Abstract: Methods and apparatus are provided through which a risk profile for a resource of an information technology system is generated from collected infrastructure performance data and collected process data. In some embodiments, the data is correlated from the infrastructure performance data and process data before generation of the risk profile.

Abstract: A filament circuit resistance adjusting apparatus (36), for a filament circuit (38) having a filament (50) with a first resistance is provided. The filament circuit resistance adjusting apparatus (36) includes a first resistor (70), which has a second resistance and is electrically coupled to the filament (50). The first resistor (70) adjusts the resistance of the filament circuit (38). A method for adjusting the resistance of the filament (50) is also provided.

Abstract: An apparatus for detecting X-rays comprises a scintillator which emits a plurality of photoelectrons upon being impacted by an X-ray photon. The photoelectrons are amplified in a gas electron multiplier and the resultant photoelectrons are accumulated on a two dimensional array of charge collection electrodes. Electrical signals are produced which indicate the quantity of photoelectrons which strike each charge collection electrode. A processor determines a location of the X-ray photon strike by analyzing the spatial distribution of the photoelectrons accumulated by the array of charge collection electrodes. The intensity of the X-ray photon is determined from the number of accumulated photoelectrons.

Abstract: A method and system for balancing CT gantry mechanisms. Two balance locations are preselected on the rotating base member and stacks of spacers, shims, and weights are provided at each site. Strain gate sensors are provided on the stationary base member and included as part of a sensor circuit. Trial and test runs determine the mass and Z-location of the mass which needs to be added to the system to statically and dynamically balance it.

Abstract: A stationary CT system comprising at least one annular x ray source assembly comprising a plurality of respective x ray sources spaced along the annular x ray source assembly. Each of the x ray sources comprises a respective stationary x ray target, an electron beam focusing chamber; an x ray channel; an electron beam source disposed in a spaced apart relationship with respect to the respective stationary x ray target; a vacuum chamber disposed in between the electron beam focusing chamber and an insulating chamber where the insulating chamber houses the electron beam source; a radiation window at a pre-defined angular displacement from the respective stationary x ray target and the x ray channel; and a target substrate attached to the respective stationary x ray target.

Abstract: The present invention provides a method and apparatus for measuring the level of a liquid cryogen. The invention provides for use of a current source (52), a length, or multiple lengths, of superconducting filament (40) situated within a cryostat (1) containing a cryogenic fluid (2) and a voltmeter (51) for measuring the voltage drop across the filament (40). The invention further provides a method for using said apparatus.

Abstract: A method of processing dual energy images. The method includes obtaining a first image generated at a first energy level and obtaining a second image generated at a second energy level different than the first energy level. The first and second images are pre-processed and decomposed to form a raw soft-tissue image and a raw bone image. The raw soft-tissue image is post-processed to form a processed soft-tissue image and the raw bone image is post-processed to form a processed bone image. The processed soft-tissue image and the processed bone image are then display processed.

Abstract: A system and method for a hardware configuration and interfacing in a component-based environment for a medical imaging system is disclosed. Specifically, the invention directed to software architecture for the control of medical imaging system hardware is disclosed. The architecture can be logically divided into four elements: a system hardware control to provide system hardware availability information and control, a system configuration control to provide hardware constraint information, an application prescription control to identify hardware capabilities requested by a user-selected application and configure hardware settings for the system hardware, and an application hardware control to enable the application to exert control over the system hardware during execution. The architecture allows application software to be independent from hardware control software.

Abstract: A system and method including an apparatus for use in electrically loading RF coils of an MRI system is disclosed. The apparatus includes a polymer interdispersed with an electrically conductive additive such that the apparatus provides the necessary electrical loading of the RF coils for testing and calibration of the MRI system but is free of liquid. Furthermore, the apparatus is capable of providing the requisite electrical load in high magnet magnetic fields without introducing image distortion as a result of standing waves within the apparatus.

Abstract: A method and system for of defining, or identifying, regions of interest for exposure management in a digital x-ray imaging system, and especially in the case of multiple consecutive image acquisitions. According to the most basic embodiment of the present invention, simple geometric shapes arranged in a matrix configuration are used to aid an operator in identifying a region of interest for a diagnostic x-ray image. Each region of interest is selectable from a low-dose preshot image and may be corrected, or processed, in order to enhance the results of a subsequent diagnostic image. The processing of the preshot image allows the system to automatically make predictions for the diagnostic image exposure requirements, thereby avoiding unnecessary multiple images.

Abstract: An automatic and adaptive MR data selection technique for use with a multi-receiver coil assembly in an MR imaging device is disclosed. The invention includes acquiring image data from a plurality of receiver coils and determining an index gauge for each of the images. The index gauge is a representation of the position of a given receiver coil within a desired field-of-view (FOV). The index gauges are compared and any image data set having an index gauge demonstrating a less than optimal position of the given receiver coil with respect to the desired FOV is removed based on the index gauges and the comparison. A final image can be reconstructed using the remaining image data sets. The final image is reconstructed from data having overall reduced noise, and therefore reduced artifacts.

