US6252924B1
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Method and apparatus for motion-free cardiac CT imaging
Assignee: General Electric Co
•
Filing: 1999-09-30
•
Granted: 2001-06-26
•
Expires: 2019-09-30
Abstract
Abstract A method and apparatus for generating CT images of a moving body part using a CT imaging system. The method includes steps of: scanning a portion of a patient's body including the moving body part utilizing the CT imaging system; collecting image data representative of a sequence of images of the scanned portion of the patient's body; selecting a fixed reference point in images represented by the image data; and selecting at least one image from the sequence of images according to a function of relative positions of the moving body part and the fixed reference point in the sequence of images. A CT scanner or a workstation is configured as an apparatus to implement the method.
Inventors
- 👤 Esmeraldo R. Davantes
- 👤 Mark E. Woodford
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-09 21:58
CPC Classifications
A; A61; A61B; A61B6/00; A61B6/54; A61B6/541; A61B6/02; A61B6/03; A61B6/032; A61B6/52; A61B6/5288; Y; Y10; Y10S; Y10S378/00; Y10S378/901
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 25
Claim 1
Independent Claim
101 words
A method for generating CT images of a moving body part using a CT imaging system, said method comprising the steps of: scanning a portion of a patient's body including the moving body part utilizing the CT imaging system; collecting image data representative of a sequence of images of the scanned portion of the patient's body; selecting a fixed reference point in images represented by the image data; and selecting at least one image from the sequence of images according to a function of relative positions of the moving body part and the fixed reference point in the sequence of images.
Claim 2
Independent Claim
101 words
A method for generating CT images of a moving body part using a CT imaging system, said method comprising the steps of: scanning a portion of a patient's body including the moving body part utilizing the CT imaging system; collecting image data representative of a sequence of images of the scanned portion of the patient's body; selecting a fixed reference point in images represented by the image data; and selecting at least one image from the sequence of images according to a function of relative positions of the moving body part and the fixed reference point in the sequence of images.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
33 words
A method in accordance with claim 1 wherein collecting image data representative of a sequence of images of the scanned portion of the patient's body comprises the step of collecting segmented image data.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
27 words
A method in accordance with claim 2 wherein scanning a portion of a patient's body comprises the step of cine scanning the portion of the patient's body.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
122 words
A method in accordance with claim 3 further comprising the steps of selecting a reference point on the moving body part, and identifying the reference point on the moving body part in each of the sequence of images of the scanned portion of the patient's body, and wherein selecting at least one image from the sequence of images as a function of relative positions of the moving body part and the fixed reference point in the sequence of images comprises comparing distances between the reference point on the moving body part and the fixed reference point in the sequence of images and selecting the at least one image as a function of distance changes between consecutive images of the sequence of images.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
47 words
A method in accordance with claim 4 wherein selecting the at least one image comprises selecting at least one image of the sequence of images within a selected number of images of an image in which a change in the distances reverses its sign or becomes constant.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
18 words
A method in accordance with claim 5 wherein the selected number of images is no greater than two.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
51 words
A method in accordance with claim 6 wherein scanning a portion of a patient's body comprises the step of scanning a portion of the patient's body including a heart and a spine, the moving body part is the heart and the selected fixed reference point is a point on the spine.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
103 words
A method in accordance with claim 4 wherein at least one of said steps of selecting a fixed reference point in images represented by the image data, of selecting at least one image from the sequence of images based upon relative positions of the moving body part and the fixed reference point in the sequence of images, of selecting a reference point on the moving body part, and of identifying the reference point on the moving body part in each image of the sequence of images of the scanned portion of the patient's body, is performed by a processor utilizing image recognition software.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
67 words
A method in accordance with claim 1 wherein at least one of said steps of selecting a fixed reference point in images represented by the image data and of selecting at least one image from the sequence of images based upon relative positions of the moving body part and the fixed reference point in the sequence of images is performed by a processor utilizing image recognition software.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
51 words
A method in accordance with claim 1 wherein scanning a portion of a patient's body comprises the step of scanning a portion of the patient's body including a heart and a spine, the moving body part is the heart and the selected fixed reference point is a point on the spine.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
91 words
A CT imaging system for generating CT images of a moving body part, said system configured to: scan a portion of a patient's body including the moving body part; collect image data representative of a sequence of images of the scanned portion of the patient's body; select a fixed reference point in images represented by the image data; and select at least one image from the sequence of images according to a function of relative positions of the moving body part and the fixed reference point in the sequence of images.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
