Abstract: A method for a CT scan of a body part, wherein a marker is positioned on the body part. The method comprises: positioning a marker on the body part; performing a scout scan of the area which contains the body part, to acquire a scout image; detecting the marker in the scout image to acquire position information of the marker; and using the position information to navigate the CT scan.

Abstract: A medical scanning system and method for determining scanning parameters based on a scout image, the system includes: a scanned object description module for describing the shape of a scanned object on an initial image; an adjustment module for aligning the shape of the scanned object with the pre-stored average shape; a principal component analysis module for extracting the principal component for the aligned shape of the scanned object; a desired shape acquisition module for imparting weight parameters to said principal component, acquiring a plurality of new shapes, and from said plurality of new shapes, determining the new shape with the maximum cost function value as the desired shape and a scanning parameter setting module for setting scanning parameters based on the desired shape.

Abstract: A collimator for use in a CT system made of an X-ray absorbing material, the collimator comprises an imaging aperture having a first width for passage of a first X-ray beam, the first X-ray beam being used for X-ray imaging, and a tracking aperture having a second width for passage of a second X-ray beam, the second X-ray beam being used for X-ray beam tracking.

Abstract: A medical scanning system and method for determining scanning parameters based on a scout image, the system includes: a scanned object description module for describing the shape of a scanned object on an initial image; an adjustment module for aligning the shape of the scanned object with the pre-stored average shape; a principal component analysis module for extracting the principal component for the aligned shape of the scanned object; a desired shape acquisition module for imparting weight parameters to said principal component, acquiring a plurality of new shapes, and from said plurality of new shapes, determining the new shape with the maximum cost function value as the desired shape and a scanning parameter setting module for setting scanning parameters based on the desired shape.

Abstract: The present invention provides a method and apparatus for reducing artifacts in Computed Tomography (CT) image reconstruction. The method comprises acquiring an original reconstructed image, then conducting total variation processing for the original reconstructed image generating a total variation reconstructed image, conducting an initial metal artifact reduction processing for the original reconstructed image generating an initial metal artifact reduction reconstructed image, generating a weighted image based on the total variation reconstructed image and the initial metal artifact reduction reconstructed image, wherein the weighted image reflects that the original reconstructed image contains white-band artifactsd combining a portion of the original reconstructed image and a portion of the initial metal artifact reduction reconstructed image through the weighted image to generate a final image, wherein the final image does not contain white-band artifact.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for data conversion in an unequal ? angle CT system. The method for imaging in a CT system having a flat module detector array includes obtaining fan beam projection data of an object from a CT scan, obtaining a geometric structure parameter of the flat module detector array; rebinning data from the fan beam projection data to parallel beam projection data based on the geometric structure parameter to convert the fan beam projection data into the parallel beam projection data, and generating a CT image from the parallel beam projection data.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for metal artifact elimination in a medical image. The method includes: obtaining a medical image to be processed; determining whether or not a metal region is contained in the medial image; and performing artifact elimination processing to the medical image when metal regions are contained in the medical image and a metal density value of one of the metal regions is greater than or equal to a preset density value.

Abstract: The present invention provides a method and apparatus for reducing artifacts in CT image reconstruction. The method comprises obtaining an original reconstructed image and an original sinogram and determining a proportion of metal pixels in the original reconstructed image. If the proportion is greater than a first threshold value, then generating an expanded metal template based on the original reconstructed image, generating a metal-free, metal artifact reduced (MAR) image based on the expanded metal template and the original sinogram, and generating a final image based on the expanded metal template and the metal-free, MAR image. However, if the proportion of metal pixels is less than a second threshold value, then generating an expanded metal template based on the original reconstructed image, generating a metal-free, metal artifact reduced image based on a treatment, and generating a final image based on the expanded metal template and the metal-free, MAR image.

Abstract: A method for geometric calibration of a CT scanner, including, for each row of at least one row of detector cells, establishing a complete geometric description of the CT scanner, including at least one unknown geometric parameter, establishing a description of a forward projection function using the complete geometric description, acquiring actual projection coordinates of a calibration phantom placed in a scanning field of view (SFOV) on a current row of detector cells and corresponding to a plurality of angles, acquiring calculated projection coordinates of the calibration phantom on the current row of detector cells and corresponding to the plurality of angles using the description of the forward projection function, and acquiring a calibrated value for the at least one unknown geometric parameter by evaluating the at least one unknown geometric parameter based on the acquired actual projection coordinates and calculated projection coordinates via a nonlinear least square fitting algorithm.

Abstract: A method and system for automatically determining a localizer in a scout image. The method comprises obtaining a 3D model best matched to an object to be scanned and projecting a localizer in the best matched 3D model onto a scout image of the object to be scanned to obtain an optimal localizer. The system comprises an obtaining device for obtaining a 3D model best matched to an object to be scanned and a determining device for projecting a localizer in the best matched 3D model onto a scout image of the object to be scanned to obtain an optimal localizer.

