US-12622597-B2 - Medical imaging method with guidance

US12622597B2US 12622597 B2US12622597 B2US 12622597B2US-12622597-B2

Abstract

A medical imaging system is operated by determining a positioning rule indicating, for a region of interest, a target position, wherein a deviation between an actual position and the target position can affect imaging performance; obtaining measurement data of the region of interest, from which the actual position of the region of interest is derivable; determining a current deviation between the actual position and the target position of the region of interest, by comparing the positioning rule with the obtained measurement data; generating imaging performance information indicating whether the current deviation between the actual position and the target position of the region of interest currently affects the imaging performance in terms of image quality and/or remaining imaging time, or is expected to affect the imaging performance in terms of quality and/or remaining imaging time; and providing the generated imaging performance information to be communicated to a subject to be imaged.

Inventors

Gereon Vogtmeier
Steffen Weiss

Assignees

KONINKLIJKE PHILIPS N.V.

Dates

Publication Date: 20260512
Application Date: 20220525
Priority Date: 20210604

Claims (15)

1 . A method for operating a medical imaging system, comprising: determining, by a data processing unit, a positioning rule, at least indicating, at least for a region of interest, one or more target positions, wherein a deviation between an actual position and the target position can affect imaging performance; obtaining, by the data processing unit, measurement data of at least the region of interest, to derive the actual position of at least the region of interest; determining, by the data processing unit, a current deviation between the actual position and the target position of at least the region of interest, by comparing the positioning rule with the obtained measurement data; generating, by the data processing unit, imaging performance information, at least indicating whether the current deviation between the actual position and the target position of at least the region of interest currently affects the imaging performance in terms of image quality and/or remaining imaging time or not, or is expected to affect the imaging performance in terms of image quality and/or remaining imaging time or not; and providing, by the data processing unit, the generated imaging performance information to be communicated to a subject to be imaged.
2 . The method of claim 1 , wherein the generated imaging performance information comprises a first indicator associated with a measure of image quality of the imaging to be expected with the current deviation.
3 . The method of claim 1 , wherein the generated imaging performance information comprises a second indicator associated with a measure of scan time of the imaging to be expected with the current deviation.
4 . The method of claim 1 , wherein the generated imaging performance information comprises at least one artificial image estimated for the case that the current deviation is maintained or at least not reduced to an allowed threshold.
5 . The method of claim 4 , wherein the at least one artificial image is estimated from one or more pre-recorded images of the same or similar region of interest acquired at a previous subject.
6 . The method of claim 1 , wherein the generated imaging performance information comprises one or more instructions for one or more actions, computed to guide from the actual position causing the current deviation to the target position.
7 . The method of claim 1 , wherein providing the generated imaging performance information comprises visualizing the same for the subject.
8 . The method of claim 1 wherein the imaging performance information is generated with a refresh rate adapted to a current stage of the imaging procedure.
9 . The method of claim 1 , wherein the measurement data further comprises a measurement of a current breathing activity of the subject, and wherein determining the current deviation between the actual position and the target position of at least the region of interest further considers the current deviation caused by the breathing activity.
10 . The method of claim 1 , wherein the current deviation between the actual position and the target position is determined over a period of time and then averaged before generating the imaging performance information.
11 . The method of claim 1 , wherein the current deviation is computed, by the data processing unit, with at least one motion impact factor taking into account an impact of a particular motion, a particular type of motion, and/or a motion of a particular body portion of the subject on compliance with the positioning rule, and wherein the motion impact factor is further taken into account, by the data processing unit, to adjust a representation intensity of the imaging performance information before it is communicated to the subject.
12 . The method of claim 1 , wherein the medical imaging system is selectively operated in an operational imaging mode and in a training mode preceding the operational imaging mode and in which imaging is not yet performed, and the method further comprises: during the training mode, obtaining, by the data processing unit, measurement data of at least the region of interest, to derive the actual position of at least the region of interest; during the training mode, determining, by the data processing unit, the current deviation between the actual position and the target position of at least the region of interest, by comparing the positioning rule with the obtained measurement data; during the training mode, determining, by the data processing unit, whether or not the current deviation is within one or more boundary conditions; and during the training mode, communicating to the subject, by the data processing unit, whether or not the current deviation is within the one or more boundary conditions and/or a consequence this would have for the operational imaging mode.
13 . A computer program element comprising executable instructions stored on a non-transitory computer readable medium, which when executed by a processor is configured to carry out the method of claim 1 .
14 . A medical imaging system, comprising: an imaging device; a data processing unit; and at least one detection device, at least configured to capture at least a part of a subject to be imaged by the imaging device; wherein the data processing unit is configured to: determine a positioning rule, at least indicating, at least for a region of interest, one or more target positions, wherein a deviation between an actual position and the target position can affect imaging performance; obtain, from the at least one detection device, measurement data of at least the region of interest, to derive the actual position of at least the region of interest; determine a current deviation between the actual position and the target position of at least the region of interest, by comparing the positioning rule with the obtained measurement data; generate imaging performance information, at least indicating whether the current deviation between the actual position and the target position of at least the region of interest currently affects or is to affect the imaging performance in terms of image quality and/or remaining imaging time or not; and provide the generated imaging performance information to be communicated to a subject to be imaged.
15 . The medical imaging system of claim 14 , wherein the medical imaging system further comprises a machine-subject communication device, configured to communicate the generated imaging performance information to the subject, and to utilize one or more of a visual communication, an audio communication, and a tactile communication.

