Fluoroscopic tomosynthesis system and method

• US 7,103,136 B2
• Filed: 12/22/2003
• Issued: 09/05/2006
• Est. Priority Date: 12/22/2003
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: General Electric Company
• Original Assignee: General Electric Company
• Inventors: Eberhard, Jeffrey Wayne, Claus, Bernhard Erich Hermann, Langan, David Allen
• Primary Examiner(s): Glick, Edward J.
• Assistant Examiner(s): KAO, CHIH CHENG G
• Application Number:
  US10/745,315
• Publication Number:
  US 20050135558A1
• Time in Patent Office: 988 Days
• Field of Search: 378/4, 378/15, 378/22, 378/62
• US Class Current: 378/4
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 6/025 Tomosynthesis
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 6/481 involving the use of contrast agents
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 6/504 for diagnosis of blood vessels, e.g. by angiography
• CPC Class Codes: G06T 11/006 Inverse problem, transformation from projection-space into object-space, e.g. transform methods, back-projection, algebraic methods
• CPC Class Codes: G06T 2211/436 Limited angle

Abstract

A technique is provided for generating a three-dimensional image from fluoroscopic projection images. The technique allows for the acquisition of fluoroscopic images at different perspectives relative to a region of interest. One or more three-dimensional images may then be reconstructed from the fluoroscopic projection images. The three-dimensional images may then be displayed to provide anatomic context for the fluoroscopic application. A fluoroscopic projection image, such as the most current fluoroscopic image, may be superimposed on the three-dimensional image if desired.

Claims

1. A method for generating a three-dimensional image, comprising:

acquiring two or more fluoroscopic projection images at different view angles relative to a region of interest, wherein the two or more fluoroscopic projection images are aligned using at least one of a fiducial marker or an anatomical structure; and

reconstructing at least one three-dimensional image from the two or more fluoroscopic projection images.

2. The method, as recited in claim 1, wherein the step of acquiring the two or more fluoroscopic projection images comprises:

moving at least a source in a trajectory relative to the region of interest; and

emitting X-rays from the source at different locations on the trajectory such that the X-rays traverse the region of interest and impact a detector.

3. The method, as recited in claim 2, wherein the trajectory comprises a one-dimensional spatial trajectory, a two-dimensional spatial trajectory, or a three-dimensional spatial trajectory.

4. The method, as recited in claim 1, wherein the step of acquiring the two or more fluoroscopic projection images comprises:

obtaining position information about at least one of a source or a detector from an electro-magnetic signal.

5. The method, as recited in claim 1, wherein the step of acquiring the two or more fluoroscopic projection images comprises:

determining at least one of a time or a position for the acquisition of a fluoroscopic projection image to obtain at least one of a desired depth resolution, a suppression of overlying tissue, a reduction in image artifacts, an improvement in signal to noise, a desired acquisition geometry arid or a desired orientation of a structure in the region of interest.

6. The method, as recited in claim 1, wherein the step of acquiring the two or more fluoroscopic projection images comprises:

determining at least one of a time or a position for the acquisition of a fluoroscopic projection image based on at least one of an electrocardiogram signal, an automated contrast agent injection, elapsed image acquisition time, feedback based on a displayed three-dimensional image, a positional sensor associated with an invasive device, a pre-shot for establishing exposure parameters, or a video image.

7. The method, as recited in claim 1, wherein the step of acquiring the two or more fluoroscopic projection images comprises:

determining at least one of a time or a position for the acquisition of a fluoroscopic projection image automatically.

8. The method, as recited in claim 1, wherein the step of acquiring the two or more fluoroscopic projection images comprises:

determining at least one of a time and or a position for the acquisition of a fluoroscopic projection image semi-automatically.

9. The method, as recited in claim 1, comprising:

correlating at least one of a fluoroscopic projection image or a three-dimensional image with an electro-magnetic position signal associated with an invasive device.

10. The method'"'"' as recited in claim 1, comprising:

converting the two or more fluoroscopic projection images to respective lower resolution images.

11. The method, as recited in claim 1, wherein the step of acquiring the two or more fluoroscopic projection images comprises:

reading out only a portion of a detector;

wherein the portion corresponds to the region of interest.

12. The method, as recited in claim 1, wherein the step of acquiring the two or more fluoroscopic projection images comprises:

reading out a first portion of a detector associated with the region of interest at a first resolution; and

reading out a second portion of a detector not associated with the region of interest at a second resolution, wherein the second resolution is lower than the first resolution.

