System for 3-dimensional medical image data acquisition

1. A method for medical image processing and 3-dimensional image construction of an examination subject, comprising the activities of:

enabling a user to selectively orient an x-ray imaging system having a variable 3-dimensional acquisition axis relative to an examination subject support for holding an examination subject;

setting a non-planar image data acquisition path including a radio-opaque object within the examination subject for the x-ray imaging system oriented around the variable 3-dimensional acquisition axis in response to user instruction;

initiating acquisition of image data representing, a plurality of images of the examination subject including a radio-opaque object within the examination subject by the x-ray imaging system at a corresponding plurality of points along the non-planar image data acquisition path and a plurality of images of the examination subject excluding said radio-opaque object at a corresponding plurality of points along the non-planar image data acquisition path;

constructing a 3-dimensional image from the acquired image data both including and excluding said radio-opaque object such that image artifacts introduced by said radio-opaque object within the examination subject are diffused over a volume and reduced; and

displaying the 3-dimensional image.

2. The method of claim 1 , wherein the activity of constructing includes collecting and constructing multiple images acquired along various angles and planes along the non-planar image data acquisition path from the acquired image data in order to provide the 3-dimensional image such that any introduced artifacts are minimized.

3. The method of claim 1 , wherein the activity of setting includes providing a user interface to a user to select the non-planar image data acquisition path by selecting at least one of:

a. a list of preset acquisition paths; and

b. a region of interest and having the x-ray imaging system automatically determine the acquisition path based on said region.

4. The method of claim 1 , wherein the activity of initiating acquisition includes one of:

a. enabling a user to move the examination subject support in a cranial-caudal direction allowing the x-ray imaging system to acquire image data at a plurality of points along the non-planar image data acquisition path; or

b. automatically moving the x-ray imaging system in a cranial-caudal direction allowing the x-ray imaging system to acquire image data at a plurality of points along the non-planar image data acquisition path.

5. The method of claim 1 , wherein the activity of initiating acquisition includes enabling a user to move the examination subject support and automatically moving the x-ray imaging system in coordination with each other in a cranial-caudal direction allowing the x-ray imaging system to acquire image data at a plurality of points along the non-planar image data acquisition path and including the steps of initiating acquisition of image data representing a plurality of images of the examination subject including said radio-opaque object at a corresponding plurality of points along a planar image data acquisition path and

constructing said 3-dimensional image from the acquired image data comprising images acquired on the non-planar and planar image data acquisition paths.

6. The method of claim 1 , wherein the activity of setting the non-planar image data acquisition path includes evaluating non-planar image data acquisition paths to detect impediments in the non-planar image data acquisition path and adjusting the non-planar image data acquisition path in response to any detected impediments to avoid the impediment.

7. The method of claim 6 , wherein the activity of evaluating includes simulating non-planar image data acquisition paths to determine an optimal acquisition path.

8. The method of claim 1 , wherein the activity of initiating acquisition includes enabling a user to coordinate rotational and orbital movement of the x-ray imaging system to acquire image data at a plurality of points along the non-planar image data acquisition path.

9. The method of claim 1 , wherein the x-ray imaging system includes a C-arm having a radiation detector and an x-ray source facing each other on opposing ends of the C-arm and a multi-axis robot device connected to the C-arm providing the C-arm with 360 degree range of motion.

10. The method of claim 1 , wherein the activity of setting further comprises the activities of:

presenting a menu of a plurality of preset non-planar image data acquisition paths;

enabling user selection of one of the preset non-planar image data acquisition paths for obtaining the 3-dimensional image; and

automatically positioning the x-ray imaging system in response to the selected non-planar image data acquisition path.

11. The method of claim 1 , wherein the activity of enabling a user includes enabling the user to concurrently view previously constructed images of the examination subject to determine whether any radio-opaque objects are present.

12. The method of claim 11 , wherein the previously constructed images are at least one of:

a. 3-dimensional images;

b. 2-dimensional images; and

c. a combination of 2-dimensional and 3-dimensional images.

