Cardiac gated computed tomography system
AssigneeGeneral Electric Company
InventorsJames A. Blake, Robert F. Senzig
Life of this patent
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Abstract
The present invention, in one form, is an imaging system which synchronizes the emission of x-rays and the collection of data to a heart cycle to provide improved image quality. In one embodiment, the imaging system utilizes a synchronization unit to determine a selected heart period and to control generation of x-ray beams during the selected period. As the x-ray beams are emitted toward a detector, data is collected for a view angle. As the heart continues to cycle, data for a series of view angles is collected so that an image of the heart during the selected period is generated.
Claims14
A method for generating an image of an object in a computed tomography (CT) system, the CT system including an x-ray tube for emitting x-ray beams and a detector array, the detector array including a plurality of detectors aligned with the x-ray tube for receiving the x-ray beams, said method comprising the steps of:
- determining a cycle of a heart;
- generating at least one image view data of the object for at least one selected portion of the heart cycle;
- and
- generating at least one image of the object based on the image view data;
- wherein the object is a portion of the circulation system other than the heart, and wherein generating image view data of the object for at least one selected portion of the heart cycle comprises the step of gating an x-ray on signal so that an anode-cathode voltage of the x-ray tube is cycled on for the selected portion of the heart cycle and cycled off after a defined period of time.
An imaging system for generating an image of an object, said imaging system comprising an x-ray tube for emitting x-ray beams and a detector array, said detector array including a plurality of detectors aligned with said x-ray tube for receiving said x-ray beams, said system configured to:
- determine a cycle of a heart;
- generate image view data of the object for at least one selected portion of the heart cycle;
- and
- generate at least one image of the object based on the image view data;
- wherein the object is a portion of the circulation system other than the heart, and wherein to generate image view data of the object, said imaging system is configured to gate an x-ray on signal so that an anodic-cathode voltage of said x-ray tube is cycled on for the selected portion of the heart cycle and cycled off after a defined period of time.
A method for generating an image of a portion of a circulation system other than a heart in a computed tomography (CT) system, the CT system including an x-ray tube for emitting x-ray beams and a detector array, the detector array including a plurality of detectors aligned with the x-ray tube for receiving the x-ray beams, said method comprising the steps of:
- determining a cycle of a heart;
- generating image view data of the portion of the circulation system other than the heart for at least one selected portion of the heart cycle;
- and
- generating at least one image of the portion of the circulation system other than the heart based on the image view data.
An imaging system for generating an image of a portion of a circulation system other than a heart, said imaging system comprising an x-ray tube for emitting x-ray beams and a detector array, said detector array including a plurality of detectors aligned with said x-ray tube for receiving said x-ray beams, said system configured to:
- determine a cycle of a heart;
- generate image view data of the portion of the circulation system other than the heart for at least one selected portion of the heart cycle;
- and
- generate at least one image of the portion of the circulation system other than the heart based on the image view data.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.