13. The method, as recited in claim 1, comprising:

pre-scanning the region of interest.

14. The method, as recited in claim 1, wherein the step of reconstructing at least one three-dimensional image comprises:

registering the two or more fluoroscopic projection images based on at least one of a fiducial mark or an anatomical marker.

15. The method, as recited in claim 1, wherein the step of reconstructing at least one three-dimensional image comprises:

updating an existing three-dimensional image using at least one recent fluoroscopic projection image.

16. The method, as recited in claim 1, wherein the step of reconstructing at least one three-dimensional image comprises:

selecting two or more fluoroscopic projection images for reconstruction based on at least one of an electrocardiogram signal, an acquisition geometry, or a configured number of projections to be used for reconstruction into a three-dimensional image.

17. The method, as recited in claim 1, wherein the step of reconstructing at least one three-dimensional image comprises:

weighting one or more fluoroscopic projection images used in the reconstruction process differentially.

18. The method as recited in claim 17, wherein the weighting is applied based on at least one of an acquisition geometry, a time of acquisition, an elapsed time, or an electrocardiogram signal.

19. The method, as recited in claim 1, wherein the step of reconstructing at least one three-dimensional image comprises:

reconstructing the region of interest at a first resolution; and

reconstructing a volume outside the region of interest at a second resolution, wherein the second resolution is less than the first resolution.

20. The method, as recited in claim 1, wherein the step of reconstructing at least one three-dimensional image comprises:

reconstructing the region of interest more frequently than a volume outside the region of interest.

21. The method, as recited in claim 1, wherein the two or more fluoroscopic projection images comprise difference images.

22. The method, as recited in claim 1, comprising:

rendering the at least one three-dimensional image.

23. The method, as recited in claim 22, comprising:

superimposing a current fluoroscopic projection image on the rendered three-dimensional image.

24. The method, as recited in claim 22, comprising:

displaying a visual indicator with the rendered three-dimensional image to indicate a viewpoint of the most recent fluoroscopic projection image.

25. One or more computer readable media encoded with a computer program for generating a three-dimensional image, the computer program comprising:

a routine for acquiring two or more fluoroscopic projection images at different view angles relative to a region of interest, wherein the two or more fluoroscopic projection images are aligned using at least one of a fiducial marker or an anatomical structure; and

a routine for reconstructing at least one three-dimensional image from the two or more fluoroscopic projection images.

26. The one or more computer readable media, as recited in claim 25, wherein the routine for acquiring moves at least a source in a trajectory relative to the region of interest and causes the source to emit X-rays at different locations on the trajectory such that the X-rays traverse the region of interest and impact a detector.

27. The one or more computer readable media, as recited in claim 26, wherein the trajectory comprises a one-dimensional spatial trajectory, a two-dimensional spatial trajectory, or a three-dimensional spatial trajectory.

28. The one or more computer readable media, as recited in claim 25, wherein the routine for acquiring obtains position information about at least one of a source or a detector from an electro-magnetic signal.

29. The one or more computer readable media, as recited in claim 25, wherein the routine for acquiring determines at least one of a time and or a position for the acquisition of a fluoroscopic projection image to obtain at least one of a desired depth resolution, a suppression of overlying tissue, a reduction in image artifacts, an improvement in signal to noise, a desired acquisition geometry, or a desired orientation of a structure in the region of interest.

30. The one or more computer readable media, as recited in claim 25, wherein the routine for acquiring determines at least one of a time or a position for the acquisition of a fluoroscopic projection image based on at least one of an electrocardiogram signal, an automated contrast agent injection, elapsed image acquisition time, feedback based on a displayed three-dimensional image, a positional sensor associated with an invasive device, a pre-shot for establishing exposure parameters, or a video image.

31. The one or more computer readable media, as recited in claim 25, comprising:

a routine for correlating at least one of a fluoroscopic projection image or a three-dimensional image with an electro-magnetic position signal associated with an invasive device.

32. The one or more computer readable media, as recited in claim 25, comprising:

a routine for converting the two or more fluoroscopic projection images to respective lower resolution images.

33. The one or more computer readable media, as recited in claim 25, wherein the routine for acquiring reads out only a portion of a detector;

wherein the portion corresponds to the region of interest.

34. The one or more computer readable media, as recited in claim 25, wherein the routine for acquiring reads out a portion of a detector associated with the region of interest at a first resolution and reads out a portion of a detector not associated with the region of interest at a second resolution, wherein the second resolution is lower than the first resolution.

