Abstract: An imaging system includes a detector configured to receive data that can be reconstructed into a three-dimensional (3D) image of an object, and a computer programmed to obtain 3D image data of the object, the 3D image data including an internal structure of the object, define a longitudinal dimension of the internal structure from the 3D image data along a length of the structure, extract a first set of parameter-of-interest data related to the internal structure from the 3D image data along a first ray extending from a first location along the length of the structure and at a first angular orientation with respect to a base vector that is generally perpendicular to the longitudinal dimension, and plot the extracted first set of parameter-of-interest data at a pixel location of a two-dimensional (2D) plot that corresponds to the first location and corresponds to the first angular orientation.

Abstract: A method of evaluating changes in contrast of an image using a diagnostic imaging system is provided. The method provides acquiring raw image data of an organ or tissue, calculating a baseline of data based on the raw image data acquired before arrival of an agent, and determining changes in a signal intensity of the agent based on changes in the raw image data compared to the baseline. The agent may be an imaging agent, a contrast agent, a biomedical agent, a needle, a catheter, a biomedical device, and the like.

Abstract: An imaging system includes a detector configured to receive data that can be reconstructed into a three-dimensional (3D) image of an object, and a computer programmed to obtain 3D image data of the object, the 3D image data including an internal structure of the object, define a longitudinal dimension of the internal structure from the 3D image data along a length of the structure, extract a first set of parameter-of-interest data related to the internal structure from the 3D image data along a first ray extending from a first location along the length of the structure and at a first angular orientation with respect to a base vector that is generally perpendicular to the longitudinal dimension, and plot the extracted first set of parameter-of-interest data at a pixel location of a two-dimensional (2D) plot that corresponds to the first location and corresponds to the first angular orientation.

Abstract: An method of computed tomography is disclosed herein. The method includes acquiring an axial dataset and acquiring a helical dataset as part of an acquisition protocol. A computed tomography system 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: 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 method of computed tomography is disclosed herein. The method includes acquiring an axial dataset and acquiring a helical dataset as part of an acquisition protocol. A computed tomography system is also disclosed.

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: A method of evaluating changes in contrast of an image using a diagnostic imaging system is provided. The method provides acquiring raw image data of an organ or tissue, calculating a baseline of data based on the raw image data acquired before arrival of an agent, and determining changes in a signal intensity of the agent based on changes in the raw image data compared to the baseline. The agent may be an imaging agent, a contrast agent, a biomedical agent, a needle, a catheter, a biomedical device, and the like.

Abstract: A method and system of gating for a medical imaging system includes utilizing a non-electrical sensor to acquire information for gating. A sensor assembly usable in the method and system of gating may include a non-electrical sensor coupled to one side of a patient-sensor interface, the other side adapted for securing to a patient.

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 method and apparatus for acquiring high resolution MR images of a carotid artery. A six-channel RF coil array has three RF coils placed in an overlapping pattern and positioned adjacent to a first region-of-interest (ROI) of an imaging patient. The six-channel RF coil also has three RF coils placed in an overlapping pattern and positioned adjacent to a second ROI of an imaging patient.

Abstract: A method and apparatus of imaging multiple volumes of the anatomy of interest using a phase-cycled SSFP pulse sequence and a reverse elliptic centric view ordering to sample a first volume and an elliptic centric view ordering to sample a second volume is disclosed. Dummy acquisitions are played out between imaging of the first and second volumes, and the time to play out the dummy acquisitions is used to change the phase-cycling scheme of the RF pulses of the SSFP pulse sequence. Oscillations in signal are reduced as the spins in the anatomy of interest are brought to a new steady-state by gradually ramping the RF pulse phase increment for acquisition from the first volume to the RF pulse phase increment for acquisition from the second volume. The present invention is effective for reducing transient oscillations in MR signals from resonance and off-resonance spins, thus enabling the use of this technique for the reduction of motion artifacts in phase-cycled SSFP.

Abstract: A method and system of gating for a medical imaging system includes utilizing a non-electrical sensor to acquire information for gating. A sensor assembly usable in the method and system of gating may include a non-electrical sensor coupled to one side of a patient-sensor interface, the other side adapted for securing to a patient.