Patent ID: 7529342

Claim:
A device for producing images of an object that is subject to a cyclic spontaneous movement and for controlling an injection rate of a contrast agent in a vascular system of the object, comprising: a) an X-ray unit for producing a series of two-dimensional projected pictures of the object; b) a measuring device for determining a parameter characteristic of the spontaneous movement of the object; c) a data processing device that is coupled to the X-ray unit and the measuring device and that is designed to drive the X-ray unit as a function of a particular value of the spontaneous movement characteristic parameter in such a way that, during a predetermined movement phase to be displayed corresponding to a movement phase of greatest movement, pictures are taken of the object with a higher X-ray exposure rate and/or picture-taking rate than during the other movement phases; d) an injection pump for injecting the contrast agent at a controllable injection rate; e) a measuring device for determining a parameter characteristic of a flowrate in the vascular system; and f) a control unit that is coupled to the injection pump and the flowrate parameter characteristic measuring device, the control unit configured to drive the injection pump as a function of a particular value of the parameter characteristic of the flowrate in such a way that (i) the contrast agent follows a predetermined concentration pattern in the vascular system, (ii) the injection rate of the contrast agent is matched to instantaneous flow conditions in the vascular system, and (iii) a total amount of contrast agent injected is limited to a necessary minimum, the necessary minimum being defined by the predetermined concentration pattern, the predetermined concentration pattern further being specified to produce a constant contrast display of the vascular system while pictures are being taken of the object during a duration of the contrast agent injection.