Abstract: GC A phase contrast X-ray imaging system with field of view (FOV) visualization and a holder arranged to hold a grating and a light field projector to enable the FOV illumination, for an operator to visualize the region on a subject that will be irradiated with X-rays. By taking advantage of the holder of the necessary object in the X-ray beam path (i.e. the grating) to hold a light field projector to illuminate the FOV, the solution is naturally more compact to implement and the mechanical complexity is kept to a minimum. The light field projector provides a sharp, well-defined area with a distinct outline of the FOV.

Abstract: A mechanism for generating an artefact estimation image that represents the effect of cone-beam artefacts in a computed tomography (CT) image. This is achieved by identifying the position of gradients (being sudden changes of intensity) in an axis of the CT image parallel to a rotation axis of the CT system that generated the CT image, where each gradient represents a source of a cone-beam artefact. A look-up table is used to individually identify the effect of a cone-beam artefact on areas surrounding each identified position of the gradient, to generate an artefact estimation image.

Abstract: A diaphragm measurement device includes a non-transitory storage medium storing a patient-specific registration model for referencing ultrasound imaging data to a reference frame. At least one electronic processor is programmed to perform a diaphragm measurement method including receiving ultrasound imaging data of a diaphragm of a patient during inspiration and expiration while the patient undergoes mechanical ventilation therapy with a mechanical ventilator; calculating a diaphragm thickness metric based on the received ultrasound imaging data of the diaphragm of the patient referenced to the reference frame using the patient-specific registration model; and displaying, on a display device, a representation of the calculated diaphragm thickness metric.

Abstract: A mechanical ventilation assistance device includes at least one electronic controller configured to receive positional data of a patient; determine a position of an imaging device configured to obtain imaging data of the patient based on the received positional data; and display, on a display device, a representation of the determined position of the imaging device.

Abstract: A method for use in a material decomposition procedure applied to dual-energy CT projection data. Material decomposition is often done using pre-computed lookup tables (LUTs) for mapping input projection data, acquired with particular X-ray source parameters, to material data values. However, the X-ray source parameters can vary over the course of a scan, making the results inaccurate. Embodiments are based on determining in advance a plurality of sets of basis LUTs for each of a plurality of different possible ranges of values over which the X-ray source parameter may vary during a scan. The basis LUTs in each set are devised as being LUTs which represent the majority contribution to the overall material decomposition function for the time-varying energy spectrum.

Abstract: A diaphragm measurement device (1) includes at least one electronic processor (13) programmed to perform a diaphragm measurement method (100) including receiving ultrasound imaging data of a dimension of a diaphragm of a patient during inspiration and expiration while the patient undergoes mechanical ventilation therapy with a mechanical ventilator (2); receiving respiratory data of the patient during inspiration and expiration while the patient undergoes the mechanical ventilation therapy; calculating a diaphragm thickness metric based on the received ultrasound imaging data of the diaphragm of the patient and the received respiratory data; and displaying, on a display device (14), a representation (30) of the calculated diaphragm thickness metric.

Abstract: A diaphragm measurement system (1) includes at least one electronic processor (13) programmed to perform a diaphragm measurement method (100) including receiving ultrasound imaging data (24) of a diaphragm of a patient over a time period encompassing multiple breaths; receiving respiration data of the patient over the time period; calculating a diaphragm thickness metric based on the received ultrasound imaging data of the diaphragm and the received respiration data; and displaying, on a display device (14), a representation (30) of the calculated diaphragm thickness metric.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a method and a cone beam computed tomography apparatus for reducing artefacts in an image acquired with the cone beam computed tomography apparatus using a second pass artefact reduction method. Projection data of an object are acquired, wherein the projection data comprises a first subset of data to be used for reconstruction of a first image, and a second subset of data comprising projection data not to be used for the construction of the first image, wherein the second subset of data comprises projection data not comprised in the first subset of data. A first and a second image are reconstructed using the first and the second subset of data, respectively. A second pass artefact reduction method is performed using the second image as input image of the second pass artefact reduction method, thereby reducing artefacts in the first image.

Abstract: A medical device for treating an associated patient includes a bronchial sensor device configured to measure fluid pressure in a bronchus of the associated patient; and an electronic controller configured to: receive the fluid pressure data from the bronchial sensor device; and calculate a fluid flow measurement through the bronchus based on the measured fluid pressure.

Abstract: A non-transitory storage medium stores instructions readable and executable by at least one electronic processor to receive clinical data for a current patient (P); search a database of CT scans and/or patient-specific mechanical ventilation models for other patients using the clinical data for the current patient as a search criterion to identify a similar patient in the database and similar patient data (S) comprising a CT scan and/or a patient-specific mechanical ventilation model for the similar patient; determine a patient-specific mechanical ventilation model for the current patient based on the CT scan and/or patient-specific mechanical ventilation model for the similar patient; generate ventilator configuration data for mechanically ventilating the current patient based on the determined patient-specific mechanical ventilation model for the current patient.

Abstract: One embodiment of the present disclosure may provide a method for training and tuning a neural network model, including: adding simulated noise to an initial image of an object to generate a noisy image (601, 603), the simulated noise taking the same form as natural noise in the initial image; training a neural network model on the noisy image using the initial image as ground truth (605), wherein in the neural network model is trained on the noisy work model a tuning variable is extracted or generated, the tuning variable defining an amount of noise removed during use (607); identifying a first value for the tuning variable that minimizes a training cost function for the tuning variable is identified or for the initial image; and assigning a second value for the tuning variable (611), the second value different than the first value, wherein the neural network model identifies more noise in the noisy image when using the second value than when using the first value.

