Calculating an image matrix size

#The present application hereby claims priority under 35 U.S.C. § 119 to European patent application numbers EP 19156188.5 filed Feb. 8, 2019 and EP 19159454.8 filed Feb. 26, 2019, the entire contents of each of which are hereby incorporated herein by reference.

#At least one embodiment of the invention generally relate to a device/method for calculating the size of an image matrix for the purpose of reconstructing medical image data. At least one embodiment of the invention generally relates to medical image data in the form of clinical images acquired using computed tomography.

#A computed tomography system known per se comprises a measurement system encompassing a (maximally) high number of available detector channels and a maximally small tube focus. The computed tomography system could be used much more efficiently if a larger image matrix were used for the reconstruction of the medical image from the X-ray projection data acquired via the detector channels, said increase in image matrix size leading to a higher spatial resolution. The image quality could be improved as a result. In scans of the thorax, this could reduce or even avoid e.g. streak artifacts at sharp edges with high contrast. However, not just the image quality increases with the size of the image matrix, but also the required reconstruction time, as well as the required storage volume. In this respect, it is important in every examination to achieve a balance between a matrix size that is optimal for the examination type and the other cited parameters.

#The above-described characteristics, features and advantages of this invention, as well as the manner in which these are realized, will become clearer and more readily understandable in connection with the following description of the example embodiments, which are explained in more detail with reference to the drawings. This description implies no limitation of the invention to these example embodiments. Like components are labeled with identical reference signs in different figures. The figures are generally not to scale. In the figures:

#FIG. 1 shows a schematic representation of the inventive method according to an example embodiment of the present invention,

#FIG. 2 shows a histogram plot of a plurality of examinations corresponding to the associated image matrix size for the organ characteristic ‘abdomen’,

#The drawings are to be regarded as being schematic representations and elements illustrated in the drawings are not necessarily shown to scale. Rather, the various elements are represented such that their function and general purpose become apparent to a person skilled in the art. Any connection or coupling between functional blocks, devices, components, or other physical or functional units shown in the drawings or described herein may also be implemented by an indirect connection or coupling. A coupling between components may also be established over a wireless connection. Functional blocks may be implemented in hardware, firmware, software, or a combination thereof.

#Various example embodiments will now be described more fully with reference to the accompanying drawings in which only some example embodiments are shown. Specific structural and functional details disclosed herein are merely representative for purposes of describing example embodiments. Example embodiments, however, may be embodied in various different forms, and should not be construed as being limited to only the illustrated embodiments. Rather, the illustrated embodiments are provided as examples so that this disclosure will be thorough and complete, and will fully convey the concepts of this disclosure to those skilled in the art. Accordingly, known processes, elements, and techniques, may not be described with respect to some example embodiments. Unless otherwise noted, like reference characters denote like elements throughout the attached drawings and written description, and thus descriptions will not be repeated. The present invention, however, may be embodied in many alternate forms and should not be construed as limited to only the example embodiments set forth herein.

#It will be understood that, although the terms first, second, etc. may be used herein to describe various elements, components, regions, layers, and/or sections, these elements, components, regions, layers, and/or sections, should not be limited by these terms. These terms are only used to distinguish one element from another. For example, a first element could be termed a second element, and, similarly, a second element could be termed a first element, without departing from the scope of example embodiments of the present invention. As used herein, the term “and/or,” includes any and all combinations of one or more of the associated listed items. The phrase “at least one of” has the same meaning as “and/or”.