Abstract: Methods and systems are provided for automatically adjusting parts of a patient's body relative to a CT scanner to optimize image collection and work flow during a CT scan. In one example approach, a method comprises acquiring image data of a patient on an X-ray imaging system patient support surface; performing an adjustment calculation based on the image data; and adjusting a head holder attached to the patient support surface based on the adjustment calculation, wherein the head holder is adjusted using a motor attached to the head holder.

Abstract: Methods and systems are provided for aiding a subject of a medical imaging exam in performing coached breathing. In one embodiment, a method for a medical imaging system comprises generating a three-dimensional (3-D) virtual representation of a portion of a surface of a chest and/or abdomen of a subject of the medical imaging system, the portion adjustable in size by an operator of the medical imaging system; displaying changes in the 3-D virtual representation to the subject on a display device of the medical imaging system while the subject breathes, in real time; displaying instructions to the subject on the display device to perform coached breathing in accordance with a selected breathing pattern, using the 3-D virtual representation as a guide; and in response to detecting a deviation of a breathing pattern of the subject from the selected breathing pattern, indicating the deviation to the subject.

Abstract: Methods and systems are provided for calibrating a medical imaging system. In one example, a method includes identifying a calibration vector to be updated based on an artifact in an image acquired with the medical imaging system, determining calibration data to be obtained with the medical imaging system based on the calibration vector, obtaining the calibration data with the medical imaging system, and updating the calibration vector based on the calibration data.

Abstract: A method includes obtaining an electrocardiogram (ECG) signal during a scan of a heart of a subject with a CT scanner. The method includes calculating temporal R-R electrocardiogram interval measurements from the ECG signal. The method includes monitoring whether any irregular cardiac cycles are detected in the temporal R-R electrocardiogram interval measurements. The method includes determining whether an initial Z coverage of the scan is sufficient for obtaining an artifact free image of the heart at a target phase when one or more irregular cardiac cycles are detected. The method includes determining a required Z coverage to obtain the artifact free image of the heart at the target phase when the initial Z coverage is not sufficient. The method includes initiating a rescan of the heart to obtain the required Z coverage while continuing both to obtain the ECG signal and to monitor for any irregular cardiac cycles.

Abstract: A system and method for a lidar guided patient positioning are described. An example imaging system includes a gantry having a bore, a table to move a subject relative to the bore, a radiation source mounted on the gantry and to emit an X-ray beam, and a detector to detect the X-ray beam. The system further includes a light detection and ranging (LiDAR) scanning system to acquire data of the subject. The system further includes processing circuitry to process the LiDAR data to generate a 3D point cloud representing a topography of the subject, estimate a center of a region of interest of the subject, calculate an offset of the center of the region of interest relative to an isocenter of the gantry, and adjust a height of the table based on the offset to align the center of the region of interest with the isocenter of the gantry.

Abstract: A system and a method for maintaining an X-ray focal spot position at a desired location on an X-ray detector of an X-ray imaging system include obtaining, via processing circuitry, a scan protocol for performing an X-ray scan with the X-ray imaging system. The system and the method also include determining, via the processing circuitry, a bending magnet current value to utilize to maintain the X-ray focal spot position of an X-ray beam emitted from an X-ray tube of the X-ray imaging system at the desired location on the X-ray detector based on a plurality of acquisition parameters of the X-ray scan. The system and the method further include utilizing, via the processing circuitry, the bending magnet current value during the X-ray scan to maintain the X-ray focal spot position at the desired location on the X-ray detector.

Abstract: Methods and systems are provided for adaptively configuring time delays between scans of a scan sequence performed using an imaging system, to maintain a temperature of components of an X-ray tube of the imaging system within a threshold temperature. A software tool is provided that allows a user to import, modify, and/or create scan sequence protocols (e.g., such as image quality (IQ) protocols) using a dedicated graphical user interface (GUI). The software tool parses the scan sequence protocols, using a thermal physics model of the X-ray tube to calculate a plurality of adaptive delays to be inserted between each scan of the scan sequence, such that all the components of the tube stay within predefined thermal limits for robust IQ or within a thermal range typical of a clinical site's thermal operating range. Each adaptive delay may be of a different length of time.

