System and method of x-ray flux management control
AssigneeGeneral Electric Company
InventorsThomas L. Toth, David M. Hoffman
Life of this patent
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Abstract
A system and method of diagnostic imaging is provided that includes determining a position of a subject in a scanning bay and tailoring x-ray attenuation such that the specific position of the subject is taken into consideration. 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.
Claims30
A method of diagnostic imaging comprising the steps of:
- comparing a position of a subject in a scanning bay relative to a reference position;
- determining a region of maximum attenuation of the subject from the comparison;
- automatically adjusting an attenuation characteristic of an attenuation filter based on the determined region of maximum attenuation of the subject;
- and
- imaging the subject.
A computer readable storage medium having stored thereon a computer program representing a set of instructions which, when executed by at least one processor, causes the at least one processor to:
- receive feedback regarding a position of maximum attenuation of a subject to be scanned;
- determine a value of mis-centering of the subject to be scanned from the position of maximum attenuation relative to an isocenter of an x-ray beam;
- adjust at least one of an attenuation filter configuration and a subject position based on the value of mis-centering;
- and
- acquire radiographic diagnostic data from the subject.
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 within the bore;
- 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:
- determine a region of maximum attenuation of the subject;
- and
- adjust at least one of an attenuation characteristic of the attenuation filter and a table position such that a region of minimum attenuation of the attenuation filter is aligned with the region of maximum attenuation of the subject.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.