# US 12,602,774 B2 · Regional pulmonary V/Q via image registration and multi-energy CT > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 12,602,774 B2 - Document ID: US12602774B2 - Status: Granted - Kind: B2 - Application number: 17/608,433 - Filed: 2020-05-11 - Published: 2022-08-11 - Granted: 2026-04-14 - Earliest claimed: 2019-05-10 - Assignees: University of Iowa Research Foundation - Applicants: University of Iowa Research Foundation - Inventors: Eric Alfred Hoffman; Seyed Mohammad Amin Motahari Bidgoli; Changhyun Lee; Joseph Marion Reinhardt - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US12602774B2 ## CPC - A61B 6/481: {involving the use of contrast agents} - G06T 7/0012: {Biomedical image inspection} - A61B 6/03: Computed tomography [CT] - A61B 6/032: {Transmission computed tomography [CT]} - A61B 6/482: {involving multiple energy imaging} - A61B 6/5217: {extracting a diagnostic or physiological parameter from medical diagnostic data} - G06T 7/30: Determination of transform parameters for the alignment of images, i.e. image registration - A61B 6/507: {for determination of haemodynamic parameters, e.g. perfusion CT} - G06T 2207/10081: Computed x-ray tomography [CT] - G06T 2207/30061: Lung - A61B: DIAGNOSIS; SURGERY; IDENTIFICATION (usefulness limited to only animals A61D) - G06T: IMAGE DATA PROCESSING OR GENERATION, IN GENERAL ## Abstract A method for imaging a lung of a patient is provided. The method includes acquiring a full inspiration computed tomography (CT) scan of the lung to provide a total lung capacity (TLC) image and acquiring a functional residual capacity contrast enhanced multi-energy CT scan of the lung. The method further includes processing the functional residual capacity contrast enhanced multi-energy CT scan of the lung to generate a perfused blood volume (PBV) image and a virtual non-contrast (VNC) image. The method further includes registering the TLC image to at least one of the PBV and VNC images so as to provide a map of regional ventilation and to co-register local ventilation with blood perfusion, generating a lung performance metric using the co-registered images, and outputting the lung performance metric at a user interface of a computing device. ## Claims ### Claim 1 A method for imaging a lung of a patient, the method comprising: acquiring a full inspiration computed tomography (CT) scan of the lung to provide a total lung capacity (TLC) image without use of a contrasting agent; acquiring a functional residual capacity contrast enhanced multi-energy CT scan of the lung; processing the functional residual capacity contrast enhanced multi-energy CT scan of the lung to generate a perfused blood volume (PBV) image and a virtual non-contrast (VNC) image; registering the TLC image to at least one of the PBV image and the VNC image so as to co-register local ventilation with blood perfusion in the lung and provide co-registered images; generating a lung performance metric using the co-registered images; and outputting the lung performance metric at a user interface of a computing device. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1 wherein the at least one lung performance metric comprises a pulmonary ventilation/perfusion (V/Q) map. ### Claim 3 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1 wherein the at least one lung performance metric is represented as a histogram illustrating a ventilation perfusion ratio. ### Claim 4 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1 wherein the at least one lung performance metric is represented as a Lobar distribution of ventilation (V) and perfusion (Q). ### Claim 5 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1 wherein the at least one lung performance metric is represented as a set of pie charts demonstrating relative percentages of normal, low and high V/Q per lobes and right/Left lung. ### Claim 6 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1 further comprising using the at least one lung performance metric in making a pre-surgery evaluation or a post-surgery evaluation of the patient. ### Claim 7 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1 wherein the full inspiration computed tomography (CT) scan of the lung and the functional residual capacity contrast enhanced multi-energy CT scan of the lung are acquired in a single session. ### Claim 8 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1 wherein an enhancement contrast agent is used in acquiring the functional residual capacity contrast enhanced multi-energy CT scan of the lung. ### Claim 9 (depends on 8) The method of claim 8 wherein a multi spectrum mode is used in acquiring the functional residual capacity contrast enhanced multi-energy CT scan of the lung. ### Claim 10 A system for assessing and displaying lung function of a lung of a patient, the system comprising: a display; a processor; software executable by the processor stored on a non-transitory computer readable medium, the software configured to: process a functional residual capacity contrast enhanced multi-energy CT scan of the lung to generate a perfused blood volume (PBV) image and a virtual non-contrast (VNC) image; register a total lung capacity (TLC) image acquired from a full inspiration computed tomography (CT) scan of the lung without contrast agent to at least one of the PBV image and the VNC image so as to co-register local ventilation with blood perfusion in the lung to provide co-registered images; generate at least one lung performance metric using the co-registered images; and output the at least one lung performance metric at a user interface of a computing device. ### Claim 11 (depends on 10) The system of claim 10 wherein the at least one lung performance metric comprises a pulmonary ventilation/perfusion (V/Q) map. ### Claim 12 (depends on 10) The system of claim 10 wherein the at least one lung performance metric is represented as a histogram illustrating a ventilation perfusion ratio. ### Claim 13 (depends on 10) The system of claim 10 wherein the at least one lung performance metric is represented as a Lobar distribution of ventilation (V) and perfusion (Q). ### Claim 14 (depends on 10) The system of claim 10 wherein the at least one lung performance metric is represented as a set of pie charts demonstrating relative percentages of normal, low and high V/Q per lobes and right/left lung. ### Claim 15 (depends on 10) The system of claim 10 wherein the at least one lung performance metric is used in making one of a pre surgery evaluation and a post surgery evaluation of the patient. ### Claim 16 (depends on 10) The system of claim 10 wherein the full inspiration computed tomography (CT) scan of the lung and the functional residual capacity contrast enhanced multi-energy CT scan of the lung are acquired in a single session.