Methods for automatic protocol selection
First Claim
Patent Images
1. A method of imaging a patient, said method comprising:
- receiving patient information;
measuring prompt and random coincidence rates in real time using a scout scan performed by a medical imaging system;
automatically selecting an imaging protocol based on the received information and the measured prompt and random coincidence rates; and
performing, with the medical imaging system, an imaging scan of the patient using the automatically selected imaging protocol.
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Abstract
A method and apparatus for imaging a patient is provided. The method includes receiving patient information, automatically selecting an imaging protocol based on the received information, and performing an imaging scan of the patient using the automatically selected imaging protocol.
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Citations
29 Claims
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1. A method of imaging a patient, said method comprising:
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receiving patient information; measuring prompt and random coincidence rates in real time using a scout scan performed by a medical imaging system; automatically selecting an imaging protocol based on the received information and the measured prompt and random coincidence rates; and performing, with the medical imaging system, an imaging scan of the patient using the automatically selected imaging protocol. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14)
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15. A method of imaging a patient using a medical imaging scanner, said method comprising:
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receiving information relative to a patient'"'"'s size and density; automatically selecting an imaging protocol to operate a medical imaging system, the imaging protocol based on the received information wherein the protocol includes at least one of an axial acceptance angle, a coincidence timing window, an energy window, a “
d-ness”
of the scan;acquiring a prompt coincidence rate and a random coincidence rate at an imaging frame; modifying a imaging protocol using the received information, the prompt coincidence rate, and the random coincidence rate; and performing with the medical imaging system an imaging scan of the patient using the modified imaging protocol. - View Dependent Claims (16, 18, 19, 20)
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17. A method in accordance with 15 wherein acquiring a prompt coincidence rate and a random coincidence rate at an imaging frame comprises acquiring a prompt coincidence rate and a random coincidence rate using a full acceptance angle setting.
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21. An imaging system for imaging a patient, said system comprising:
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a first imaging modality unit having a patient bore therethrough; a second imaging modality unit having a patient bore therethrough; a control mechanism configured to measure prompt and random coincidence rates in real time using a scout scan, and communicatively coupled to said first imaging modality unit and said second imaging modality unit to control movement of said first imaging modality unit and said second imaging modality unit; an automatic protocol selector configured to receive data relating to a patient, parameters relating to a type of scan to be performed, and a selection of a predetermined protocol stored in a database of said control mechanism, said automatic protocol selector further configured to determine a scan protocol using at least one of the data relating to the patient, the parameters relating to the type of scan to be performed, and the selected predetermined protocol and the measured prompt and random coincidence rates. - View Dependent Claims (22, 23)
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24. A computer program embodied on a computer readable medium for automatically selecting an imaging protocol using an automatic protocol selector coupled to said imaging system, said imaging system including a database and a user interface, said program comprising a code segment that prompts a user to select a predetermined protocol stored in said database and then:
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displays a function menu on said user interface to prompt the user to input data relating to a type of scan to be performed; prompts the user to input patient data relating to a patient to be scanned; measures prompt and random coincidence rates in real time using a scout scan; and determines a protocol for the scan based on the predetermined protocol, the type of scan to be performed, the patient data, and the prompt and random coincidence rates. - View Dependent Claims (25, 26, 27, 28, 29)
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Specification