Patent ID: 6426990
Filing Date: 2002-07-30
Classification: A61B

Abstract:
A method for imaging a selected coronary artery utilizing a computed tomography (CT) imaging system having a rotating gantry, a detector array on the rotating gantry, and a radiation source on the rotating gantry configured to project a beam of radiation towards the detector array through a patient's heart;said method comprising:utilizing a data compilation of low motion cardiac phases and corresponding coronary artery branch segments to select a cardiac phase corresponding to the selected coronary artery branch segment; scanning a volume of the patient's heart with the CT imaging system to acquire projection data, the volume including at least the selected coronary artery branch segment and the acquired projection data including projection data acquired during the selected cardiac phase of a plurality of cardiac cycles of the patient; and reconstructing an image including at least the selected coronary artery branch segment, selectively utilizing the projection data acquired during the selected cardiac phase of the plurality of cardiac cycles to effectively reduce motion artifacts of the selected coronary artery branch segment on the reconstructed image.