A C-arm X-ray system includes synchronized ECG gating for enhanced cardiac
soft-tissue imaging. The system includes an X-ray source disposed on a
C-arm for rotation in a circular path about a patient and configured to
release X-ray radiation synchronously with an ECG-gating signal, an X-ray
image sensor disposed on the C-arm in a fixed opposing position to the
X-ray source and configured to rotate with the source and receive the
X-ray radiation and an ECG unit for acquiring ECG data from the patient.
The system also includes a digital image acquisition processor arranged
in communication with the X-ray source, X-ray image sensor and ECG unit
for acquiring 2D projection images at predetermined C-arm angulations in
the presence of the ECG-gating signal and an image processor arranged in
communication with the digital image acquisition processor to receive and
process the series of 2D projection images and reconstruct a continuous
3D volumetric image of the patient's cardiac soft tissue therefrom. A
user interface to allow user control of the C-arm system and to display
the continuous 3D volumetric image.