System for performing coronary digital subtraction angiography (DSA)

1. An image data subtraction system to enhance visualization of vessels subject to movement, comprising:

an interface for receiving an electrical signal representing a heart cycle electrical waveform occurring over a plurality of heart cycles;

an imaging system for,

acquiring data representing a first image set comprising a plurality of temporally sequential individual mask images of vessels of a portion of patient anatomy during said plurality of heart cycles in the absence of a contrast agent, and

acquiring data representing a second image set comprising a plurality of temporally sequential individual contrast enhanced images of vessels of said portion of patient anatomy during said plurality of heart cycles in the presence of a contrast agent, wherein each individual mask image of the first image set is acquired at one of multiple segments within the heart cycle and each contrast enhanced image of the second image set is acquired at one of the same segments within the heart cycle; and

an image data processor for automatically,

using said electrical signal to identify corresponding pairs of images, wherein each of the corresponding pairs comprises a mask image and a contrast enhanced image acquired at a same segment within the heart cycle, and

for each of said corresponding pairs, subtracting data representing a mask image of a corresponding pair from a contrast enhanced image of said corresponding pair, to provide a plurality of subtracted images providing enhanced visualization of vessels.

2. A system according to claim 1 , wherein

said vessels are Coronary vessels.

3. A system according to claim 1 , wherein

said imaging system acquires said individual mask images in response to a synchronization signal triggering image acquisition at predetermined segments during the heart cycle and synchronized with said electrical signal.

4. A system according to claim 1 , wherein

said portion of patient anatomy comprises a heart and said vessels comprise coronary vessels.

5. A system according to claim 1 , including

a display processor for processing data representing said subtracted images for display.

6. A system according to claim 1 , wherein

said electrical signal is an ECG signal.

7. An image data subtraction system to enhance visualization of vessels subject to movement, comprising:

an interface for receiving an electrical signal representing a heart cycle electrical waveform during a plurality of heart cycles;

an imaging system for,

acquiring data representing a first image set in the absence of a contrast agent and comprising a plurality of temporally sequential individual mask images of vessels of a portion of patient anatomy, wherein each individual mask image of the first image set is acquired at one of multiple segments within a heart cycle based on said electrical signal, and

acquiring data representing a second image set in the presence of a contrast agent and comprising a plurality of temporally sequential individual contrast enhanced images of vessels of said portion of patient anatomy, wherein each contrast enhanced image of the second image set is acquired at one of the same multiple segments within the heart cycle based on said electrical signal; and

an image data processor for automatically,

identifying corresponding pairs of images, wherein each of the corresponding pairs comprises a mask image and a contrast enhanced image acquired at a same segment, and

for each of said corresponding pairs, subtracting data representing a mask image of a corresponding pair from a contrast enhanced image of said corresponding pair, to provide a plurality of subtracted images providing enhanced visualization of vessels.

8. A system according to claim 7 , wherein

said imaging system acquires said individual mask images and said contrast enhanced images in response to a synchronization signal triggering image acquisition at predetermined segments during said at least one heart cycle and synchronized with said electrical signal.

9. A system according to claim 8 , including

a user interface enabling a user to select said predetermined segments.

10. A method for image data subtraction to enhance visualization of vessels subject to movement, comprising the activities of:

receiving an electrical signal representing a heart cycle electrical waveform occurring over a plurality of heart cycles;

acquiring data representing a first image set comprising a plurality of temporally sequential individual mask images of vessels of a portion of patient anatomy, each individual mask image acquired at one of multiple segments within a heart cycle in the absence of a contrast agent;

synchronizing, in response to the electrical signal, acquisition of data representing a second image set comprising a plurality of temporally sequential individual contrast enhanced images of vessels of said portion of patient anatomy, each contrast enhanced image acquired at one of the same multiple segments within the heart cycle in the presence of a contrast agent;

automatically using said electrical signal to identify corresponding pairs of images, wherein each corresponding pair comprises a mask image and a contrast enhanced image acquired at a same segment within the heart cycle; and

for each of said corresponding pairs, automatically subtracting data representing a mask image of a corresponding pair from a contrast enhanced image of said corresponding pair, to provide a plurality of subtracted images providing enhanced visualization of vessels.

11. A method according to claim 10 , further comprising triggering, via a synchronization signal, the acquisition of the data representing the first image set.