Method for representing the radiation exposure of an examination area of an object caused by radiological imaging and corresponding imaging device

• US 9,001,965 B2
• Filed: 06/21/2012
• Issued: 04/07/2015
• Est. Priority Date: 07/01/2011
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Siemens Healthineers AG (Siemens AG)
• Original Assignee: Siemens AG
• Inventors: Lautenschlger, Stefan, Pflaum, Michael
• Primary Examiner(s): Midkiff, Anastasia
• Application Number:
  US13/528,887
• Publication Number:
  US 20130003915A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,020 Days
• Field of Search: 378 4- 20, 378/62, 378/65, 378/91, 378/95, 378/98, 378/98.2, 378/98.5, 378/98.8, 378/98.12, 378/162, 378/165, 378/204, 378/207, 378/210, 378/901, 250/370.01, 250/370.07, 250/370.08, 250/370.09, 250/370.15, 250/491.1, 250/526, 382/128, 382/131, 382/162, 382/165, 382/325
• US Class Current: 378/19
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 6/032 Transmission computed tomography [CT]
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 6/4441 the rigid structure being a C-arm or U-arm
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 6/5217 extracting a diagnostic or physiological parameter from medical diagnostic data
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 6/5235 combining images from the same or different ionising radiation imaging techniques, e.g. PET and CT
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 6/542 involving control of exposure
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 6/547 involving tracking of position of the device or parts of the device
• CPC Class Codes: G16H 50/30 for calculating health indices; for individual health risk assessment

Abstract

A method for representing an exposure to radiation of an examination area of an object caused by radiological imaging is proposed. A 3D image of the examination area of the object being examined is acquired. Absorption coefficients of the examination area are determined. The radiation exposure of the examination area caused by radiological imaging is determined and is represented in the 3D image. A termination criterion is queried. The radiation exposure of the examination area is iteratively determined till the termination criterion is fulfilled.

Claims

1. A method for representing a radiation exposure of an examination area of an object being examined caused by radiological imaging, comprising:

acquiring a 3D image of the examination area of the object by a radiological imaging device;

determining an absorption coefficient of the examination area by a control and display device;

determining the radiation exposure of the examination area by the control and display device;

representing the radiation exposure of the examination area in the 3D image displayed in the control and display device;

querying a termination criterion; and

repeating the step of determining the radiation exposure if the termination criterion is not fulfilled,

wherein the radiation exposure of the examination area is determined by a parameter of the radiological imaging device selected during the radiological imaging, and

wherein the method further comprises;

selecting the parameter of the radiological imaging device to be used during the radiological imaging prior to the acquisition of the 3D image;

simulating the radiation exposure of the examination area based on the selected parameter; and

assessing a consequence of the 3D image according to the simulated radiation exposure of the examination area.

2. The method as claimed in claim 1, wherein the parameter of the radiological imaging device comprises projection geometry, and/or radiation dose, and/or voltage supplied to an X-ray source of the radiological imaging device.

3. The method as claimed in claim 1, wherein the radiation exposure of the examination area is determined after the radiological imaging.

4. The method as claimed in claim 1, wherein the radiation exposure of the examination area is determined by an accumulation of the radiation exposure.

5. The method as claimed in claim 1, wherein the radiation exposure of the examination area is represented by a maximum function and/or a color-coded 2D projection.

6. The method as claimed in claim 1, wherein an optical and/or an acoustic warning signal is issued when the radiation exposure of the examination area exceeds a predetermined limit

7. The method as claimed in claim 1, wherein a temperature of the examination area is determined from the radiation exposure and is represented in the 3D image.

8. The method as claimed in claim 7, wherein the temperature of the examination area is determined by a decrease in the temperature as a function of time.

9. The method as claimed in claim 7, wherein the temperature of the examination area is represented by a maximum function and/or a color-coded 2D projection.

10. The method as claimed in claim 7, wherein an optical and/or an acoustic warning signal is issued when the temperature of the examination area exceeds a predetermined limit.

11. A radiological imaging device, comprising:

a C-arm having an X-ray source and an X-ray detector for acquiring a 3D image of an examination area of an object; and

a control and display device that is configured to;

acquire a 3D image of the examination area of the object by a radiological imaging device;

determine an absorption coefficient of the examination area by a control and display device;

determine the radiation exposure of the examination area by the control and display device;

represent the radiation exposure of the examination area in the 3D image displayed in the control and display device;

query a termination criterion; and

repeat the step of determining the radiation exposure if the termination criterion is not fulfilled,

wherein the radiation exposure of the examination area is determined by a parameter of the radiological imaging device selected during the radiological imaging, and

wherein the control and display device is further configured to;

select the parameter of the radiological imaging device to be used during the radiological imaging prior to the acquisition of the 3D image;

simulate the radiation exposure of the examination area based on the selected parameter; and

assess a consequence of the 3D image according to the simulated radiation exposure of the examination area.