US6256368B1
Expired / Lapsed
US
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Methods and apparatus for scout-based cardiac calcification scoring
Assignee: General Electric Co
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Filing: 1999-10-15
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Granted: 2001-07-03
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Expires: 2019-10-15
Abstract
Abstract In one aspect, the present invention is a method for producing CT images of a patient's heart suitable for calcification scoring, in which the heart has a cardiac cycle. The method includes steps of acquiring data representative of a first scout-scanned CT image of physical locations of the patient's body including at least a portion of the patient's heart at phases φ 1 (L) of the cardiac cycle, acquiring data representative of a second scout-scanned CT image of the physical locations of the patient's body including at least a portion of the patient's heart at phases φ 2 (L) of the cardiac cycle different from φ 1 (L) at physical positions L of interest, and determining a difference image from the acquired data representative of the first scout-scanned CT image and the acquired data representative of the second scout-scanned CT image data. It is not necessary that φ 1 (L) and φ 2 (L) be constant as a function of position L.
Inventors
- 👤 Jiang Hsieh
- 👤 Mark Woodford
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-09 21:56
CPC Classifications
A; A61; A61B; A61B6/00; A61B6/48; A61B6/488; A61B6/02; A61B6/03; A61B6/032; A61B6/50; A61B6/503; A61B6/54; A61B6/541
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 23
Claim 1
Independent Claim
128 words
A method for producing CT images of a patient's heart suitable for calcification scoring, the heart having a cardiac cycle; said method comprising the steps of: acquiring data representative of a first scout-scanned CT image of physical locations of the patient's body including at least a portion of the patient's heart at phases φ 1 (L) of the cardiac cycle; acquiring data representative of a second scout-scanned CT image of the physical locations of the patient's body including at least a portion of the patient's heart at phases φ 2 (L) of the cardiac cycle different from φ 1 (L); and determining a difference image from the acquired data representative of the first scout-scanned CT image and the acquired data representative of the second scout-scanned CT image data.
Claim 2
Independent Claim
128 words
A method for producing CT images of a patient's heart suitable for calcification scoring, the heart having a cardiac cycle; said method comprising the steps of: acquiring data representative of a first scout-scanned CT image of physical locations of the patient's body including at least a portion of the patient's heart at phases φ 1 (L) of the cardiac cycle; acquiring data representative of a second scout-scanned CT image of the physical locations of the patient's body including at least a portion of the patient's heart at phases φ 2 (L) of the cardiac cycle different from φ 1 (L); and determining a difference image from the acquired data representative of the first scout-scanned CT image and the acquired data representative of the second scout-scanned CT image data.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
22 words
A method in accordance with claim 1 wherein the patient is holding his or her breath during both said image acquiring steps.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
29 words
A method in accordance with claim 1 further comprising the step of identifying calcification deposits on portions of the difference image corresponding to moving body structures of the patient.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
20 words
A method in accordance with claim 3 wherein said step of identifying calcification deposits is performed utilizing computer image processing.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
47 words
A method in accordance with claim 3 wherein identifying calcification deposits on portions of the difference image corresponding to moving body structures of the patient comprises comparing intensities of neighboring pixel groups of the difference image to identify differences in intensity above a threshold indicative of calcification.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
25 words
A method in accordance with claim 5 wherein identifying calcification deposits further comprises scoring an amount of calcification in accordance with differences in image intensities.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
22 words
A method in accordance with claim 1 further comprising the step of processing the difference image to enhance appearance of calcification deposits.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
48 words
A method in accordance with claim 1 further comprising the step of monitoring an EKG signal of the patient's heart to determine trigger times for acquiring the data representative of the first image and the data representative of the second image at different phases of the cardiac cycle.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
29 words
A method in accordance with claim 1 wherein both steps of acquiring data are performed at the same time utilizing different detector rows of a multi-slice CT imaging system.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
52 words
A method in accordance with claim 9 wherein the CT imaging system comprises a table configured to move the patient during a scout scan, and further comprising the step of adjusting a rate at which the table moves during said data acquiring steps in accordance with a heart rate of the patient.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
52 words
A method in accordance with claim 10 wherein the multi-slice CT imaging system comprises at least three detector rows, and said method further comprises the steps of acquiring noise estimation information including data representative of a third scout-scanned image, and estimating background noise in the difference image utilizing the noise estimation information.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
128 words
A CT imaging system for obtaining images of a patient's heart suitable for calcification scoring, the heart having a cardiac cycle; said system configured to: acquire data representative of a first scout-scanned CT image of physical locations of the patient's body including at least a portion of the patient's heart at phases φ 1 (L) of the cardiac cycle; acquire data representative of a second scout-scanned CT image of the physical locations of the patient's body including at least a portion of the patient's heart at phases φ 2 (L) of the cardiac cycle different from φ 1 (L); and determine a difference image from the acquired data representative of the first scout-scanned CT image and the acquired data representative of the second scout scanned CT image data.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
128 words
A CT imaging system for obtaining images of a patient's heart suitable for calcification scoring, the heart having a cardiac cycle; said system configured to: acquire data representative of a first scout-scanned CT image of physical locations of the patient's body including at least a portion of the patient's heart at phases φ 1 (L) of the cardiac cycle; acquire data representative of a second scout-scanned CT image of the physical locations of the patient's body including at least a portion of the patient's heart at phases φ 2 (L) of the cardiac cycle different from φ 1 (L); and determine a difference image from the acquired data representative of the first scout-scanned CT image and the acquired data representative of the second scout scanned CT image data.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
27 words
A system in accordance with claim 12 further configured to identify calcification deposits on portions of the difference image corresponding to moving body structures of the patient.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
16 words
A system in accordance with claim 13 configured to identify calcification deposits utilizing computer image processing.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
57 words
A system in accordance with claim 13 wherein said system being configured to identify calcification deposits on portions of the difference image corresponding to moving body structures of the patient comprises said system being configured to compare intensities of neighboring pixel groups of the difference image to identify differences in intensity above a threshold indicative of calcification.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
35 words
A system in accordance with claim 15 wherein said system being configured to identify calcification deposits further comprises said system being configured to score an amount of calcification in accordance with differences in image intensities.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
20 words
A system in accordance with claim 12 further configured to process the difference image to enhance appearance of calcification deposits.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
46 words
A system in accordance with claim 12 further configured to monitor an EKG signal of the patient's heart to determine trigger times for acquiring the data representative of the first image and the data representative of the second image at different phases of the cardiac cycle.
Claim 21
Dependent Claim
45 words
A system in accordance with claim 12 having a multi-slice detector, said system being configured to acquire both the data representative of the first image and the data representative of the second image at the same time utilizing different detector rows of said multi-slice detector.
Claim 22
Dependent Claim
45 words
A system in accordance with claim 19 further comprising a table configured to move the patient during a scout scan, and further configured to adjust a rate at which the table moves during scout-scanned data acquisition in accordance with a heart rate of the patient.
Claim 23
Dependent Claim
50 words
A system in accordance with claim 20 wherein said multi-slice detector comprises at least three detector rows, and said system is further configured to acquire noise estimation information including data representative of a third scout-scanned image, and to estimate background noise in the difference image utilizing the noise estimation information.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
No citation records indexed.
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 2004-07-02 | 2005-01-01 | 2005-07-03 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 2008-07-02 | 2009-01-01 | 2009-07-03 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 2012-07-02 | 2013-01-01 | 2013-07-03 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |