Gated Image Acquisition And Patient Model Construction

Abstract

A method and system is disclosed for acquiring image data of a subject. The image data can be collected with an imaging system with at least two different power characteristics. The image data can be reconstructed using dynamic or enhanced reconstruction techniques.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A method of acquiring image data with an imaging system, comprising:
 providing a first power source to power a single x-ray source tube with a first power characteristic to emit x-rays to acquire a first image data relative to a first selected position for acquisition of a first image data;   providing a second power source to power the single x-ray source tube with a second power characteristic different from the first power characteristic to emit x-rays to acquire a second image data relative to the first selected position;   providing a moving system to move the single x-ray source tube during the acquisition of the first image data and the second image data; and   providing a processor to execute instructions to reconstruct a single three-dimensional model of at least a portion of a subject based on the acquired first image data and the second image data;   wherein the first power characteristic is selected to be at least one of a first voltage of about 40 kV to about 180 kV and a first amperage of about 10 mA to about 500 mA;   wherein the second power characteristic is selected to be at least one of a second voltage that is about 40 kV to about 60 kV different than the first voltage and a second amperage that is about 20 mA to about 150 mA different than the first amperage.   
     
     
         2 . The method of  claim 1 , further comprising:
 positioning the movable single x-ray source tube in a housing.   
     
     
         3 . The method of  claim 2 , further comprising:
 connecting the housing to a mobile cart operable to move the housing from a first room to a second room.   
     
     
         4 . The method of  claim 1 , further comprising:
 providing controls to move at least one of the movable single x-ray source tube or the housing during acquiring the first image data and the second image data.   
     
     
         5 . The method of  claim 1 , further comprising:
 acquiring the first image data and the second image data based on a selected physiological event of the subject and to acquire the first image data and the second image data of the selected physiological event of the subject.   
     
     
         6 . The method of  claim 5 , further comprising:
 gating the acquisition of the first image data and the second image data relative to the first selected position at both the first power characteristic and the second power characteristic to acquire the first image data and the second image data at the selected physiological event of the subject.   
     
     
         7 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein providing the processor to execute instructions to reconstruct the single three-dimensional model of at least the portion of the subject based on the acquired first image data and the second image data includes performing an algebraic iterative technique to alter a theoretical formed model of the subject to illustrate one of a first phase or a second phase of the subject. 
     
     
         8 . The method of  claim 7 , further comprising:
 selecting the first phase to be an arterial structure and the second phase to be a venous structure.   
     
     
         9 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein providing the processor to execute instructions to reconstruct the single three-dimensional model of at least the portion of the subject based on the acquired first image data and the second image data includes a difference of the first image data at the first power characteristic including a first x-ray absorption or x-ray scatter in a subject and the second image data at the first power characteristic including a second x-ray absorption or x-ray scatter in the subject. 
     
     
         10 . The method of  claim 1 , further comprising:
 providing controls to move at least one of the movable single x-ray source tube or the housing to vary a speed of movement of at least one of the single x-ray source tube or the housing over a period of time of the acquisition of the first image data and the second image data.   
     
     
         11 . The method of  claim 10 , wherein the varying speed of movement is dependent on a gating of the acquisition of the first image data and the second image data based on at least one of the timing of an injection of a contrast agent into the subject or a physiological event of the subject. 
     
     
         12 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein executing instructions with the processor to reconstruct the single three-dimensional model of at least the portion of the subject includes illustrating both a first phase and a second phase as separate anatomical portions of the subject. 
     
     
         13 . The method of  claim 1 , further comprising:
 providing a tracking system to track an instrument relative to a subject; and   superimposing an icon representing the tracked instrument on the reconstructed the single three-dimensional model of at least the portion of the subject.   
     
     
         14 . The method of  claim 13 , further comprising:
 automatically registering the reconstructed single three-dimensional model of at least the portion of the subject at least by tracking the at least one single x-ray source tube or the housing.   
     
     
         15 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein executing instructions with the processor to reconstruct the single three-dimensional model of at least the portion of the subject further includes interpolating between the first image data and the second image data based on an amount of movement of the single x-ray tube between when the first image data was acquired with the first power source and the second image data was acquired with the second power source. 
     
