Patient motion detection in diagnostic imaging

A computer implemented method for detecting a movement of at least one body part of a subject in a diagnostic imaging examination, the method comprising:

• receiving a trigger signal to indicate that a current spatial configuration of the subject is to be maintained for the diagnostic imaging examination, wherein the trigger signal is generated by a proximity detector to detect proximity of an operator to the subject such that the trigger signal is generated by taking into account when the operator leaves a vicinity of the subject;
• when the trigger is received acquiring reference image of the subject using a camera;
• after the reference image of the subject is acquired, acquiring a further image of the subject using the camera;
• comparing the further image-and/or to the reference image;
• and
• providing an output to an operator and/or to the subject that is representative of the comparison of the further image to the reference image to indicate the movement of the subject with respect to the reference state of the subject represented by the reference image.

A non-transitory computer readable medium comprising executable instructions which, when executed by at least one processor, cause the at least one processor to perform a method for detecting a movement of at least one body part of a subject in a diagnostic imaging examination, the method comprising:

• receiving a trigger signal to indicate that a current spatial configuration of the subject is to be maintained for the diagnostic imaging examination, wherein the trigger signal is generated by a proximity detector to detect proximity of an operator to the subject such that the trigger signal is generated by taking into account when the operator leaves a vicinity of the subject;
• acquiring reference image of the subject using a camera when the trigger is received;
• acquiring a further image of the subject using the camera after the reference image of the subject is acquired;
• comparing the further image to the reference image;
• and
• providing an output to an operator and/or to the subject that is representative of the comparison of the further image to the reference image to indicate the movement of the subject with respect to the reference state of the subject represented by the reference image.