IMAGE CAPTURE AND RECONSTRUCTION PROTOCOL SELECTION SYSTEM
A method accepts patient-specific data for imaging a patient extremity on a cone beam computed tomography apparatus and generates and displays a set of acquisition parameters and dose indication for 2-D projection image capture of the extremity. The generated set of acquisition parameters and dose indication are updated according to one or more operator entered instructions. A set of 2-D projection images of a 3-D volume is acquired according to the updated set of acquisition parameters. The volume is reconstructed according to the acquired set of 2-D projection images.
1 . A method, executed at least in part by a computer, comprising:
a) accepting patient-specific data for imaging a patient extremity on a cone beam computed tomography (CBCT) apparatus;
b) generating and displaying, according to the patient-specific data, a set of acquisition parameters and a dose indication for 2-D projection image capture of the extremity on the CBCT apparatus;
d) updating the generated set of acquisition parameters and dose indication according to one or more operator instructions;
e) acquiring a set of 2-D projection images of a 3-D volume that includes the patient extremity according to the updated set of acquisition parameters;
f) reconstructing the 3-D volume according to the acquired set of 2-D projection images; and
g) displaying, storing, or transmitting at least a portion of the reconstructed 3-D volume.
2 . The method of claim 1 further comprising displaying a generated set of reconstruction parameters and updating the reconstruction parameters according to one or more operator-entered instructions.
3 . The method of claim 2 wherein the generated set of reconstruction parameters includes a voxel dimension.
4 . The method of claim 2 wherein the generated set of reconstruction parameters includes a reconstruction algorithm.
5 . The method of claim 1 wherein the CBCT apparatus has two or more x-ray sources and wherein the generated and displayed acquisition parameters specify using at least two of the two or more x-ray sources.
6 . The method of claim 5 wherein the operator-entered instruction changes a firing order for the specified two or more x-ray sources.
7 . The method of claim 1 wherein the displayed acquisition parameters include at least one parameter taken from the group consisting of an angular range, an angular resolution, a kVp value, and an mAs value.
8 . The method of claim 1 further comprising automatically identifying a region of interest and one or more acquisition parameters from a scout image.
9 . The method of claim 1 wherein reconstructing the volume uses an iterative reconstruction algorithm.
10 . The method of claim 1 wherein reconstructing the volume uses an analytic reconstruction algorithm.
11 . The method of claim 1 wherein updating the set of acquisition parameters comprises specifying dual-energy imaging.
12 . A method comprising:
a) accepting one or more input parameters for a patient exam of an extremity on a cone beam computed tomography (CBCT) apparatus;
b) generating, according to the accepted input parameters for the patient exam, a set of acquisition parameters for 2-D projection image capture of a region of interest of the extremity using the CBCT apparatus, wherein the acquisition parameters include a combination of two or more x-ray sources;
c) displaying, on a display, the generated set of acquisition parameters;
d) updating at least one of the generated set of acquisition parameters according to an operator instruction;
e) acquiring a set of 2-D projection images of the extremity by scanning the region of interest according to the updated set of acquisition parameters;
f) reconstructing a volume including the region of interest according to the acquired set of 2-D projection images; and
g) rendering at least a portion of the reconstructed volume to the display.
13 . The method of claim 12 further comprising storing or transmitting the reconstructed volume.
14 . The method of claim 12 further comprising generating and displaying an indicator of patient dose for the extremity exam.
15 . The method of claim 12 wherein the set of acquisition parameters includes an adjustable angular range.
16 . The method of claim 12 wherein the set of acquisition parameters includes parameters for dual-energy imaging.
17 . A cone-beam computed tomography (CBCT) apparatus comprising:
a) a gantry that has a plurality of x-ray sources disposed opposite a digital radiography detector; and
b) a control logic processor in signal communication with the gantry and a display, wherein the processor is configured with programmed instructions to:
(i) accept input parameters for imaging a patient extremity on the CBCT apparatus;
(ii) generate and display a set of acquisition parameters for 2-D projection image capture of the extremity on the CBCT apparatus and a dose indication;
(iii) accept one or more operator instructions to update the generated set of acquisition parameters and dose indication;
(iv) acquire a set of 2-D projection images of a volume according to the updated set of acquisition parameters; and
(v) reconstruct the volume according to the acquired set of 2-D projection images.
18 . The apparatus of claim 17 wherein the control logic processor is configured to modify the firing order of two or more of the plurality of x-ray sources.