Abstract: The present invention provides a method and apparatus for reducing artifacts in CT image reconstruction. The method comprises obtaining an original reconstructed image and an original sinogram and determining a proportion of metal pixels in the original reconstructed image. If the proportion is greater than a first threshold value, then generating an expanded metal template based on the original reconstructed image, generating a metal-free, metal artifact reduced (MAR) image based on the expanded metal template and the original sinogram, and generating a final image based on the expanded metal template and the metal-free, MAR image. However, if the proportion of metal pixels is less than a second threshold value, then generating an expanded metal template based on the original reconstructed image, generating a metal-free, metal artifact reduced image based on a treatment, and generating a final image based on the expanded metal template and the metal-free, MAR image.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for metal artifact elimination in a medical image. The method includes: obtaining a medical image to be processed; determining whether or not a metal region is contained in the medial image; and performing artifact elimination processing to the medical image when metal regions are contained in the medical image and a metal density value of one of the metal regions is greater than or equal to a preset density value.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for reducing artifacts in Computed Tomography (CT) image reconstruction. The method includes: acquiring an original reconstructed image; conducting total variation processing for the original reconstructed image, to generate a total variation reconstructed image; conducting initial metal artifact reduction processing for the original reconstructed image, to generate an initial metal artifact reduction reconstructed image; generating a weighted image based on the total variation reconstructed image and the initial metal artifact reduction reconstructed image, wherein the weighted image reflects that the original reconstructed image contains white-band artifacts; and combining a portion of the original reconstructed image and a portion of the initial metal artifact reduction reconstructed image through the weighted image to generate a final image, wherein the final image does not contain white-band artifact.

Abstract: A method for sorting CT image slices comprising, if no image slice comprises a target respiratory phase at a couch position, determining a target breathing feature value corresponding to the target respiratory phase based on a respiratory motion curve of a scanned patient, searching from a plurality of image slices at the couch position for one or more image slices comprising a breathing feature value close to the target breathing feature value to serve as candidate image slices, and selecting, based on a breathing feature value difference between the breathing feature value of each of the candidate image slices and the target breathing feature value and/or an image difference between each of the candidate image slices and at least one reference image slice, a single image slice from the candidate image slices for constructing the 3D CT image for the target respiratory phase.

Abstract: A method for geometric calibration of a CT scanner, including, for each row of at least one row of detector cells, establishing a complete geometric description of the CT scanner, including at least one unknown geometric parameter, establishing a description of a forward projection function using the complete geometric description, acquiring actual projection coordinates of a calibration phantom placed in a scanning field of view (SFOV) on a current row of detector cells and corresponding to a plurality of angles, acquiring calculated projection coordinates of the calibration phantom on the current row of detector cells and corresponding to the plurality of angles using the description of the forward projection function, and acquiring a calibrated value for the at least one unknown geometric parameter by evaluating the at least one unknown geometric parameter based on the acquired actual projection coordinates and calculated projection coordinates via a nonlinear least square fitting algorithm.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for data conversion in an unequal ? angle CT system. The method for imaging in a CT system having a flat module detector array includes obtaining fan beam projection data of an object from a CT scan, obtaining a geometric structure parameter of the flat module detector array; rebinning data from the fan beam projectiondata to parallel beam projection data based on the geometric structure parameter to convert the fan beam projection data into the parallel beam projection data, and generating a CT image from the parallel beam projection data.

Abstract: A collimator for use in a CT system made of an X-ray absorbing material, the collimator comprises an imaging aperture having a first width for passage of a first X-ray beam, the first X-ray beam being used for X-ray imaging, and a tracking aperture having a second width for passage of a second X-ray beam, the second X-ray beam being used for X-ray beam tracking.

Abstract: A method and system for automatically determining a localizer in a scout image. The method comprises obtaining a 3D model best matched to an object to be scanned and projecting a localizer in the best matched 3D model onto a scout image of the object to be scanned to obtain an optimal localizer. The system comprises an obtaining device for obtaining a 3D model best matched to an object to be scanned and a determining device for projecting a localizer in the best matched 3D model onto a scout image of the object to be scanned to obtain an optimal localizer.

Abstract: A method for a CT scan of a body part, wherein a marker is positioned on the body part. The method comprises: positioning a marker on the body part; performing a scout scan of the area which contains the body part, to acquire a scout image; detecting the marker in the scout image to acquire position information of the marker; and using the position information to navigate the CT scan.

Abstract: A method and system for a gated radiation therapeutic system is provided. The method comprises performing a 4D-CT scan to obtain CT images, and processing the CT images to extract a characteristic signal, wherein the characteristic signal is associated with respiratory phases within the patient's breathing cycle and has a correlation relation with the external signal of the gated radiation therapy. The method further comprises controlling a radiation beam for the gated radiation therapy based on the correlation relation between the characteristic signal and the external signal. The system comprises a 4D-CT scanner for performing a 4D-CT scan to obtain CT images and a characteristic signal extracting component for processing the CT images to extract a characteristic signal. The system further comprises a radiation control component for controlling a radiation beam for the gated radiation therapy based on the correlation relation between the characteristic signal and the external signal.