Determining an initialization time point of imaging using a contrast medium

1. A method for imaging of a region of interest of an object to be examined, the method comprising:

selecting a slice of the object to be examined for a plurality of bolus-tracking images, in which a fluid flowing to the region of interest is observable;

taking the plurality of bolus-tracking images of the selected slice over time;

determining respective time-density curves based on intensity values assigned to respective individual image points, the respective individual image points being acquired during the taking of the plurality of bolus-tracking images of the selected slice;

dividing the respective individual image points into a plurality of groups of image points according to a similarity of the respective time-density curves;

selecting a first group of image points, for which at least one of the intensity values assigned to the first group of image points is first in time to exceed a threshold intensity value among the intensity values assigned to the respective individual image points, as a reference group of image points from among the plurality of groups of image points;

determining a time, at which the at least one of the intensity values assigned to the reference group of image points exceeds the threshold intensity value, as an initialization time point of the imaging of the region of interest of the object to be examined; and

controlling an image recording device to start the imaging of the region of interest of the object to be examined based on the initialization time point.

2. The method of claim 1 , wherein the method comprises at least one of:

administering a contrast medium to the object to be examined before taking a first bolus-tracking image of the plurality of bolus-tracking images, and

identifying at least one of the plurality of groups of image points, for which the respective time-density curves is most similar to a reference artery signal curve, as a group with an arterial signal.

3. The method of claim 1 , wherein the imaging includes CT imaging and the intensity values include attenuation values.

4. The method of claim 1 , wherein the imaging includes MRI imaging.

5. The method of claim 1 , wherein the dividing of the respective individual image points into the plurality of groups of image points is performed based on a clustering method.

6. The method of claim 5 , wherein at least one of:

a number of the plurality of groups of image points into which the respective individual image points are to be divided is defined as a function of a maximum amount of time allowed for the determining of the initialization time point, such that the number of the plurality of groups of image points increases or decreases as the maximum amount of time allowed for the determining increases or decreases,

the plurality of bolus-tracking images are taken in a restricted partial region of interest of the selected slice, the restricted partial region of interest is a region in which an arterial signal is to be expected,

group centers are defined in advance from models for the plurality of groups of image points in that a predetermined time-density curve is assigned to each of the plurality of groups of image points as a group center, and

randomly chosen group centers are selected as initial group centers, adapted during application of the clustering method to the respective time-density curves assigned to the respective individual image points grouped around the initial group centers.

7. The method of claim 5 , wherein the clustering method is a hierarchical cluster method or a K-means cluster method.

8. The method of claim 5 , wherein, during the dividing of the respective individual image points into the plurality of groups of image points, only image points with the assigned intensity values in a value interval are taken into account.

9. The method of claim 8 , wherein at least one of:

the value interval include a range from −50 HU to 150 HU, and

images recorded in the plurality of bolus-tracking images are registered in sequence.

10. The method of claim 1 , wherein the first group of image points is identified as a group with an arterial signal.

11. The method of claim 1 , wherein the groups of image points with the respective time-density curves, which are correlated with a heart rate or respiration of the object to be examined, among the respective time-density curves, are identified as separate groups.

12. The method of claim 1 , wherein, during the dividing of the respective individual image points into the plurality of groups of image points, only image points with the assigned intensity values in a value interval are taken into account.

13. The method of claim 12 , wherein at least one of:

the value interval include a range from −50 HU to 150 HU, and

images recorded in the plurality of bolus-tracking images are registered in sequence.

14. A non-transitory computer readable medium storing a computer program, the computer program being directly loadable into a storage device of a control device of an imaging medical device, the computer program including program segments to cause the control device to execute the method of claim 1 when the computer program is executed by a processor in the control device of the imaging medical device.

15. A non-transitory computer-readable medium, on which computer-executable program segments are stored, for causing a computer to execute the method of claim 1 when the computer-executable program segments are executed by a processor of the computer.

16. An imaging medical device for imaging of a region of interest of an object to be examined, the imaging medical device comprising:

at least one memory configured to store computer-readable instructions; and

at least one processor configured to execute the computer-readable instructions to cause the imaging medical device to,

receive selection guidelines with respect to selection of a slice of the object to be examined for a plurality of bolus-tracking images, in which a fluid flowing to the region of interest is observable;

actuate an image recording device for taking the plurality of bolus-tracking images of the selected slice over time;

acquire raw data associated with the plurality of bolus-tracking images;

reconstruct image data including intensity values assigned to respective individual image points based on the acquired raw data;

divide the respective individual image points into a plurality of groups of image points according to a similarity of respective time-density curves, the respective time-density curves being determined based on the intensity values assigned to the respective individual image points;

select a first group of image points, for which at least one of the intensity values assigned to the first group of image points is first in time to exceed a threshold intensity value among the intensity values assigned to the respective individual image points, as a reference group of image points from among the plurality of groups of image points;

determine a time, at which the at least one of the intensity values assigned to the reference group of image points exceeds the threshold intensity value, as an initialization time point of the imaging of the region of interest of the object to be examined; and

control the image recording device to start the imaging of the region of interest of the object to be examined based on the initialization time point.

17. The imaging medical device of claim 16 , comprising:

the image recording device; and

a control device including the at least one memory and the at least one processor of claim 16 .

18. The imaging medical device of claim 16 , wherein the imaging medical device is a computed tomography system.