Picker International, Inc.

Koninklijke Philips Corporation N.V.

Koninklijke Philips Electronics N.v.

John J Barni

Kenneth L Freeman

Joseph S Deucher

Robert A Cecil

Donald E Negrelli

Darrell M Smith

David W Hoffmeyer

Kim S Luckner

Lawrence R McMillen

Gary A Kaufmann

A method of medical imaging includes obtaining at a first temporal resolution a first medical image of a region of interest of a patient, and obtaining at a second temporal resolution a second medical image of the region of interest. The second temporal resolution is lower than the first temporal resolution. The method also includes registering the first and second medical images with one another such that common reference points in the first and second medical images coincide. Finally, the first and second medical images are superimposed over one another.

Medical imaging at two temporal resolutions for tumor treatment planning

A gantry (A) has a bore defining a first patient examination region (12). A first x-ray source (B) is mounted to a frame (C) for rotation around the examination region (12). An arc of first radiation detectors (14) detects x-rays which have traversed the examination region. A first image reconstruction processor (18) reconstructs a tomographic image representation from signals generated by the first radiation detectors. An angiographic device (D) is positioned remote from the gantry along a longitudinal axis (25) for generating and displaying angiographic image representations on a display monitor (46). A second examination region is defined along the longitudinal axis (25) between a second x-ray source (36) and an image intensifier tube (38). A second processor (44) reconstructs the angiographic projection image representations from signals generated by the image intensifier tube (38). A C-arm (30) can be suspended from an overhead track (50) for supporting the second x-ray source (36) and the image intensifier tube (38). A common patient support (24-28) extends along the longitudinal axis between the gantry and the angiographic device for positioning a patient within the first and second examination regions. The patient support includes a slide mechanism (60-64) which permits the patient support to be retracted from the gantry. The processors (18, 44) can be a incorporated into a single controller (E) which fuses or combines an image generated by the angiographic imaging subsystem with an image generated by the tomographic imaging subsystem.

Angiographic system incorporating a computerized tomographic (CT) scanner

A radiation source which generates a radiation cone-beam (14) and a two-dimensional radiation detector are spiralled continuously around and longitudinally relative to an imaging volume. Image data from the two-dimensional display is reconstructed (30.sub.1, 30.sub.2, . . . 30.sub.n) into a volumetric, physiological image stored in a subject memory (32). During an interventional surgical procedure with a surgical instrument (42), the x-ray source is gated to operate intermittently, e.g., at 60.degree. angular intervals, at a reduced radiation intensity by an x-ray tube control (40). The additional data is reconstructed into a three-dimensional image representation of the surgical instrument and stored in an instrument memory (34). An operator image selection processor (60) causes data retrieval circuits (62a, 62b) to retrieve like slices or other image representations from the subject and instrument memories. The retrieved data is combined (64) such that a resultant human-readable display (68) shows the instrument superimposed on the anatomical image. The surgical instrument volumetric image is continuously updated such that the display represents a real time display of the surgical instrument illustrating its advancement through the imaging region.

3D CT fluoroscopy

A medical diagnostic imager (10) reconstructs (96) raw scan data into digital image representations which are stored in a mass storage memory (46) such as DRAM or disk. As the scanner reconstructs the series of images, each digital representation image is transferred to an image VRAM (100) into one of a plurality of selected image areas. A video monitor (24) displays the electronic image representations from the image VRAM in the selected pattern of images, e.g. a 4.times.3 grid of images. The digital image representations are transferred to the image VRAM and displayed on the video monitor as they are generated such that the monitor displays the previously generated images and the most recently generated image as it develops during the reconstruction process. The diagnosing physician selects (104) one of the images and selectively adjusts (110) the window and level of its gray scale. After each of the images has been independently designated and its gray scale independently adjusted, one or more of the adjusted electronic image representations are transferred to a film printer (32) which makes a hard copy film print of the selected image(s). A graphics control (122) and a keyboard (132) enter data into a graphics VRAM (120) and a text VRAM (130), respectively. The electronic diagnostic image, graphics, and text data are merged (138) such that the graphics and text are superimposed on selected portions of the displayed video images.

Real time physician view box

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Mayfield Village, OH, United States of America

John J Barni