Abstract: Embodiments of a phantom for calibrating an imaging system are disclosed herein. In one example, a phantom for an imaging system includes a base comprised of a first material, a plurality of layers positioned on the base, each layer of the plurality of layers comprised of the first material or one or more additional materials, and a plug coupled to a front face of the base and the plurality of layers, the plug configured to couple to an accessory slot of a patient table of the imaging system.

Abstract: A system and a method include obtaining, at a processor, a clinical task for a scan of a subject with a computed tomography imaging system. The systems and method also include obtaining, at the processor, scanning parameters for the scan. The system and method further include automatically determining, via the processor, reconstruction matrix parameters for generating a reconstructed image from tomographic data obtained of the subject with the scan based at least on the clinical task and the scanning parameters.

Abstract: Systems/techniques that facilitate thermally adaptive scan sequencing for computed tomography scanners are provided. In various embodiments, a system can access a set of scanning protocols performable by a computed tomography scanner. In various aspects, the system can further access a current thermal state of the computed tomography scanner. In various instances, the system can identify, in the set of scanning protocols and based on the current thermal state, a scanning protocol that is predicted to reduce or control thermal stresses experienced by the computed tomography scanner. In various cases, the system can cause the computed tomography scanner to perform the identified scanning protocol.

Abstract: Methods and systems are provided for aiding a subject of a medical imaging exam in performing coached breathing. In one embodiment, a method for a medical imaging system comprises generating a three-dimensional (3-D) virtual representation of a portion of a surface of a chest and/or abdomen of a subject of the medical imaging system, the portion adjustable in size by an operator of the medical imaging system; displaying changes in the 3-D virtual representation to the subject on a display device of the medical imaging system while the subject breathes, in real time; displaying instructions to the subject on the display device to perform coached breathing in accordance with a selected breathing pattern, using the 3-D virtual representation as a guide; and in response to detecting a deviation of a breathing pattern of the subject from the selected breathing pattern, indicating the deviation to the subject.

Abstract: A method includes receiving data acquired with a light detection and ranging (LiDAR) scanning system physically coupled to a computed tomography (CT) imaging system of a subject to be imaged disposed on a cradle of a table, wherein the table is configured to move the subject into and out of a bore of a gantry of the CT imaging system. The method also includes generating a multi-dimensional avatar of the subject representing a topography of the subject. The method further includes causing display of the multi-dimensional avatar positioned on the cradle that represents a current position of the subject on the display, wherein the display is disposed adjacent the table within view of the subject. The method even further includes providing instructions on the display to enable the subject to guide themselves to a target position on the cradle for a CT scan with the CT imaging system.

Abstract: An imaging system and method for using the imaging system are described. In one example, a method of creating representative position information of a patient during a medical imaging scan is provided. The method includes, prior to performing a medical imaging scan, performing initial LiDAR data acquisition to obtain baseline LiDAR data, performing segmentation of the baseline LiDAR data, wherein the baseline LiDAR data includes a three-dimensional (3D) point cloud model, performing continuous LiDAR data acquisition to obtain continuous LiDAR data, which includes a real-time 3D point cloud model, and comparing the baseline LiDAR data with the continuous LiDAR data to detect motion of a patient.

Abstract: Methods and systems are provided to predict an upper threshold and a lower threshold of a heart rate (HR) of a patient of a computed tomography (CT) imaging system using a machine learning (ML) model, based on HR time series data collected over a duration prior to a cardiac scan. The ML model takes as an additional input a desired probabilistic certainty (e.g., statistical confidence level) that the predicted upper and lower HR thresholds will be accurate, provided by an operator of the CT imaging system. Before the start of the imaging scan, the predicted upper and lower HR thresholds are used to set the start exposure and end exposure times, to ensure that the requested cardiac phases are acquired.