91 words
A CT imaging system for generating CT images of a moving body part, said system configured to: scan a portion of a patient's body including the moving body part; collect image data representative of a sequence of images of the scanned portion of the patient's body; select a fixed reference point in images represented by the image data; and select at least one image from the sequence of images according to a function of relative positions of the moving body part and the fixed reference point in the sequence of images.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
40 words
A system in accordance with claim 11 wherein said system being configured to collect image data representative of a sequence of images of the scanned portion of the patient's body comprises said system being configured to collect segmented image data.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
34 words
A system in accordance with claim 12 wherein said system being configured to scan a portion of a patient's body comprises said system being configured to cine scan the portion of the patient's body.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
132 words
A system in accordance with claim 13 further configured to select a reference point on the moving body part, and to identify the reference point on the moving body part in each of the sequence of images of the scanned portion of the patient's body, and wherein said system being configured to select at least one image from the sequence of images as a function of relative positions of the moving body part and the fixed reference point in the sequence of images comprises said system being configured to compare distances between the reference point on the moving body part and the fixed reference point in the sequence of images and to select the at least one image as a function of distance changes between consecutive images of the sequence of images.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
57 words
A system in accordance with claim 14 wherein said system being configured to select the at least one image comprises said system being configured to select at least one image of the sequence of images within a selected number of images of an image in which a change in the distances reverses its sign or becomes constant.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
18 words
A system in accordance with claim 15 wherein the selected number of images is no greater than two.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
60 words
A system in accordance with claim 16 wherein said system being configured to scan a portion of a patient's body comprises said system being configured to scan a portion of the patient's body including a heart and a spine, and wherein the moving body part is the heart and the selected fixed reference point is a point on the spine.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
59 words
A system in accordance with claim 11 wherein said system configured to scan a portion of a patient's body comprises said system being configured to scan a portion of the patient's body including a heart and a spine, and wherein the moving body part is the heart and the selected fixed reference point is a point on the spine.
Claim 21
Dependent Claim
92 words
A workstation for selecting CT images of a moving body part obtained from image data representing a sequence of images acquired by a CT imaging system, said workstation comprising a system unit, at least one operator input device, and a display, wherein said system unit is configured to: select a fixed reference point in images represented by the image data; and select at least one image from the sequence of images as a function of relative positions of the moving body part and the fixed reference point in the sequence of images.
Claim 22
Dependent Claim
92 words
A workstation for selecting CT images of a moving body part obtained from image data representing a sequence of images acquired by a CT imaging system, said workstation comprising a system unit, at least one operator input device, and a display, wherein said system unit is configured to: select a fixed reference point in images represented by the image data; and select at least one image from the sequence of images as a function of relative positions of the moving body part and the fixed reference point in the sequence of images.
Claim 23
Dependent Claim
127 words
A workstation in accordance with claim 19 further configured to select a reference point on the moving body part, and to identify the reference point in each of the sequence of images of the scanned portion of the patient's body, and wherein said workstation being configured to select at least one image from the sequence of images as a function of relative positions of the moving body part and the fixed reference point in the sequence of images comprises said workstation being configured to compare distances between the reference point on the moving body part and the fixed reference point in the sequence of images and to select the at least one image as a function of distance changes between consecutive images of the sequence of images.
Claim 24
Dependent Claim
56 words
A workstation in accordance with claim 20 wherein said workstation being configured to select the at least one image comprises said workstation being configured to select at least one image of the sequence of images within a selected number of images of an image in which a change in the distances reverses sign or becomes constant.
Claim 25
Dependent Claim
18 words
A workstation in accordance with claim 21 wherein the selected number of images is no greater than 2.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
US4868747A
Cited
US5586201A
Cited
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 2004-06-25 | 2004-12-25 | 2005-06-26 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 2008-06-25 | 2008-12-25 | 2009-06-26 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 2012-06-25 | 2012-12-25 | 2013-06-26 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |