Method and medical imaging system for acquisition of image data

Abstract

The invention relates to a method and a medical imaging system for acquisition of image data of the heart using a medical imaging procedure during an intervention on the heart, while the heart is stimulated by a pacing signal from an external heart pacemaker, the acquisition and/or reconstruction of the image data being controlled, in particular triggered, by the pacing signal.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The invention is now explained in more detail on the basis of exemplary embodiments with reference to the attached drawings, in which:

FIG. 1 shows a schematic cross-section through a C-arm x-ray system with an external heart pacemaker and

FIG. 2 shows a schematic block diagram of an imaging system according to an embodiment of the invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

With reference to FIG. 1, an imaging system 1 is shown there which includes a C-arm x-ray device 2. This has a C-arm 3, attached to the ends of which are an x-ray source 4 and an x-ray detector 5 respectively. The C-arm 3 is held by a stand 6 and can be swiveled, especially rotated, around a patient table 7. A patient 8 is shown on the table who is to undergo a cardiological intervention. Intracardial electrodes 15 are hence inserted into the heart 16, and are connected via a cable 14 to an external heart pacemaker 12. This has outputs A, B, C and D, at which in each case the pacing signal is emitted. Output D is connected via a cable 17 to the input 18 of a control apparatus 10 of the C-arm x-ray device 2. The control unit 10 contains in particular a processor and data memory and is used to control the movements, image recording and reconstructions of the C-arm device 2. To this end it is connected to the C-arm device 2 via signal lines 11. The images are displayed for the operator on a monitor 19.

The control unit 10 thus contains the pacing signal of the external heart pacemaker 12 and can control the C-arm accordingly. In particular it can establish, on the basis of the known delay times between electrical stimulation of the heart and contraction, at which times x-ray images are recorded within the heart cycle. For example, triggering is possible in each case at a particular moment in the heart cycle.

In order then to increase the trigger frequency, the operator can if necessary raise the heart frequency at the external heart pacemaker 12, so that more images can then be acquired per time unit.

Other imaging procedures, e.g. ultrasound or an electroanatomical mapping system, can be connected at the outputs B and C of the external heart pacemaker and can be supported by the pacing signal.

FIG. 2 shows the apparatus in FIG. 1 as a block diagram. Intracardial electrodes 15 run from the heart pacemaker 12 to the patient 8. In addition the pacing signal is however also branched and transmitted to three different imaging procedures 2, 20 and 22. The C-arm x-ray system is equipped with facilities for pacemaker-triggered 3D image reconstruction and 2D acquisition. The reference character 20 designates an electroanatomical mapping system as described above. An intracardial ultrasound system is provided at 22.

A particular application of the inventive method for using the pacing signal to start x-ray imaging is explained in the following:

A method is known for reducing the amount of contrast agent in cardiological interventions, in which in a first step a time-triggered series of images (also called a scene) is recorded with a high x-ray dosage after contrast agent has been administered. The anatomy can therefore be identified with high contrast and on a time-triggered basis on these images. In subsequent steps only fluoroscopy images without contrast agent being administered and with a low x-ray dosage are recorded, which are solely used to visualize the instrument inserted (e.g. a stent or catheter). These two series of images can in principle, based on the simultaneously recorded ECG signal, be superimposed on a synchronized basis on heart phases. However, in line with the principle disclosed in this document, the scenes cannot be exactly superimposed because of the variability of the heartbeat.

This problem is solved by the present invention: by using the pacing signal from the heart pacemaker as a trigger to start the x-ray imaging for each heart cycle it is guaranteed that the high-dosage scene can be superimposed precisely by the low-dosage scene. In this way a “cardiological roadmapping” can be performed.

With the help of the invention it essentially becomes easier to reproduce the merging of images from different medical imaging procedures or recording timepoints. The invention thus permits a 4D display of the merged 2D x-ray images with the 3D reconstruction of the heart.

Claims

1-15. (canceled)

16. A method for acquiring an image data of a body part of a patient using a medical imaging system during an intervention on a heart of the patient, comprising: stimulating the heart during the intervention by a pacing signal from an external heart pacemaker;controlling the imaging system by the pacing signal; andacquiring the image data using the imaging system for monitoring the intervention.

17. The method as claimed in claim 16, wherein the medical imaging system is selected form the group consisting of: a C-arm x-ray device, an electroanatomical mapping system, and an ultrasound device.

18. The method as claimed in claim 17, further comprising: acquiring a series of a plurality of 2D images of the body part of the patient in one or more rotation passes of the C-arm x-ray device and simultaneously records the pacing signal,assigning 2D images from the series to a particular heart phase based on the pacing signal, andreconstructing a 3D image data record in the particular heart phase from the 2D images assigned to the particular heart phase.

19. The method as claimed in claim 18, further comprising: acquiring a further image of the body part of the patient in the particular heart phase triggered by the pacing signal,superimposing the 3D image data record with the further image, anddisplaying the superimposed 3D image data record.

20. The method as claimed in claim 19, wherein the further image is selected from the group consisting of: 2D x-ray images acquired by the C-arm x-ray device, electroanatomical images acquired by the electroanatomical mapping system, and ultrasound images acquired by the ultrasound device.

21. The method as claimed in claim 18, wherein a plurality of 3D image data records are reconstructed in a plurality of heart phases and dynamically displayed and superimposed with other further images acquired in identical heart phases.

22. The method as claimed in claim 16, wherein a frequency of the pacing signal is adjusted to a requirement of the image data acquisition.

23. The method as claimed in claim 16, wherein the intervention is a minimally invasive procedure.

24. The method as claimed in claim 23, wherein the invasive procedure is selected from the group consisting of: an ablation treatment, a balloon dilation, and a stent insertion.

25. The method as claimed in claim 16, wherein the body part of the patient is the heart of the patient.

26. A medical imaging system for acquiring an image data of a body part of a patient during an intervention on a heart of the patient, comprising: an external heart pacemaker that generates a pacing signal and stimulates the heart of the patient during the intervention by the pacing signal; anda medical image device that acquires the image data based on the pacing signal.

27. The medical image system as claimed in claim 26, wherein the medical imaging system is selected form the group consisting of: a C-arm x-ray device, an electroanatomical mapping system, and an ultrasound device.

28. The medical image system as claimed in claim 27, wherein the C-arm x-ray device: acquires a series of a plurality of 2D images of the body part of the patient in one or more rotation passes of the C-arm x-ray device and simultaneously records the pacing signal,assigns 2D images from the series to a particular heart phase based on the pacing signal, andreconstructs a 3D image data record in the particular heart phase from the 2D images assigned to the particular heart phase.

29. The medical image system as claimed in claim 28, wherein: a further image of the body part of the patient is acquired in the particular heart phase triggered by the pacing signal,the 3D image data record is superimposed with the further image, andthe superimposed 3D image data record is displayed.

30. The medical image system as claimed in claim 29, wherein the further image is selected from the group consisting of: 2D x-ray images acquired by the C-arm x-ray device, electroanatomical images acquired by the electroanatomical mapping system, and ultrasound images acquired by the ultrasound device.

31. The medical image system as claimed in claim 28, wherein a plurality of 3D image data records are reconstructed in a plurality of heart phases and dynamically displayed and superimposed with other further images acquired in identical heart phases.

32. The medical image system as claimed in claim 26, wherein a frequency of the pacing signal is adjusted to a requirement of the image data acquisition.

33. The medical image system as claimed in claim 26, wherein the intervention is a minimally invasive procedure.

34. The medical image system as claimed in claim 33, wherein the invasive procedure is selected from the group consisting of: an ablation treatment, a balloon dilation, and a stent insertion.

35. The medical image system as claimed in claim 26, wherein the body part of the patient is the heart of the patient.