Merge Frames Tool

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Merge Frames Tool

The Merge Frames tool allows combining image series with the same geometry into a joint dynamic series.

Activating Merge Frames opens a dialog window as illustrated below. The list in the upper left shows the loaded image series in loading order. The list in the upper right shows the image series which will be combined into a dynamic series. Initially, all series appear in sorted by Acq Date/time. The options related to applying decay correction during merging and generating the timing of the new dynamic series is located in the lower part.  

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Merging List Preparation

Series can be copied from left to right by double clicking in the left list, or selecting a list element and activating the arrow between the list. The double arrow copies all loaded series to the right.

The order of the Selected for Merge list can be modified by selecting a list element and shifting its position by the arrows to  the right.

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If the columns contain information which is suitable for sorting, the sorting button AZ can be enabled and sorting started by clicking into the column header. In the example above, the acquisition time was used for sorting the static series into the proper acquisition order.

Decay Correction Setup

When joining PET or SPECT data into a dynamic series, a consistent decay correction has to be ensured. Usually, such data is corrected to the acquisition start. Therefore, when joining static series into a dynamic series, later series have to be decay corrected to the start of the first acquisition by scaling them with a corresponding factor. The proper setting for this situation is to enable Decay Correction, confirm that Source data is decay corrected, and check that the isotope Half Time is correct. The zero time of the common decay correction of all series is indicated in the Scan Start Time field. Note that this information is indicative only and cannot be changed. It corresponds to the start time of the first series in the Selected for Merge list.

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Dynamic Series Timing

The timing of the created dynamic series needs to be constructed for use in decay correciton. It can be specified using the Create time vector based on selection

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Please use the picture_9482 buttom to inspect the time vector with the current selection. In the example below which was generated using frames acquisition time, there are gaps of about 40 seconds between the acquisitions. They occurred because the scanner had to be restarted for the subsequent whole-body acquisitions. Using frames duration, this information would have been missed.

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Processing is started with the Merge button. Before the new series is created and optionally decay corrected, the timing is displayed in a dialog window for confirmation and editing.