Abstract: When quantifying neo-vasculature growth measured using a CT scanner (10), a known blood voxel is identified and adjoining voxels are compared thereto by a quantifier (52) to determine whether they are blood voxels, in order to grow a 3D image of the blood vessels. A removable Hounsfield calibration phantom (56) is positioned in a subject support (12) and concurrently scanned with the subject during each scan, and a Hounsfield unit calibrator (54) automatically calibrates acquired CT data to the phantom. A transport system comprising a plurality of movement-arresting locations facilitates cheaply and repeatably locking a CT detector (20), in six degrees of movement, at a plurality of locations in the scanner gantry.

Abstract: A preclinical positron emission tomography (PET) imaging method includes acquiring time-of-flight localized PET imaging data from one or more non-human animal subjects and reconstructing the acquired data to form an image. In an illustrative PET scanner includes: radiation detectors (12) viewing an examination region; a subject support assembly (14) supporting a plurality of preclinical subjects in the examination region for simultaneous PET imaging; coincidence electronics (20) acquiring time-of-flight localized PET imaging data from the preclinical subjects using the radiation detectors; and reconstruction electronics (22) that (i) perform a filtering operation based at least in part on the time-of flight information, the filtering operation including at least one of discarding non-probative time-of-flight localized PET imaging data and associating time-of-flight localized PET imaging data with individual preclinical subjects and (ii) reconstruct the filtered data to form images of the preclinical subjects.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for classifying possibly vulnerable plaques from sets of DCE-MRI images includes receiving a set of MRI slice images obtained at respectively different times, where each slice image includes voxels representative of at least one region of interest (ROI). The images are processed to determine the boundaries of the ROIs and the voxels within the identified boundaries in corresponding regions of the images from each time period are processed to extract kinetic texture features. The kinetic texture features are then used in a classification process which classifies the ROIs as vulnerable or stable.

Abstract: Investigation of in vivo models of disease requires imaging studies involving single subjects in single imaging sessions, serial imaging of individuals or groups of subjects, and integration of data across diverse and heterogeneous experimental methodologies. Each type of experiment is preferably supported by various feature sets that can be rigorously applied to produce quantitative, reproducible results. Current imaging scanners are not equipped with standardized capability that supports an automated and scientifically rigorous workflow suited to hypothesis testing. An imaging system includes a research workstation at which a user can design, execute, study, and report imaging plans. Flexibility that comes along with a modular design of the system allows the user to customize workflow parameters for more robust hypothesis testing.

Abstract: In a small animal imaging system (10) at least one modality (12) and a docking station (36) are provided. The docking station (36) provides a workspace (47) and docking ports (48) for preparation and holding of anesthetized animals that are awaiting imaging. For the duplication of positions, a subject mold (26) is provided that holds the subject in a reproducible position on a subject bed (16). Vital signs monitoring is also provided for subjects awaiting scans. The bed (16) includes fiducials (28) to aid in registration of like modality images and different modality images. A capsule (14) can encapsulate a single bed (16), or for tandem imaging, the capsule can encapsulate multiple-bed configurations, such as two, three, or four beds (16). For better positioning and ease of user access, a positioner (34) positions the capsule (14) from the rear of the modality (12).

Abstract: A nuclear medical imaging system employing radiation detection modules with pixelated scintillator crystals includes a scatter detector (46) configured to detect and label scattered and non-scattered detected radiation events stored in a list mode memory (44). Coincident pairs of both scattered and non-scattered radiation events are detected and the corresponding lines of response (LOR) are determined. A first image representation of the examination region can be reconstructed using the LORs corresponding to both scattered and non-scattered detected radiation events to generate a lower resolution image (60) with good noise statistics. A second higher resolution image (62) of all or a subvolume of the examination region can be generated using LORs that correspond to non-scattered detected radiation events. A quantification processor is configured to extract at least one metric, e.g.

