US 12,471,874 B2
Controller for a CT scanner
Roland Proksa, Neu Wulmstorf (DE)
Assigned to KONINKLIJKE PHILIPS N.V., Eindhoven (NL)
Appl. No. 18/025,145
Filed by KONINKLIJKE PHILIPS N.V., Eindhoven (NL)
PCT Filed Sep. 7, 2021, PCT No. PCT/EP2021/074535
§ 371(c)(1), (2) Date Mar. 7, 2023,
PCT Pub. No. WO2022/053441, PCT Pub. Date Mar. 17, 2022.
Claims priority of application No. 20195179 (EP), filed on Sep. 9, 2020.
Prior Publication US 2023/0320687 A1, Oct. 12, 2023
Int. Cl. A61B 6/03 (2006.01); A61B 6/00 (2006.01)
CPC A61B 6/545 (2013.01) [A61B 6/032 (2013.01); A61B 6/482 (2013.01); A61B 6/5205 (2013.01)] 12 Claims
OG exemplary drawing
 
1. A system, comprising:
a spectral computed tomography (CT) imaging apparatus comprising an X-ray generator having at least one X-ray tube, the X-ray generator being controlled during operation to switch cyclically between an upper tube voltage and a lower tube voltage of a kVp switching protocol, wherein the imaging apparatus is configured to generate spectral CT scan data and to have a set of adjustable first operating parameters; and
a controller, operatively coupled with the imaging apparatus, wherein the imaging apparatus is selectively operable in a secondary acquisition mode in which the controller is configured to:
receive a user input indicative of user-defined settings for a set of second operating parameters, wherein the set of second operating parameters is associated with a different non-spectral CT imaging apparatus configured to operate with a radiation source operated with a fixed tube voltage, the set of second operating parameters including the fixed tube voltage and a tube current;
apply a conversion procedure, which includes adjusting the upper tube voltage and the lower tube voltage of the kVp switching protocol, for converting the user-defined settings for the set of second operating parameters into a set of values for the set of first operating parameters which result in delivery of a same X-ray radiation dose over a single kVp switching cycle period as would be delivered by a fixed-voltage radiation source, operated with the user-defined settings for the set of second operating parameters over the same time period; and
generate control instructions for causing the imaging apparatus to perform a CT scanning procedure in accordance with the set of values for the set of first operating parameters to obtain the spectral CT scan data.