Abstract: A multi-modality imaging system allows for selectable photoelectric effect and/or Compton effect detection. The camera or detector is a module with a catcher detector. Depending on the use or design, a scatter detector and/or a coded physical aperture are positioned in front of the catcher detector relative to the patient space. For low energies, emissions passing through the scatter detector continue through the coded aperture to be detected by the catcher detector using the photoelectric effect. Alternatively, the scatter detector is not provided. For higher energies, some emissions scatter at the scatter detector, and resulting emissions from the scattering pass by or through the coded aperture to be detected at the catcher detector for detection using the Compton effect. Alternatively, the coded aperture is not provided. The same module may be used to detect using both the photoelectric and Compton effects where both the scatter detector and coded aperture are provided with the catcher detector.

Abstract: Provided is a PET scanner system having a PET scanner gantry that is configured for delivering a uniformly distributed cooling air to a plurality of detectors housed in the PET scanner gantry. The PET scanner gantry includes a cooling air delivery manifold that includes a patient tunnel portion; and a front funnel portion. The front funnel portion includes an annular interior wall defining an entry opening of the patient tunnel portion; and an air plenum has an annular structure for carrying a flow of pressurized cooling air received from a remote source supplements the pressurized cooling air with a supply of ambient air and directs it to the plurality of detectors.

Abstract: A PET imaging system includes a gantry having a patient tunnel and a first detector unit and a second detector unit housed inside the gantry, each including a plurality of detector elements in a helical arrangement around an axial axis of the imaging system. Each of the detector elements in the second detector unit is spaced apart from a corresponding detector element in the first detector unit by an axial gap. Each detector element has an axial position. Each of the first and second detector units has its detector elements arranged so that a set of the detector elements is positioned such that each detector element in the set is offset from an adjacent detector element in the detector unit such that a maximum difference between axial positions of detector elements in each detector unit is less than or equal to the axial gap.

Abstract: A computer-implemented method for determining scan parameters includes receiving a set of input parameters. An average single per block for a nuclear imaging scanner having a predetermined field-of-view (FOV) is determined based on the input parameters and at least one scan parameter is determined based on the average single per block for the nuclear imaging scanner.

Abstract: For shear wave imaging with ultrasound, the apparent pulse repetition frequency is increased by combining displacements from different lateral locations. Different combinations based on different shear wave velocities and corresponding time shifts and/or attenuations and corresponding scalings are tested to find a smooth displacement profile for the combination. Once the smooth displacement profile is found, the corresponding shear wave velocity is estimated or determined.

Abstract: For direct chip-on-array for a multi-dimensional transducer array, the generally rigid and conductive dematching layer is extended beyond a footprint of the transducer array. The ASIC is directly connected to the dematching layer on one side, while the other side provides for electrical connection to the elements of the array and I/O pads for connections (e.g., flex-to-dematching layer) to the ultrasound imaging system. By using the dematching layer rigidity, the ASIC may be protected during formation of the acoustic stack. By using the dematching layer conductivity, any mis-alignment is compensated by the routing through the dematching layer, and/or a large flat region is provided for I/O, allowing for good low temperature asperity contact connections with larger area than flip-chip solder bumps. By providing the I/O for the system connections on a different side of the dematching layer than the ASIC, a large keep-out distance due to underfill may be avoided.

Abstract: An improved method for time alignment (TA) procedure and crystal efficiency (CE) normalization estimation procedure for a PET scanner system is disclosed. In the TA procedure modeled time-of-flight (TOF) data are compared against the measured TOF data from an axially short cylinder phantom in order to find individual detector's time offsets (TOs). Then the TOs are estimated simultaneously by matching the TOF center of mass between the modeled and measured TOF data. In the CE estimation, TOF reconstruction of CBM data on the axially short cylinder phantom is performed. Alternating between TOF image reconstruction and CE updates eventually lead to the correct estimation of activity and CE component.

Abstract: A framework for characterization of a collimator. In accordance with one aspect, first and second sides of the collimator are photographed to generate first and second image data. An optical characterization map (OCM) may be generated based on the first and second image data, wherein the optical characterization map characterizes the individual channels of the collimator. Quality assessment or image reconstruction may then be performed based on the OCM.

Abstract: Embodiments can provide a visual indicator system, attachable to a medical imaging patient bed. The visual indicator system comprising: one or more light strips, each light strip comprising a plurality of lights; a distance meter, attachable to one end of the medical imaging patient bed; a storage device, configured to store one or more preconfigured finger gestures; and a microcontroller. The one or more light strips are attachable to the medical imaging patient bed; wherein the microcontroller is configured to illuminate the one or more light strips after the one or more preconfigured finger gestures are made with respect to the one or more light strips. A position of the illumination of the light strip corresponds to a position of performing the one or more preconfigured finger gestures and one or more distance measurements received from the distance meter.