     
         16 . An imaging system to acquire image data, comprising:
 a source system including,
 a single x-ray source tube, 
 a first power system having a first power characteristic to power the single x-ray source tube to emit x-rays relating to the first power characteristic, wherein the first power characteristic is selected to be at least one of a first voltage of about 40 kV to about 180 kV or a first amperage of about 10 mA to about 500 mA; 
 a second power system having a second power characteristic to power the single x-ray source tube to emit x-rays relating to the second power characteristic, wherein the second power characteristic is selected to be at least one of a second voltage that is about 40 kV to about 60 kV different than the first voltage or a second amperage that is about 20 mA to about 150 mA different than the first amperage; and 
 wherein the source system is configured to be operated to switch between the first power system and the second power system to power the single x-ray source tube to emit the x-rays relating to the first power characteristic or emit the x-rays relating to the second power characteristic; 
   a detector system positioned to detect the x-rays relating to the first power characteristic and the x-rays relating to the second power characteristic emitted from the single x-ray source tube;   a processor to execute instructions to reconstruct a single three-dimensional model of at least a portion of a subject based on the detected x-rays relating to the first power characteristic and the x-rays relating to the second power characteristic emitted from the single x-ray source tube;   wherein the source system and the detector system are configured to be positioned at a plurality of selected positions relative to at least the portion of the subject.   
     
     
         17 . The system of  claim 16 , further comprising:
 a control system included to control movement of the detector system and the source system;   wherein the detected x-rays relating to the first power characteristic are a first image data;   wherein the detected x-rays relating to the second power characteristic are a second image data;   wherein the control system is configured to move the detector system and the source system to the plurality of selected positions relative to at least the portion of the subject to acquire a plurality of first image data and a plurality of second image data.   
     
     
         18 . The system of  claim 16 , further comprising:
 a gantry configured to enclose the detector system and the source system;   wherein the detector system and the source system are operable to move around at least the portion of the subject within the gantry.   
     
     
         19 . The system of  claim 17 , further comprising:
 a pump operable to inject a contrast agent into the at least the portion of the subject.   
     
     
         20 . The system of  claim 17 , wherein the control system is operable to gate an image data acquisition and the movement of the detector system and the source system based on an injection time of a contrast agent into the subject. 
     
     
         21 . A method of acquiring image data with an imaging system, comprising:
 powering a single x-ray source tube with a first power source at a first power characteristic that is selected to be at least one of a first voltage of about 40 kV to about 180 kV and a first amperage of about 10 mA to about 500 mA, wherein the single x-ray source tube is configured to emit first x-rays based on the first power characteristic to acquire a first image data;   powering the single x-ray source tube with a second power source at a second power characteristic that is selected to be at least one of a second voltage that is about 40 kV to about 60 kV different than the first voltage and a second amperage that is about 20 mA to about 150 mA different than the first amperage, wherein the single x-ray source tube is configured to emit second x-rays based on the second power characteristic to acquire a second image data;   controlling an assembly of the first power source, second power source, single x-ray source tube with a detector to move around the subject during the acquisition of the first image data and the second image data;   injecting a contrast agent into the subject at least prior to the acquisition of the first image data and the second image data; and   operating a processor to execute instructions to reconstruct a single three-dimensional model of at least a portion of a subject based on the acquired first image data and the second image data.   
     
     
         22 . The method of  claim 21 , further comprising:
 displaying the single three-dimensional model with a display device.   
     
     
         23 . The method of  claim 21 , further comprising:
 acquiring a plurality of the first image data and a plurality of the second image data;   wherein operating the processor to execute instructions to reconstruct the single three-dimensional model of at least the portion of the subject is based on the acquired plurality of the first image data and the plurality of the second image data.   
     
     
         24 . The method of  claim 21 , further comprising:
 moving the assembly further including a gantry to substantially surround at least the portion of the subject;   moving the first power source, second power source, single x-ray source tube, and the detector within the gantry around the subject.