Abstract: The invention relates to a manufacturing facility comprising a building structure which encloses working space of the manufacturing facility, the building structure being designed to house a cyclotron and to be transportable by truck or rail to a destination site, wherein the manufacturing facility, except for lacking a cyclotron during transport, is substantially equipped during transport to produce and package a radiopharmaceutical. The invention also relates to a method of providing a manufacturing facility for producing a radioactive material, the method comprising the steps of designing the manufacturing facility to receive a cyclotron; equipping the manufacturing facility with a synthesis unit which is designed to receive a first radioactive material from the cyclotron and to produce a second radioactive material; transporting the manufacturing facility to a site; transporting the cyclotron to the site; and enclosing the cyclotron inside the manufacturing facility.

Abstract: Automatic coil selection is based on determining an index gauge for a corresponding k-space data line acquired for each preselected coil during a prescan. Reliance on manual coil selection and markers is eliminated by adaptively determining the coils of an MR system that produce a preferred sensitivity to a desired field-of-view (FOV). The fast scan data is used to determine those coils most sensitive to the FOV and reject coil(s) least sensitive. Using only data acquired with the most sensitive coils, SNR is increased and unwanted artifacts are reduced in the final data acquisition and image reconstruction. Through automatic and adaptive selection/deselection, the invention reduces the susceptibility to human error, and therefore results in higher quality images.

Abstract: The present invention is directed to a method and apparatus of cardiac CT imaging. The present invention utilizes ECG signals as well as mechanical motion signals of a cardiac region of a subject to correlate CT data acquired of the subject with the phases of the subject's cardiac region. The present invention contemplates measuring mechanical gatings of the heart by measuring changes in pressure, sound, or blood flow acceleration within the cardiac region. The mechanical gatings are then used with ECG data to correlate acquired imaging data with phases of the cardiac region for subsequent image reconstruction.

Abstract: A method for performing MRI, including imposing N sets of steady-state free precession (SSFP) sequences on an object to be imaged, the sequences including respective initial radio-frequency (RF) excitation pulses, each initial RF excitation pulse having a predetermined phase shift relative to the other initial RF excitation pulses. N is a whole number larger than one and less than six. The method further includes setting the phase shift of the RF pulse of the sequences so that the phase shift of the RF pulse of an Mth sequence is substantially equal to 2 ⁢ π ⁡ ( M - 1 ) N radians, wherein M is a whole number larger than 0 and less than or equal to N, receiving a respective set of image signals from the object responsive to the N sets of SSFP sequences, and processing the set of received image signals to generate an image of the object.

Abstract: The present invention includes a method and apparatus to correct for gradient field distortions. The invention is particularly applicable in moving table imaging where a single extended image is desirable. The invention includes acquiring MR data in motion in the presence of gradient non-linearities, transforming the MR data acquired into the image domain, and then applying a warping correction function to the transformed MR data. The warp-corrected MR data is then corrected for motion induced during the MR acquisition. The data may be acquired point-by-point, line-by-line, or another sub-portion of the entire MR data acquired, and processed to minimize the amount of motion correction needed. Based on table velocity or acquisition sequence applied, the data is partitioned based on a common motion correction factor, and after correcting for motion, the data is accumulated to build up a final image.

Abstract: A method for processing digital images includes acquiring a phase difference image which includes one or more phase wraps, creating a modulated phase difference image from the phase difference image, comparing the modulated phase difference image to the phase difference image to locate areas in the phase difference image to be unwrapped, and unwrapping the phase difference image based on the areas located in the comparing step. The unwrapping step is performed by replacing wrapped pixels in the phase difference image with pixels in the modulated phase difference image plus an integer multiple of &pgr;. The integer multiplier is computed by comparing overlapping pixels in the image segments. This has a smoothing effect causing the wrapped pixels in the phase difference image to become unwrapped. As a result of this pixel replacement process, an image of improved quality and information content is produced compared with conventional methods.

Abstract: The present invention discloses a method of aligning scintillator crystalline structures for computed tomography imaging and a system of use. Crystal seeds are deposited inside a glass melt and are then grown to form a plurality of layer crystallites. While growing the crystallites, a field is applied to align each crystallite structure in a uniform orientation. As a result, the crystallites are configured to reduce light scattering and improve the overall efficiency of the CT system. A CT system is disclosed implementing a scintillator array having a plurality of scintillators, each scintillator being formed of a plurality of uniformly aligned crystallites. Each crystallite includes a receiving surface and an exiting surface configured perpendicular to an x-ray beam. Further, the receiving surface and the exiting surface are connected by a plurality of surface walls arranged parallel to the x-ray beam.

Abstract: A system and method of medical imaging is designed to reduce a patient's X-ray exposure during scanning based upon patient size and task dependency. The system includes receiving a task and patient size dependency input and determining threshold levels based on the received inputs to separate imaging data into a number of projection sets for further image processing and reconstruction of an image. Each projection set can then be independently processed based on the type of task and/or the patient size to allow reduced and modified X-ray doses dependent on the task and/or specific patient to be scanned.

Abstract: An apparatus and process for determining and displaying a helical artifact index to a system operator are provided. The HAI is determined by acquiring and processing imaging data of a phantom. The HAI is then displayed to the operator on a console so that the operator may, if necessary, reset the scanning parameters or select a new scanning protocol that will result in a reconstructed image of a subject having reduced artifact presence. By providing a likelihood of artifact presence to the system operator, the present invention eliminates the need for the operator to recall those scanning profiles that are susceptible to high artifact presence.