Abstract: An imaging system and method for using the imaging system are described. In one example, a method of A method of identifying movement of a patient during a medical imaging scan includes initiating motion detection data acquisition, initiating a medical imaging scan of the patient to acquire scan data, determining a motion score curve for duration of the medical imaging scan based on the motion detection data, removing portions of the scan data corresponding to a motion score curve outside of an acceptable range, and selecting the scan data corresponding to a motion score curve within the acceptable range for reconstruction.

Abstract: A medical imaging system includes a CT imaging system including a gantry having a bore, rotatable about an axis of rotation. The CT imaging system includes a table configured to move a subject to be imaged into and out of the bore, a radiation source mounted on the gantry and configured to emit an X-ray beam, and a detector configured to detect the X-ray beam. The medical imaging system includes a LiDAR scanning system physically coupled to the CT imaging system. The LiDAR scanning system is configured to acquire data of the subject from different angular positions relative to the axis of rotation. The medical imaging system includes processing circuitry configured to receive the data acquired with the LiDAR scanning system, to generate a three-dimensional (3D) measurement of the subject, and to utilize the 3D measurement in a subsequent workflow process for a CT scan of the subject.

Abstract: A method includes receiving data acquired with a light detection and ranging (LiDAR) scanning system physically coupled to a computed tomography (CT) imaging system of a subject to be imaged disposed on a cradle of a table, wherein the table is configured to move the subject into and out of a bore of a gantry of the CT imaging system. The method also includes generating a multi-dimensional avatar of the subject representing a topography of the subject. The method further includes causing display of the multi-dimensional avatar positioned on the cradle that represents a current position of the subject on the display, wherein the display is disposed adjacent the table within view of the subject. The method even further includes providing instructions on the display to enable the subject to guide themselves to a target position on the cradle for a CT scan with the CT imaging system.

Abstract: A method includes obtaining an electrocardiogram (ECG) signal during a scan of a heart of a subject with a CT scanner. The method includes calculating temporal R-R electrocardiogram interval measurements from the ECG signal. The method includes monitoring whether any irregular cardiac cycles are detected in the temporal R-R electrocardiogram interval measurements. The method includes determining whether an initial Z coverage of the scan is sufficient for obtaining an artifact free image of the heart at a target phase when one or more irregular cardiac cycles are detected. The method includes determining a required Z coverage to obtain the artifact free image of the heart at the target phase when the initial Z coverage is not sufficient. The method includes initiating a rescan of the heart to obtain the required Z coverage while continuing both to obtain the ECG signal and to monitor for any irregular cardiac cycles.

Abstract: A system and a method for maintaining an X-ray focal spot position at a desired location on an X-ray detector of an X-ray imaging system include obtaining, via processing circuitry, a scan protocol for performing an X-ray scan with the X-ray imaging system. The system and the method also include determining, via the processing circuitry, a bending magnet current value to utilize to maintain the X-ray focal spot position of an X-ray beam emitted from an X-ray tube of the X-ray imaging system at the desired location on the X-ray detector based on a plurality of acquisition parameters of the X-ray scan. The system and the method further include utilizing, via the processing circuitry, the bending magnet current value during the X-ray scan to maintain the X-ray focal spot position at the desired location on the X-ray detector.

Abstract: Systems/techniques that facilitate low-cost estimation and/or tracking of intra-scan focal-spot displacement are provided. In various embodiments, a system can cause a medical imaging scanner to perform an air scan. In various aspects, the system can access data produced by the medical imaging scanner and relating to the air scan, where the data can include a set of gantry angles swept by an X-ray tube during the air scan, where the data can include a set of intensity value matrices recorded by a multi-channel-multi-row detector during the air scan, and where the set of intensity value matrices respectively correspond to the set of gantry angles. In various instances, the system can compute a set of channel-spanning intensity slopes based on the set of intensity value matrices. In various cases, the system can apply a slope-to-displacement transfer function to the set of channel-spanning intensity slopes, thereby yielding a set of focal-spot displacements.