13. A method for medical image processing and 3-dimensional image construction of an examination subject, comprising the activities of:

enabling a user to selectively orient an x-ray imaging system having a variable 3-dimensional acquisition axis relative to an examination subject support for holding an examination subject;

setting a non-planar image data acquisition path including a radio-opaque object within the examination subject for the x-ray imaging system oriented around the variable 3-dimensional acquisition axis in response to user instruction;

initiating acquisition of image data representing a plurality of images of the examination subject including a radio-opaque object within the examination subject by the x-ray imaging system at a corresponding plurality of points along the non-planar image data acquisition path;

constructing a 3-dimensional image from the acquired image data such that image artifacts introduced by said radio-opaque object within the examination subject are diffused over a volume and reduced; and

displaying the 3-dimensional image

wherein the activity of setting includes adjusting the 3-dimensional acquisition axis by automatically changing the non-planar image data acquisition path to minimize introduced metal artifacts and including the activity of

selecting said non-planar image data acquisition path from a plurality of paths in response to size or shape of said radio-opaque object.

14. A system for medical image processing and 3-dimensional image construction of an examination subject comprising:

a support surface on which an examination subject is placed;

an x-ray imaging system for acquiring image data, the x-ray imaging system having a variable 3-dimensional acquisition axis relative to the examination subject on said support surface;

a control processor electrically coupled to the x-ray imaging system for enabling a user to selectively set a non-planar image data acquisition path including a radio-opaque object within the examination subject for the x-ray imaging system oriented around the variable 3-dimensional acquisition axis and initiating acquisition of image data representing, a plurality of images of the examination subject including a radio-opaque object within the examination subject by the x-ray imaging system at a corresponding plurality of points along the non-planar image data acquisition path in response to user instruction and a plurality of images of the examination subject excluding said radio-opaque object at a corresponding plurality of points along the non-planar image data acquisition path;

an image processor for constructing a 3-dimensional image from the acquired image data both including and excluding said radio-opaque object and image artifacts introduced by said radio-opaque object within the examination subject are diffused over a volume and reduced; and

a monitor for displaying the 3-dimensional image.

15. The system of claim 14 , wherein the image processor collects and constructs multiple images acquired along various angles and planes along the non-planar image data acquisition path from the acquired image data in order to provide the 3-dimensional image such that any introduced artifacts are minimized.

16. The system of claim 14 , wherein the 3-dimensional acquisition axis is adjusted by automatically changing the acquisition path in order to minimize introduced metal artifacts and said control processor selects said non-planar image data acquisition path from a plurality of paths.

17. The system of claim 14 , wherein the user selectively sets the non-planar image data acquisition path by selecting at least one of:

a. a list of preset acquisition paths; and

b. a region of interest and having the x-ray imaging system automatically determine the acquisition path based on said region.

18. The system of claim 14 , wherein said examination subject support is moved by a user in a cranial-caudal direction allowing the x-ray imaging system to acquire image data at a plurality of points along the non-planar image data acquisition path.

19. The system of claim 14 , wherein said control processor automatically causes said x-ray imaging system to move in a cranial-caudal direction allowing the x-ray imaging system to acquire image data at a plurality of points along the non-planar image data acquisition path.

20. The system of claim 14 , wherein said examination subject support is moved by a user and said x-ray imaging system is automatically moved by said control processor in coordination with each other in a cranial-caudal direction allowing said x-ray imaging system to acquire image data at a plurality of points along the non-planar image data acquisition path.

21. The system of claim 14 , wherein the control processor evaluates non-planar image data acquisition paths to detect impediments in the non-planar image data acquisition path and adjusting the non-planar image data acquisition path in response to any detected impediments to avoid the impediment.

22. The system of claim 21 wherein the evaluation of non-planar image data acquisition paths includes simulating non-planar image data acquisition paths to determine an optimal acquisition path.

23. The system of claim 14 , wherein the x-ray imaging system includes a C-arm having a radiation detector and an x-ray source facing each other on opposing ends of the C-arm and a multi-axis robot device connected to the C-arm providing the C-arm with 360 degree range of motion.

24. The system of claim 14 , wherein the x-ray imaging system includes a C-arm having a radiation detector and an x-ray source facing each other on opposing ends of the C-arm and a pedestal connected to the C-arm, said pedestal enabling orbital and rotational movement of said C-arm.

25. The system of claim 14 , further comprising a user interface including an input mechanism for receiving a user instruction and wherein

said control processor presents on said monitor a menu of a plurality of user-selectable preset non-planar image data acquisition paths and said x-ray imaging system is automatically positioned in response to the selected non-planar image data acquisition paths.

26. The system of claim 14 , wherein said control processor provides previously constructed images of the examination subject viewed concurrently on said monitor to determine if and where any radio-opaque objects are present.

27. The system of claim 26 , wherein the previously constructed images are at least one of:

a. 3-dimensional images;

b. 2-dimensional images; and

c. combination of 2-dimensional and 3-dimensional images.