Abstract: The present invention relates to an apparatus (10) for processing of data acquired by a dark-field and/or phase contrast X-ray imaging system, the apparatus comprising an input unit (20), and a processing unit (30). The input unit is configured to provide the processing unit with blank scan fringe data acquired by a dark-field and/or phase contrast X-ray imaging system comprising an interferometry arrangement and detector. The input unit is configured to provide the processing unit with sample scan fringe data acquired by the dark-field and/or phase contrast X-ray imaging system, with an object to be imaged is positioned within the dark-field and/or phase contrast X-ray imaging system. The processing unit is configured to pre-process the blank scan fringe data to determine pre- processed blank scan fringe data comprising utilization of an effective point spread function “PSF”.

Abstract: Provided is an apparatus (10) for processing dark-field X-ray image data information. The apparatus comprises a data interface (20); and a data processing unit (30). The data interface (20) is configured to provide the data processing unit with dark-field X-ray image data. The data processing unit (30) is configured to segment the image data to provide segmented image data of the lung, the segmented image data comprising at least a first lung segment and a second lung segment distinguishable therefrom, the first lung segment and the second lung segment being segmented to have a defined volume. The data processing unit (30) is further configured to derive, from the image data, at least a first dark-field signal value assigned to the first lung segment and a second dark-field signal value assigned to the second lung segment.

Abstract: Disclosed is a method for determining a gaze direction of a user (5) by employing a neural network (220) operating on the basis of image data of an image of a face of the user (5). The neural network (220) detects an ellipse (20) representing an outer border of an iris (17) of the user’s eye (15) and outputs a first vector (31), a second vector (32) and a respective first and second probability (p1, p2) representing the probability that the first vector (31) or the second vector (32) is the gaze direction Further disclosed are an apparatus configured to perform such method and a vehicle comprising such apparatus.

Abstract: An apparatus (1) for use in conjunction with a medical imaging device (2) having an imaging device controller (4) that displays a graphical user interface (GUI) (8) including a preview image viewport (9). The apparatus includes at least one electronic processor (20) programmed to: receive a video feed (17) of the GUI displayed on the imaging device controller; extract a preview image (12) displayed in the preview image viewport from the live video feed of the GUI; perform an image analysis (38) on the extracted preview image to detect one or more image features (42) indicative of one or more potential problems associated with a medical imaging examination performed with the medical imaging device; and output an alert (30) when one or more potential problems associated with the medical imaging examination is detected from the one or more image features.

Abstract: The present invention relates to an apparatus (10) for generating X-ray imaging data. It is described to position (210) a first grating between an X-ray source and a second grating. The second grating is positioned (220) between the first grating and a third grating. A third grating is positioned (230) between the second grating and an X-ray detector. An object is positioned (240) between the first grating and the third grating. At least one of the three gratings has a pitch attribute of having a constant grating pitch. At least one of the three gratings has a pitch attribute of having a varying grating pitch. Both gratings of an adjacent pair of gratings are bent such that a distance between the two adjacent gratings is constant as a function of fan angle. Both gratings of the adjacent pair of gratings that are bent have the same pitch attribute. An X-ray detector detects (250) at least some of the X-rays transmitted by the three gratings and the object.

Abstract: An image processing system (IPS) and related method for supporting tomographic imaging. The system comprises an input interface (IN) for receiving, for a given projection direction (pi), a plurality of input projection images at different phase steps acquired by a tomographic X-ray imaging apparatus configured for dark-field and/or phase-contrast imaging. A machine learning component (MLC) processes the said plurality into output projection imagery that includes a dark-field projection image and/or a phase contrast projection image for the said given projection direction.

Abstract: The present invention relates to an X-ray imaging system (10), comprising an X-ray image acquisition unit (20); and a processing unit (30). The X-ray image acquisition unit is configured to operate in at least one scout scan mode of operation. The X-ray image acquisition unit is configured to operate in a plurality of diagnostic image acquisition modes of operation. The X-ray image acquisition unit is configured to operate in a specific scout scan mode of operation of the at least one scout scan mode of operation to acquire a scanogram of a body part of a patient. The X-ray image acquisition unit is configured to provide the scanogram to the processing unit.

Abstract: A monitoring system for monitoring a kinematic coupling between an actuator and an element controlled by the latter includes a first sensor to detect the operative movement of the actuator. A second sensor is designed to detect the actual movement of the controlled element. A computer unit, based on the operative movement of the actuator, determines an anticipated movement of the controlled element and compares this anticipated movement with the actual movement of the controlled element. An error message is emitted when a value of the deviation between the anticipated movement and the actual movement exceeds a predefined threshold value.

Abstract: An imaging system (IS) including device (G, IFD) for phase contrast and/or dark field imaging such as a grating (G). The device has a periodic structure with a spatial period p. The imaging system (IS) further includes a phase stepping mechanism (PSM) configured to facilitate a relative phase stepping motion between the device (G, IFD) and a focal spot (FS) of an X-ray source (XS) of the imaging system (IS). The relative phase stepping motion covers a distance greater than the said spatial period to reduce artifacts in dark-field or phase contrast imagery caused by defects in the grating.