System and method of determining a user-defined region-of-interest of an imaging subject for x-ray flux management control
AssigneeGeneral Electric Company
InventorsThomas L. Toth, David M. Hoffman
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Abstract
A system and method of diagnostic imaging is provided that includes positioning a subject in an imaging device, performing at least one scout scan, and marking a user-defined region-of-interest. An attenuation characteristic of an attenuation filter is then automatically adjusted based on the user-defined region-of-interest. The present invention automatically selects a proper attenuation filter configuration, corrects patient centering, and corrects noise prediction errors, thereby increasing dose efficiency and tube output.
Claims22
A method of imaging comprising the steps of:
- positioning a subject in an imaging device;
- performing at least one scout scan;
- marking a user-defined region-of-interest (ROI);
- and
- automatically adjusting an attenuation characteristic of an attenuation filter based on the user-defined ROI.
A tomographic system comprising:
- a rotatable gantry having a bore centrally disposed therein;
- a table movable within the bore and configured to position a subject for tomographic data acquisition;
- a high frequency electromagnetic energy projection source positioned within the rotatable gantry and configured to project high frequency electromagnetic energy toward the subject;
- a detector array disposed within the rotatable gantry and configured to detect high frequency electromagnetic energy projected by the projection source and impinged by the subject;
- an attenuation filter positioned between the high frequency electromagnetic energy projection source and the subject;
- and
- a computer programmed to:
- display a user interface including an illustration of a position of the subject and allow selection of a ROI;
- and
- determine an attenuation profile of the attenuation filter based on the user-selected ROI.
A computer readable storage medium having stored thereon a computer program representing a set of instructions which, when executed by at least one processor, cause the at least one processor to:
- perform at least one scout scan;
- display an interface including a reconstructed image from the at least one scout scan;
- receive user-selection identifying a ROI;
- and
- adjust at least one of an attenuation filter configuration and a subject position based on the ROI.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.