US 12,440,175 B2
Method and system for creating a reference scout image for x-ray source current modulation
Franco Rupcich, Wauwatosa, WI (US); Chelsey Amanda Lewis, Waukesha, WI (US); and Masatake Nukui, Tokyo (JP)
Assigned to GE PRECISION HEALTHCARE LLC, Wauwatosa, WI (US)
Filed by GE Precision Healthcare LLC, Wauwatosa, WI (US)
Filed on Jan. 27, 2023, as Appl. No. 18/160,461.
Prior Publication US 2024/0252124 A1, Aug. 1, 2024
Int. Cl. A61B 6/00 (2024.01); A61B 6/03 (2006.01)
CPC A61B 6/03 (2013.01) [A61B 6/48 (2013.01); A61B 6/54 (2013.01)] 20 Claims
OG exemplary drawing
 
1. A computed tomography imaging system, comprising:
a rotating frame configured to rotate about a rotational axis;
an X-ray source disposed on the rotating frame and configured to emit X-ray radiation that traverses an examination region;
an X-ray controller configured to control the X-ray source;
a subject/object support configured to support a subject or object in the examination region;
a console, including:
a non-transitory computer readable medium configured to store instructions; and
a processor configured to execute the instructions, wherein the instructions cause the processor to:
obtain a scout image for a scan series that includes at least two scan groups, wherein the scout image includes arms of a subject either up above shoulders of the subject and down by sides of the subject, a first group of the at least two groups includes the arms of the subject up above the shoulders of the subject, and a second group of the at least two groups includes the arms of the subject down by the sides of the subject;
identify the arms of the subject in the scout image;
remove the identified arms of the subject from the scout image thereby generating a new scout image without arms of the subject; and
designate the new scout image as a reference image for X-ray source current modulation for the first group and for X-ray source current modulation for the second group; and
command the X-ray controller to utilize the new scout image as the reference image for X-ray source current modulation for the first group of the scan series and as the reference image for X-ray source current modulation for the second group of the scan series.