Automatic or semi-automatic whole body MR scanning system

摘要

A system includes an image data processor for automatically processing data representing multiple patient anatomical images acquired in a single imaging scan. The images are acquired by, identifying multiple different anatomical elements in corresponding multiple different anatomical regions and identifying multiple different potentially pathology indicative features associated with the multiple different anatomical elements in response to first predetermined information associating different potentially pathology indicative features with corresponding different anatomical elements. The image data processor determines multiple different image acquisition methods for use in imaging the multiple different potentially pathology indicative features in response to second predetermined information associating different image acquisition methods with corresponding identified different pathology indicative features. An output processor collates images for output.

主权项

1. An image processing system comprising:
a medical imaging device having a patient support table; a database comprising:
(i) first lookup information associating descriptions of a plurality of predetermined anatomical elements and a plurality of predetermined potential pathologies, each of the plurality of predetermined anatomical elements being associated with one or more of the plurality of predetermined potential pathologies; and(ii) second lookup information associating the plurality of predetermined potential pathologies and a plurality of predetermined image acquisition methods, each of the plurality of predetermined potential pathologies being associated with one or more of the plurality of predetermined image acquisition methods; a repository comprising a template image comprising a plurality of template objects corresponding to a plurality of previously acquired anatomical elements; an image data processor configured to automatically process data representing a plurality of patient anatomical images acquired from the medical imaging device by:
identifying: (i) a plurality of different anatomical elements of a patient in a corresponding plurality of different anatomical regions of the patient; and (ii) a plurality of different potentially pathological indicative features associated with said plurality of different anatomical elements of the patient by detecting a transition in luminance intensity between the portions of the plurality of patient anatomical images depicting the plurality of different anatomical elements of the patient and portions of the template image depicting the plurality of previously acquired anatomical elements; andassigning one or more of the potential pathologies in the first lookup information to the identified plurality of different anatomical elements of the patient using the association of each of the plurality of predetermined anatomical elements with the one or more predetermined potential pathologies in the first lookup information; and assigning one or more of the plurality of predetermined image acquisition methods in the second lookup information to the one or more assigned potential pathologies in the first lookup information using the association of each of the plurality of predetermined potential pathologies with the one or more predetermined image acquisition methods in the second lookup information; an output processor configured to collate one or more images depicting said identified plurality of different potentially pathological indicative features acquired by the medical imaging device using the one or more assigned predetermined image acquisition methods; and a patient support table controller configured to automatically move the patient support table to isocenter of the medical imaging device to obtain the one or more images depicting said plurality of different potentially pathological indicative features in response to an identified one of said plurality of different potentially pathological indicative features.