35. The one or more computer readable media, as recited in claim 25, comprising:

a routine for pre-scanning the region of interest.

36. The one or more computer readable media, as recited in claim 25, wherein the routine for reconstructing registers the two or more fluoroscopic projection images based on at least one of a fiducial mark or an anatomical marker.

37. The one or more computer readable media, as recited in claim 25, wherein the routine for reconstructing updates an existing three-dimensional image using at least one recent fluoroscopic projection image.

38. The one or more computer readable media, as recited in claim 25, wherein the routine for reconstructing selects two or more fluoroscopic projection images for reconstruction based on at least one of an electrocardiogram signal, an acquisition geometry, or a configured number of projections to be used for reconstruction into a three-dimensional image.

39. The one or more computer readable media, as recited in claim 25, wherein the routine for reconstructing weights one or more fluoroscopic projection images used in the reconstruction process differentially.

40. The one or more computer readable media, as recited in claim 39, wherein the routine for reconstructing weights the one or more fluoroscopic projection images based on at least one of an acquisition geometry, a time of acquisition, an elapsed time or an electrocardiogram signal.

41. The one or more computer readable media, as recited in claim 25, wherein the routine for reconstructing reconstructs the region of interest at a first resolution and reconstructs a volume outside the region of interest at a second resolution, wherein the second resolution is less than the first resolution.

42. The one or more computer readable media, as recited in claim 25, wherein the routine for reconstructing reconstructs the region of interest more frequently than a volume outside the region of interest.

43. The one or more computer readable media, as recited in claim 25, wherein the two or more fluoroscopic projection images comprise difference images.

44. The one or more computer readable media, as recited in claim 25, comprising:

a routine for rendering the at least one three-dimensional image.

45. The one or more computer readable media, as recited in claim 44, comprising:

a routine for superimposing a current fluoroscopic projection image on the rendered three-dimensional image.

46. The one or more computer readable media, as recited in claim 44, comprising:

a routine for displaying a visual indicator with the rendered three-dimensional image to indicate a viewpoint of the most recent fluoroscopic projection image.

47. A fluoroscopic imaging system, comprising:

means for acquiring two or more fluoroscopic projection images at different view angles relative to a region of interest, wherein the two or more of the fluoroscopic projection images are aligned using at least one of a fiducial marker or an anatomical structure; and

means for reconstructing at least one three-dimensional image from the two or more fluoroscopic projection images.

48. A fluoroscopic imaging system, comprising:

an X-ray source configured to emit a stream of radiation through a volume of interest from different positions relative to a region of interest;

a detector comprising a plurality of detector elements, wherein each detector element generates one or more signals in response to respective streams of radiation;

a system controller configured to control the X-ray source and to acquire the one or more signals from the plurality of detector elements;

a computer system configured to generate two or more fluoroscopic projection images of the region of interest from different perspectives from the one or more signals, wherein the two or more fluoroscopic projection images are aligned using at least one of a fiducial marker or an anatomical structure, and to reconstruct at least one three-dimensional image from the two or more fluoroscopic projection images; and

an operator workstation configured to display at least one three-dimensional image.

49. The fluoroscopic imaging system, as recited in claim 48, wherein the X-ray source is configured to move in at least one of a one-dimensional spatial trajectory, a two-dimensional spatial trajectory, or a three-dimensional spatial trajectory.

50. The fluoroscopic imaging system, as recited in claim 48, wherein at least one of the X-ray source or the detector comprises a position indicator.

51. The fluoroscopic imaging system, as recited in claim 50, wherein the position indicator generates an electro-magnetic position signal.

52. The fluoroscopic imaging system, as recited in claim 48, wherein the system controller is configured to read out only a portion of the detector, wherein the portion corresponds to the region of interest.

53. The fluoroscopic imaging system, as recited in claim 48, wherein the system controller is configured to read out a first portion of the detector associated with the region of interest at a first resolution and to read out a second portion of a detector not associated with the region of interest at a second resolution, wherein the second resolution is lower than the first resolution.

54. The fluoroscopic imaging system, as recited in claim 48, wherein the computer system is configured to pre-scan the region of interest.

55. The fluoroscopic imaging system, as recited in claim 48, wherein the two or more fluoroscopic projection images comprise difference images.

56. The fluoroscopic imaging system, as recited in claim 48, wherein the operator workstation is configured to superimpose a current fluoroscopic projection image on a rendered three-dimensional image.