Description

CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS This application is a U.S. national phase application of International Application No. PCT/EP2022/064156 filed on May 25, 2022, which claims the benefit of EP application Ser. No. 21/177,673.7 filed on Jun. 4, 2021 and is incorporated herein by reference. FIELD OF THE INVENTION The present invention relates to medical imaging, and in particular to a computer-implemented method for operating a medical imaging system, a medical imaging system, and a computer program element. BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION In medical imaging, particularly within a medical imaging facility, it is desired to have a patient throughput that is as high as possible. At the same time, image quality should be as good as possible, which are conflicting goals. In practice, these conflicting goals may be addressed by instructing the patient prior to the actual imaging procedure, particularly the actual image acquisition, by medical professionals to support or help as much as possible, e.g., to suppress or avoid movements, so that the image quality is as high as possible. For example, the patient may be informed about e.g. what actions during the imaging procedure are requested to arrive at a suitable image quality for facilitated diagnosis and/or a high image quality. In some cases, the patient may think of having a good understanding of the imaging procedure and/or what will happen and what is expected from the patient. However, in at least some cases, the patient might have overseen something or just misunderstood some information regarding a behavior of the patient during individual imaging procedure steps, which, in the case of e.g. unwanted movements, etc., can result in reduced image quality and/or, e.g. if an image acquisition has to be repeated as a result of insufficient cooperation or performance of the patient, in lower patient throughput in the medical imaging facility. SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION There may, therefore, be a need for improved means for guiding a subject undergoing a medical imaging procedure. The object of the present invention is solved by the subject matter of the independent claims, wherein further embodiments are incorporated in the dependent claims. According to a first aspect, there is provided a method for operating a medical imaging system. The method comprises: determining, by a data processing unit, a positioning rule, at least indicating, at least for a region of interest, one or more target positions, wherein a deviation between an actual position and the target position can affect imaging performance;obtaining, by the data processing unit, measurement data of at least the region of interest, to derive the actual position of at least the region of interest;determining, by the data processing unit, a current deviation between the actual position and the target position of at least the region of interest, by comparing the positioning rule with the obtained measurement data;generating, by the data processing unit, imaging performance information, at least indicating whether the current deviation between the actual position and the target position of at least the region of interest currently affects the imaging performance in terms of image quality and/or remaining and/or total imaging time or not, or is expected to affect the imaging performance in terms of image quality and/or remaining and/or total imaging time or not; andproviding, by the data processing unit, the generated imaging performance information to be communicated to a subject to be imaged. In this way, the subject may be informed and/or guided by automatic and/or computational means, in order to assist, by providing the generated imaging performance information to the subject, the subject in supporting the medical imaging procedure as vigorously as possible and as intended. This includes, at the subject's side, to adhere as consistently as possible to a predetermined plan and/or guideline for the medical imaging procedure to be performed at the subject, e.g. a behavior guideline, imaging plan, scan protocol, etc., that is adapted to the medical imaging procedure to be performed. As the imaging performance information is updated in content from time to time, e.g. is periodically updated, the subject receives guidance based on the subject's actual performance in supporting the medical imaging procedure. Likewise, changes in the subject's performance in supporting the medical imaging procedure may be automatically detected and, in response to this change, the imaging performance information may be changed or adapted accordingly. This assists a fast execution of the imaging procedure, meaning a high throughput of subjects in a medical imaging facility, by providing the imaging performance information, allowing for a precise and fast determination of the subject's actions and also besides the qualitative information a quantitative value and/or quantitative measure for a qualitative. Further, this also assists