiring raw image data of a subvolume covering one of a first or a second adjacent to and partially overlapping anatomic areas; B. positioning a patient to be imaged; C. performing a first subacquisition step of the first anatomic area; D. repositioning the apparatus for a second subacquisition step of said sequence of sub acquisition steps; E. performing the second subacquisition step of the second anatomic area, said second anatomic area being adjacent to and partially overlapping said first anatomic area; F. generating volumetric images of first and second subvolumes respectively covering the first and the second anatomic areas starting from the corresponding raw image data acquired during each of the first and the second subacquisition steps; and G. reconstructing a single global volumetric image from said volumetric images of the first and the second subvolumes, wherein the step of reconstructing said single global volumetric image is performed through an image registration process that includes stitching and blending of at least part of said volumetric images of the first and the second subvolumes, further comprising a prediction step of the image registration process, said prediction step comprising; defining a parametric quality criterion representing a measure for a grey level distribution of pixels or voxels in volumetric image data related to the first and the second subvolumes; defining a threshold value or a sample value for the parametric quality criterion corresponding to the grey level distribution in the global volumetric image which is admissible for correctly carrying out the image registration process; calculating a value of the parametric quality criterion for the acquired global volumetric image; comparing the calculated value of the parametric quality criterion with the threshold value or the sample value; generating a warning when the calculated value has a difference from the threshold value or the sample value which is greater than a predetermined magnitude; and optionally stopping the image registration process. - View Dependent Claims (15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20)
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Specification