# US 2014/0153805 A1 · Method and hybrid imaging modality for producing a combination image

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- Number: US 2014/0153805 A1
- Document ID: US20140153805A1
- Status: Published application
- Kind: A1
- Application number: 14/087,074
- Filed: 2013-11-22
- Published: 2014-06-05
- Earliest claimed: 2012-12-04
- Assignees: Siemens Aktiengesellschaft
- Applicants: Siemens Aktiengesellschaft
- Inventors: Sebastian SCHMIDT
- Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US20140153805A1

## CPC

- G06T 12/30: Image post-processing, e.g. metal artefact correction
- A61B 5/055: involving electronic [EMR] or nuclear [NMR] magnetic resonance, e.g. magnetic resonance imaging
- A61B 6/032: {Transmission computed tomography [CT]}
- A61B 6/037: {Emission tomography}
- A61B 6/4417: {related to combined acquisition of different diagnostic modalities}
- A61B 6/507: {for determination of haemodynamic parameters, e.g. perfusion CT}
- A61B 6/5247: {combining images from an ionising-radiation diagnostic technique and a non-ionising radiation diagnostic technique, e.g. X-ray and ultrasound}
- G01R 33/481: {MR combined with positron emission tomography [PET] or single photon emission computed tomography [SPECT]}
- G06T 7/136: involving thresholding
- G06T 7/30: Determination of transform parameters for the alignment of images, i.e. image registration
- G06T 12/20: Inverse problem, i.e. transformations from projection space into object space
- A61B 5/0035: {adapted for acquisition of images from more than one imaging mode, e.g. combining MRI and optical tomography}
- A61B 5/7425: {Displaying combinations of multiple images regardless of image source, e.g. displaying a reference anatomical image with a live image}
- A61B 2576/02: specially adapted for a particular organ or body part
- G01R 33/56366: {Perfusion imaging}
- G06T 2207/10081: Computed x-ray tomography [CT]
- G06T 2207/10084: Hybrid tomography; Concurrent acquisition with multiple different tomographic modalities
- G06T 2207/10104: Positron emission tomography [PET]
- G06T 2207/30061: Lung
- G06T 2211/464: Dual or multimodal imaging, i.e. combining two or more imaging modalities
- G16H 30/40: for processing medical images, e.g. editing
- G06T: IMAGE DATA PROCESSING OR GENERATION, IN GENERAL
- A61B: DIAGNOSIS; SURGERY; IDENTIFICATION (usefulness limited to only animals A61D)
- G01R: MEASURING ELECTRIC VARIABLES; MEASURING MAGNETIC VARIABLES (indicating correct tuning of resonant circuits H03J3/12)
- G16H: HEALTHCARE INFORMATICS, i.e. INFORMATION AND COMMUNICATION TECHNOLOGY [ICT] SPECIALLY ADAPTED FOR THE HANDLING OR PROCESSING OF MEDICAL OR HEALTHCARE DATA

## Abstract

A method is disclosed for producing a combination image. In an embodiment, the method includes acquiring at least one PET image data set depicting a region of interest, in particular at least part of a lung; acquiring at least one perfusion image data set depicting the region of interest using a second imaging modality; establishing a threshold value for the perfusion image data set and selecting the regions of the perfusion image data set that are below the threshold value and/or inverting the color palette or grayscale palette of the perfusion image data set; and combining the PET image data set and the perfusion image data set to form a combination image. A hybrid imaging modality is also disclosed.

## Claims

### Claim 1

A method for producing a combination image, comprising:
acquiring at least one PET image data set depicting a region of interest;
acquiring at least one perfusion image data set depicting the region of interest using a second imaging modality;
establishing a threshold value for the at least one acquired perfusion image data set and at least one of selecting areas of the perfusion image data set that are below the threshold value and inverting a color palette or grayscale palette of the at least one perfusion image data set; and
combining the acquired at least one PET image data set and the at least one perfusion image data set to form the combination image.

### Claim 2 (depends on 1)

The method of claim 1, wherein an MRI (magnetic resonance imaging) scanner is used as the second imaging modality.

### Claim 3 (depends on 2)

The method of claim 2, wherein an arterial spin labeling method is used to acquire the at least one perfusion image data set.

### Claim 4 (depends on 1)

The method of claim 1, wherein a CT (computed tomography) scanner is used as the second imaging modality.

### Claim 5 (depends on 4)

The method of claim 4, wherein the at least one perfusion image data set is acquired using a contrast agent.

### Claim 6 (depends on 5)

The method of claim 5, wherein the contrast agent one employed both to obtain the at least one PET image data set and as a radiotracer.

### Claim 7 (depends on 6)

The method of claim 6, wherein the at least one PET image data set and the at least one perfusion image data set are co-registered on the basis of the temporal and spatial signal response of the contrast agent.

### Claim 8 (depends on 1)

The method of claim 1, wherein the threshold value is predefined as a function of the maximum value of the at least one perfusion image data set or as a fixed value.

### Claim 9 (depends on 1)

The method of claim 1, wherein anatomical image data sets are acquired using the second imaging modality which allow motion correction of the positron emission signals.

### Claim 10

A hybrid imaging modality for forming a combination image, comprising:
a PET scanner;
at least one second imaging modality; and
a control device configured to
acquire at least one PET image data set depicting a region of interest via the PET scanner,
acquire at least one perfusion image data set depicting the region of interest via the second imaging modality,
establish a threshold value for the at least one acquired perfusion image data set and at least one of selecting areas of the perfusion image data set that are below the threshold value and inverting a color palette or grayscale palette of the at least one perfusion image data set, and
combine the acquired at least one PET image data set and the at least one perfusion image data set to form the combination image.

### Claim 11 (depends on 1)

The method of claim 1, wherein the region of interest is at least part of a lung.

### Claim 12 (depends on 1)

The method of claim 1, wherein the at least one perfusion image data set is acquired using a contrast agent.

### Claim 13 (depends on 12)

The method of claim 12, wherein the contrast agent one employed both to obtain the at least one PET image data set and as a radiotracer.

### Claim 14 (depends on 13)

The method of claim 13, wherein the at least one PET image data set and the at least one perfusion image data set are co-registered on the basis of the temporal and spatial signal response of the contrast agent.

### Claim 15 (depends on 2)

The method of claim 2, wherein anatomical image data sets are acquired using the second imaging modality which allow motion correction of the positron emission signals.

### Claim 16 (depends on 4)

The method of claim 4, wherein anatomical image data sets are acquired using the second imaging modality which allow motion correction of the positron emission signals.

### Claim 17 (depends on 10)

The hybrid imaging modality of claim 10, wherein an MRI (magnetic resonance imaging) scanner is used as the second imaging modality.

### Claim 18 (depends on 10)

The hybrid imaging modality of claim 10, wherein a CT (computed tomography) scanner is used as the second imaging modality.