Abstract: For intraluminal ultrasound probes, the transducer is divided into multiple segments. The segments are connected in a way that allows them to slide relative to each other. This sliding arrangement allows for the transducer to be used in two different apertures at different times while in the patient. One aperture is shaped for insertion of the probe through a limited space, and the other aperture forms an array with a larger elevation extent, allowing greater quality imaging along the elevation dimension.

Abstract: For calibration in medical emission tomography, the dosimeter and/or detector is calibrated in the field, such as at the clinic or other patient scanning location. To allow for a fewer number of calibration sources used in calibrating and/or assist in calibration for multispectral emission tomography, a calibration source includes multiple isotopes and/or a proxy source or isotope is used instead of the same isotope used in factory calibration.

Abstract: Systems and methods include determination of an entropy value associated with each of a plurality of voxels of a three-dimensional image, determination, for each of the plurality of voxels, of a respective filter based on the entropy value associated with the voxel, wherein a first filter determined for a first voxel associated with a first entropy value is different from a second filter determined for a second voxel associated with a second entropy value different from the first entropy value, application, for each of the plurality of voxels, of the respective filter to a value of the voxel to generate a replacement value for the voxel, and generation of a filtered three-dimensional image based on the generated replacement value of each of the plurality of voxels.

Abstract: A framework for gantry alignment of a multimodality medical scanner. First image data of a non-radioactive structure is acquired by using intrinsic radiation emitted by scintillator crystals of detectors in a first gantry of the multimodality medical scanner. Second image data of the non-radioactive structure is acquired using a second gantry for another modality of the multimodality medical scanner. Image reconstruction may be performed based on the first and second image data of the non-radioactive structure to generate first and second reconstructed image volumes. A gantry alignment transformation that aligns the first and second reconstructed image volumes may then be determined.

Abstract: A timer circuit for an X-ray imaging system having an X-ray generator used to generate images of a patient. The circuit includes a current sensor connected between a main power system and a circuit interrupter, wherein the circuit interrupter is also connected to the X-ray generator. The circuit also includes a timing device coupled between the current sensor and a control computer. The timing device is triggered when a current level detected by the current sensor exceeds an idle current level wherein X-rays are not generated by the X-ray generator. The timing device then measures a time period that the idle current level is exceeded. When the measured time period exceeds a predetermined time period by 10%, the circuit interrupter is activated to turn off current flow to the X-ray generator.

Abstract: Positron emission tomography (PET) with partially known attenuation accounts for the missing attenuation. Since a computed tomography (CT) scan may provide attenuation for less than all the locations used in PET reconstruction, artificial intelligence corrects for the missing attenuation. For example, the unknown attenuation or attenuation correction factors are estimated by the artificial intelligence. The known and estimated attenuations or correction factors are used in the PET reconstruction, providing more uniform PET sensitivity and better accounting for scatter. As another example, the artificial intelligence alters intensity of the activity in some locations to account for reconstruction with missing attenuation information, correcting for sensitivity variation and/or lack of scatter information for some locations.

Abstract: A framework for power management. The framework includes at least one power distribution board disposed within a radio-frequency (RF) cabin of a medical imaging system and coupled to an external reference clock. The power distribution board may include a clock circuit that generates one or more output clock signals based on a reference clock signal from the external reference clock. One or more switching regulators may be coupled to the clock circuit. The one or more switching regulators may be synchronized to the one or more output clock signals and provide power to one or more endpoint loads.

Abstract: For dead time determination for a gamma camera or other detector, a long-lived point source of emissions is positioned so that the gamma camera detects the emissions from the source while also being used to detect emissions from the patient. The long-lived point source, in the scan time, acts as a fixed frequency source of emissions, allowing for dead time correction measurements that include the crystal detector effects.

Abstract: Systems and methods for reconstructing medical images are disclosed. Measurement data from positron emission tomography (PET) data, and measurement data from an anatomy modality, such as magnetic resonance (MR) data or computed tomography (CT) data, is received from an image scanning system. A PET image is generated based on the PET measurement data, and an anatomy image is generated based on the anatomy measurement data. A trained neural network is applied to the PET image and the anatomy image to generate an attenuation map. The neural network may be trained based on anatomy and PET images. In some examples, the trained neural network generates an initial attenuation map based on the anatomy image, registers the initial attenuation map to the PET image, and generates an enhanced attenuation map based on the registration. Further, a corrected image is reconstructed based on the generated attenuation map and the PET image.

Abstract: For intraluminal ultrasound probes, two long-thin arrays (e.g., 1D arrays) are provided in the intraluminal ultrasound probe for bi-plane imaging. The arrays are rotatable relative to each other so that during insertion the arrays align to be long and thin, allowing the shaft of the probe to be narrow. For bi-plane imaging after insertion, one array is rotated relative to the other array, defining two non-parallel imaging planes.