Method and systems for automatic gantry tilt estimation for head CT scans from camera images
AssigneeSiemens Healthineers AG
InventorsBrian Teixeira, Vivek Singh, Ankur Kapoor, Andreas Prokein
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
Systems and methods for estimating optimal gantry orientation and/or scanning parameters using image(s) from one or several cameras for a CT scan of a patient. Images are acquired of a patient. An optimal gantry tilt is estimated that keeps the patient's eye lenses outside a range of a beam during the scan. The CT scan is performed using the optimal gantry tilt. A scout scan is not used.
Claims18
A method for estimating an optimal gantry orientation for a CT scan using a CT scanning protocol without using a scout scan, the method comprising:
- acquiring, by at least one camera, one or more images of a patient;
- estimating, using an image to image network, 3D internal landmarks of the patient from the one or more images, wherein the image to image network is trained to convert the one or more images into a segmented image with identified internal landmarks;
- defining, based on the estimated 3D internal landmarks and the CT scanning protocol, one or more protocol dependent 3D orientation boxes, each orientation box comprising a geometric volume defined in a coordinate system of the CT scanner and representing at least one of a scan region or an avoidance region for the CT scanning protocol;
- determining the optimal gantry orientation by evaluating an orientation of a CT scan plane relative to the one or more protocol dependent 3D orientation boxes to satisfy protocol-specific scan constraints without acquisition of a scout scan;
- and
- performing the CT scan with the CT scanning protocol, by the CT scanner, wherein a gantry of the CT scanner is positioned using the optimal gantry orientation.
A method for estimating gantry orientation of a gantry for a CT scan without using a scout scan, the method comprising:
- acquiring, by at least one camera, one or more images of a patient;
- defining a CT scanning protocol for the CT scan by a CT scanner;
- defining using a machine learning system, the one or more images, and the CT scanning protocol, one or more protocol dependent 3D orientation boxes, each protocol dependent 3D orientation box comprising a geometric volume defined in a coordinate system of the CT scanner and representing at least one of a scan region or an avoidance region for the CT scanning protocol;
- determining an optimal gantry orientation directly from the one or more protocol dependent 3D orientation boxes;
- and
- performing the CT scan, wherein the gantry is positioned using the optimal gantry orientation.
A system for estimating gantry orientation for CT scans without using a topogram, the system comprising:
- at least one camera configured to acquire one or more images of a patient;
- a CT scanning system configured to perform a scan of the patient, the CT scanning system comprising at least a gantry and a gantry control system;
- and
- a control unit configured to determine an optimal gantry orientation based on the one or more images using at least an image to image network trained to convert the one or more images into a segmented image with identified three-dimensional internal landmarks that are used to define one or more protocol dependent 3D orientation boxes, each orientation box comprising a geometric volume defined in a coordinate system of the CT scanner and representing at least one of a scan region or an avoidance region for the CT scanning protocol, determine an optimal gantry orientation by evaluating an orientation of a CT scan plane relative to the one or more protocol dependent 3D orientation boxes to satisfy protocol-specific scan constraints without acquisition of a scout scan,
- and adjust the gantry using the gantry control system.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.