Abstract: The present disclosure relates to a method for patient-specific optimization of imaging protocols. According to an embodiment, the present disclosure relates to a method for generating a patient-specific imaging protocol, comprising acquiring scout scan data, the scout scan data including scout scan information and scout scan parameters, generating a simulated image based on the acquired scout scan data, deriving a simulated dose map from the generated simulated image, determining image quality of the generated simulated image by applying machine learning to the generated simulated image, the neural network being trained to generate at least one probabilistic quality representation corresponding to at least one region of the generated simulated image, evaluating the determined image quality relative to a image quality threshold and the derived simulated dose map relative to a dosage threshold, optimizing.

Abstract: The present disclosure relates to a method for patient-specific optimization of imaging protocols. According to an embodiment, the present disclosure relates to a method for generating a patient-specific imaging protocol, comprising acquiring scout scan data, the scout scan data including scout scan information and scout scan parameters, generating a simulated image based on the acquired scout scan data, deriving a simulated dose map from the generated simulated image, determining image quality of the generated simulated image by applying machine learning to the generated simulated image, the neural network being trained to generate at least one probabilistic quality representation corresponding to at least one region of the generated simulated image, evaluating the determined image quality relative to a image quality threshold and the derived simulated dose map relative to a dosage threshold, optimizing.

Abstract: A method and apparatus is provided to iteratively reconstruct a computed tomography (CT) image using a spatially-varying content-oriented regularization parameter, thereby achieving uniform statistical properties within respective organs/regions and different statistical properties (e.g., degree of smoothing and noise level) among the respective organs/regions. For example, less smoothing and sharper features/resolution can be applied within a lung region than within a soft-tissue region by using a smaller regularization parameter value in the lung region than in the soft-tissue region. This can be achieved, e.g., using a minimum intensity projection to suppress/eliminate sub-solid nodules in the lung region. The content-oriented regularization parameter can be generated by reconstructing an initial CT image, which is then segmented/classified according to organs and/or tissue type.

Abstract: A method and apparatus is provided to iteratively reconstruct a computed tomography (CT) image using a spatially-varying content-oriented regularization parameter, thereby achieving uniform statistical properties within respective organs/regions and different statistical properties (e.g., degree of smoothing and noise level) among the respective organs/regions. For example, less smoothing and sharper features/resolution can be applied within a lung region than within a soft-tissue region by using a smaller regularization parameter value in the lung region than in the soft-tissue region. This can be achieved, e.g., using a minimum intensity projection to suppress/eliminate sub-solid nodules in the lung region. The content-oriented regularization parameter can be generated by reconstructing an initial CT image, which is then segmented/classified according to organs and/or tissue type.

Abstract: The present invention is directed to a method and system of controlling rotation of a gantry to rotate at a rotational speed such that a desired relationship between center projection angles of neighboring partial scans is maintained.

Abstract: A CT imaging system includes a gantry and a table in a movable relationship with the gantry. The CT imaging system also includes a controller configured to control relative movement between a subject disposed on the table and the gantry from a first data acquisition position to a second data acquisition position. The controller is also configured to determine a total scan time based on a first time for acquiring imaging data at the first data acquisition position and a second time for transitioning from the first data acquisition position to the second data acquisition position. The controller is also configured to disable data acquisition in an immediately subsequent cardiac cycle and re-enable data acquisition in the cardiac cycle following the immediately subsequent cardiac cycle if the total scan time exceeds one cardiac cycle of the subject. A method of CT imaging is also disclosed.

Abstract: The present invention is directed to a method and system of controlling rotation of a gantry to rotate at a rotational speed such that a desired relationship between center projection angles of neighboring partial scans is maintained.

Abstract: A CT imaging system has a rotatable gantry, a table movable fore and aft through an opening defined within the rotatable gantry, and a controller that incrementally moves a subject disposed on the table through a number of discrete data acquisition positions for the acquisition of physiologically gated CT data. The controller also coordinates acquisition of imaging data from the subject at a first data acquisition position within a physiological cycle of the subject and only advances the subject to a next data acquisition position if the imaging data acquired at the first data acquisition position is deemed acceptable. The controller also detects irregularities and physiological motion of the subject and responsive thereto, suspends data acquisition until the irregularity passes, such as, suspending data acquisition until a next cardiac cycle if a heart arrhythmia is detected.

Abstract: The present invention is directed to a method and system of controlling rotation of a gantry to rotate at a rotational speed such that a desired relationship between center projection angles of neighboring partial scans is maintained.

Abstract: A method of evaluating tissue of an organ includes performing at least one of classification processing and clustering processing to obtain a processed dataset to visualize at least one of the imaging agent, blood, the contrast agent, and the biomedical agent distribution in the tissue, a relative regional uptake of the at least one of the imaging agent, blood, the contrast agent, and the biomedical agent in the tissue, relative regional flow of the at least one of the imaging agent, blood, the contrast agent, and the biomedical agent and the clearance or persistence of the at least one of the imaging agent, blood, the contrast agent, and the biomedical agent within the tissue and the characterization of elemental components of disease.

Abstract: A method of evaluating tissue of an organ includes accessing image data and processing the image data to quantify at least one feature of interest in the tissue. The image data is derived from a computed tomography acquisition system and includes multiple phases of acquired whole organ data. Each phase is acquired within five gantry rotations of the acquisition system using an acquisition protocol.

Abstract: The present invention is directed to a method and system of controlling rotation of a gantry to rotate at a rotational speed such that a desired relationship between center projection angles of neighboring partial scans is maintained.

Abstract: An assembly of RF coils for bilateral imaging of a first and a second breast of the same person is disclosed. The assembly includes a first pair of coils having a first coil juxtaposed and underlapping a second coil, thereby defining juxtaposed edges of the first and second coils, and a second pair of coils having a third coil juxtaposed and underlapping a fourth coil, thereby defining juxtaposed edges of the third and fourth coils. The first coil has a first opening for receiving the first breast, the second coil has a second opening for receiving the second breast, the third coil substantially opposes the first coil, defining therebetween a first region for receiving the first breast, and the fourth coil substantially opposes the second coil, defining therebetween a second region for receiving the second breast.

Abstract: A patient bed for use in performing procedures on a medical patient, comprising a lower layer with said lower layer permitting attachment to a conventional external base and an upper layer attached in a sliding relationship to said lower layer, said upper layer being angled upwardly relative to said to create a void between said upper layer, or patient support and said lower layer and having a pair of apertures in the patient support, said apertures permitting a patient's breast to fit through the aperture. The invention may also include a breast immobilization device comprising a first sliding compression plate and a second sliding compression plate, said compression plates sliding together to compress the breast of a medical patient by translating toward one another.