Dual function ct scan
OwnerArmin Marcovitchinventor
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A CT scanner for imaging an ROI of a patient comprising: an X-ray source and detector array that define an FOV of the scanner, a couch on which the patient is supported that moves the patient through the FOV; and a controller that: controls the X-rays source to image a portion of the patient's body that passes through the FOV prior to the ROI with X-rays at a first intensity; estimates an entry position of the couch for which the ROI is expected to enter the FOV from at least one feature in the prior portion image; determines an ROI imaging start position for the couch, responsive to the estimated entry position; and controls the X-ray source to illuminate the FOV with X-rays at a second intensity suitable for imaging the ROI when the couch reaches the ROI imaging start position to initiate imaging of the ROI.
Claims41
A CT scanner for imaging an ROI of a patient comprising:
- an X-ray source and detector array that define an FOV of the scanner;
- a couch on which the patient is supported that moves the patient through the FOV;
- and a controller that:
- controls the X-rays source to image a portion of the patient's body that passes through the FOV prior to the ROI with X-rays at a first intensity;
- estimates an entry position of the couch for which the ROI is expected to enter the FOV from at least one feature in the prior portion image;
- determines an ROI imaging start position for the couch, responsive to the estimated entry position;
- and
- controls the X-ray source to illuminate the FOV with X-rays at a second intensity suitable for imaging the ROI when the couch reaches the ROI imaging start position to initiate imaging of the ROI.
(canceled)
(canceled)
(canceled)
(canceled)
(canceled)
(canceled)
(canceled)
(canceled)
(canceled)
(canceled)
(canceled)
A method of controlling a CT scanner having a field of view (FOV) and an X-ray source that illuminates the FOV with X-rays to image a region of interest (ROI) of a patient comprising:
- moving the patient through the FOV;
- illuminating the FOV with X-rays at a first intensity to acquire an image of a portion of the patient's body that passes through the FOV prior to the ROI;
- estimating, responsive to at least one feature in the image of the portion, an entry position for the patient at which, during motion of the patient through the FOV, the ROI is expected to enter the FOV;
- controlling the X-ray source to illuminate the FOV with X-rays at a second intensity suitable for imaging the ROI at a position of the patient responsive to the entry position;
- and
- continuing thereafter illumination of the FOV with X-rays at the second intensity to acquire an image of the ROI.
(canceled)
(canceled)
(canceled)
(canceled)
(canceled)
(canceled)
(canceled)
(canceled)
(canceled)
(canceled)
A controller for a CT scanner having a FOV, the controller comprising:
- means for controlling an x-ray source to image a portion of a body prior to a ROI entering the FOV with x-rays at a first intensity;
- means for determining an image start position, wherein the ROI has entered the FOV;
- means for controlling the x-ray source to image the ROI with x-rays at a second intensity once the image start position has been reached;
- means for determining an image stop position, wherein the ROI has passed substantially through the FOV;
- and
- means for controlling the x-ray source to reduce x-ray intensity once the image stop position has been reached.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.