Method and system for associating an EKG waveform with a CT image

A medium encoded with a machine-readable computer program code for associating EKG waveform data with computed tomography image data using a data synchronization scheme, said medium including instructions for causing a controller to implement a method comprising:

• generating the EKG waveform data using an electrocardiogram device;
• operating a computed tomography imaging system so as to create the computed tomography image data;
• communicating an exposure marker-in signal to said electrocardiogram device such that said exposure marker-in signal is associated with the EKG waveform data;
• and
• processing the computed tomography image data, the EKG waveform data and said exposure marker-in signal, so as to correlate the EKG waveform data with the computer tomography image data.

A method for associating EKG waveform data with image data generated by an imaging system using a data synchronization scheme comprising:

• obtaining the imaging system, an electrocardiogram device and an object to be examined;
• associating said object with the imaging system and said electrocardiogram device;
• and
• processing the image data and the EKG waveform data using the data synchronization scheme wherein the data synchronization scheme,
• generates the EKG waveform data using an electrocardiogram device;
• operates the imaging system so as to create the image data;
• communicates an exposure marker-in signal to said electrocardiogram device such that said exposure marker-in signal is associated with the EKG waveform data;
• and
• processes the image data, the EKG waveform data and said exposure marker-in signal, so as to correlate the EKG waveform data with the image data.

A system for associating EKG waveform data with computed tomography image data using a data synchronization scheme comprising:

• a gantry having an x-ray source and a radiation detector array, wherein said gantry defines an object cavity and wherein said x-ray source and said radiation detector array are rotatingly associated with said gantry so as to be separated by said object cavity;
• an object support structure movingly associated with said gantry so as to allow communication with said object cavity;
• and
• a processing device having the data synchronization scheme, wherein the data synchronization scheme,
• generates the EKG waveform data using an electrocardiogram device;
• operates a computed tomography imaging system so as to create the computed tomography image data;
• communicates an exposure marker-in signal to said electrocardiogram device such that said exposure marker-in signal is associated with the EKG waveform data;
• and
• processes the computed tomography image data, the EKG waveform data and said exposure marker-in signal, so as to correlate the EKG waveform data with the computer tomography image data.

A system for associating EKG waveform data with image data using a data synchronization scheme comprising:

• an imaging system;
• an object disposed so as to be communicated with said imaging system,
• wherein said imaging system generates image data responsive to said object;
• and
• a processing device having the data synchronization scheme, wherein the data synchronization scheme,
• generates the EKG waveform data using an electrocardiogram device;
• operates said imaging system so as to create the image data;
• communicates an exposure marker-in signal to said electrocardiogram device such that said exposure marker-in signal is associated with the EKG waveform data;
• and
• processes the image data, the EKG waveform data and said exposure marker-in signal, so as to correlate the EKG waveform data with the image data.