Abstract: A nuclear medical imaging system employing radiation detection modules with pixelated scintillator crystals includes a scatter detector (46) configured to detect and label scattered and non-scattered detected radiation events stored in a list mode memory (44). Coincident pairs of both scattered and non-scattered radiation events are detected and the corresponding lines of response (LOR) are determined. A first image representation of the examination region can be reconstructed using the LORs corresponding to both scattered and non-scattered detected radiation events to generate a lower resolution image (60) with good noise statistics. A second higher resolution image (62) of all or a subvolume of the examination region can be generated using LORs that correspond to non-scattered detected radiation events. A quantification processor is configured to extract at least one metric, e.g.

Abstract: When quantifying neo-vasculature growth measured using a CT scanner (10), a known blood voxel is identified and adjoining voxels are compared thereto by a quantifier (52) to determine whether they are blood voxels, in order to grow a 3D image of the blood vessels. A removable Hounsfield calibration phantom (56) is positioned in a subject support (12) and concurrently scanned with the subject during each scan, and a Hounsfield unit calibrator (54) automatically calibrates acquired CT data to the phantom. A transport system comprising a plurality of movement-arresting locations facilitates cheaply and repeatably locking a CT detector (20), in six degrees of movement, at a plurality of locations in the scanner gantry.

Abstract: In a small animal imaging system (10) at least one modality (12) and a docking station (36) are provided. The docking station (36) provides a workspace (47) and docking ports (48) for preparation and holding of anesthetized animals that are awaiting imaging. For the duplication of positions, a subject mold (26) is provided that holds the subject in a reproducible position on a subject bed (16). Vital signs monitoring is also provided for subjects awaiting scans. The bed (16) includes fiducials (28) to aid in registration of like modality images and different modality images. A capsule (14) can encapsulate a single bed (16), or for tandem imaging, the capsule can encapsulate multiple-bed configurations, such as two, three, or four beds (16). For better positioning and ease of user access, a positioner (34) positions the capsule (14) from the rear of the modality (12).

Abstract: A preclinical positron emission tomography (PET) imaging method includes acquiring time-of-flight localized PET imaging data from one or more non-human animal subjects and reconstructing the acquired data to form an image. In an illustrative PET scanner includes: radiation detectors (12) viewing an examination region; a subject support assembly (14) supporting a plurality of preclinical subjects in the examination region for simultaneous PET imaging; coincidence electronics (20) acquiring time-of-flight localized PET imaging data from the preclinical subjects using the radiation detectors; and reconstruction electronics (22) that (i) perform a filtering operation based at least in part on the time-of flight information, the filtering operation including at least one of discarding non-probative time-of-flight localized PET imaging data and associating time-of-flight localized PET imaging data with individual preclinical subjects and (ii) reconstruct the filtered data to form images of the preclinical subjects.

Abstract: In a clinical or preclinical imaging system, an image acquisition subsystem includes a data acquisition and image reconstruction elements generating clinical or preclinical images. A quantitative image processing subsystem generates variability metadata associated with the clinical or preclinical images, and a clinically or preclinically significant result with an associated confidence interval computed based on the variability metadata. A user interface displays the clinically or preclinically significant result together with the associated confidence interval. A phantom for calibrating such an imaging system includes a deformable nonbiological structure approximating structure of a clinical or preclinical subject to be imaged, and fiducial markers detectable by the imaging system disposed on or in the deformable nonbiological structure to move with deformation of the deformable nonbiological structure.

Abstract: Investigation of in vivo models of disease requires imaging studies involving single subjects in single imaging sessions, serial imaging of individuals or groups of subjects, and integration of data across diverse and heterogeneous experimental methodologies. Each type of experiment is preferably supported by various feature sets that can be rigorously applied to produce quantitative, reproducible results. Current imaging scanners are not equipped with standardized capability that supports an automated and scientifically rigorous workflow suited to hypothesis testing. An imaging system includes a research workstation at which a user can design, execute, study, and report imaging plans. Flexibility that comes along with a modular design of the system allows the user to customize workflow parameters for more robust hypothesis testing.

Abstract: Disclosed is a data processing system implemented method, a data processing system and an article of manufacture for determining database workload periodicity. The data processing system implemented method includes converting database activity samples spanning a time period from the time domain to the frequency domain, the converting resulting in a frequency spectrum, identifying fundamental peaks of the frequency spectrum, and allocating database resources based on at least one of the fundamental peaks.