Computed tomography data-based cycle estimation and four-dimensional reconstruction

摘要

Methods for computed tomography data-based cycle estimation and four-dimensional reconstruction are provided. A gated reconstruction is derived from CT data acquired without gating using an added artificial trigger. The resulting images for different slices are used to determine local or slice variations over time. The local variations over time for the various slices are combined to create a respiratory cycle signal. This respiratory cycle signal is used to bin the images for different phases, allowing four-dimensional CT reconstruction.

主权项

1. A method for data-based cycle estimation and computed tomography (CT) reconstruction, the method comprising:
scanning a patient with a computed tomography (CT) scanner without gating; reconstructing, with a processor, CT images with trigger reference points added for a gated reconstruction, the trigger reference points based on an expected cycle length of a breathing cycle, the images representing each of a plurality of slices at different times; deriving the breathing cycle from the images; binning the images into breathing phases using the breathing cycle; generating a four-dimensional reconstruction of the patient as a function of the binned images for the breathing phases.