Abstract: A diagnostic imaging system retrieves data (206) from a plurality of accessible data sources, the accessible data sources storing data including physiological data describing a subject to be imaged, a nature of a requested diagnostic image, image preferences of a clinician who requested the diagnostic image, and previously reconstructed images of the requested nature of the subject and/or other subjects, reconstruction parameters and/or sub-routines used to reconstruct the previously reconstructed images. The system analyzes (6, 12) the retrieved data to automatically generate reconstruction parameters and/or sub-steps specific to the nature of the requested diagnostic image, the subject, and the clinician image preferences. The system controls a display device (10, 216) to display the generated reconstruction parameters and/or sub-routines to the user for a user selection.

Abstract: In a multi-session imaging study, information from a previous imaging session is stored in a Binary Large Object (BLOB). Current emission imaging data are reconstructed into a non-attenuation corrected (NAC) current emission image. A spatial transform is generated aligning a previous NAC emission image from the BLOB to the current NAC emission image. A previous computed tomography (CT) image from the BLOB is warped using the spatial transform, and the current emission imaging data are reconstructed with attenuation correction using the warped CT image. Alternatively, low dose current emission imaging data and a current CT image are acquired, a spatial transform is generated aligning the previous CT image to the current CT image, a previous attenuation corrected (AC) emission image from the BLOB is warped using the spatial transform, and the current emission imaging data are reconstructed using the current CT image with the warped AC emission image as prior.

Abstract: A diagnostic imaging system retrieves data (206) from a plurality of accessible data sources, the accessible data sources storing data including physiological data describing a subject to be imaged, a nature of a requested diagnostic image, image preferences of a clinician who requested the diagnostic image, and previously reconstructed images of the requested nature of the subject and/or other subjects, reconstruction parameters and/or sub-routines used to reconstruct the previously reconstructed images. The system analyzes (6, 12) the retrieved data to automatically generate reconstruction parameters and/or sub-steps specific to the nature of the requested diagnostic image, the subject, and the clinician image preferences. The system controls a display device (10, 216) to display the generated reconstruction parameters and/or sub-routines to the user for a user selection.

Abstract: A medical imaging system includes a data store (16) of reconstruction procedures, a selector (24), a reconstructor (14), a fuser (28), and a display (22). The data store (16) of reconstruction procedures identifies a plurality of reconstruction procedures. The selector (24) selects at least two reconstruction procedures from the data store of reconstruction procedures based on a received input, each reconstruction procedure optimized for one or more image characteristics. The reconstructor (14) concurrently performs the selected at least two reconstruction procedures, each reconstruction procedure generates at least one image (26) from the at least one data store of imaging data (12). The fuser (28) fuses the at least two generated medical images to create a medical diagnostic image which includes characteristics from each generated image (26). The display (22) displays the medical diagnostic image.

Abstract: A system (10) and a method (100) iteratively reconstruct an image of a target volume of a subject. In each iteration of a plurality of iterations, an estimate image of the target volume (54) is forward projected (58) and compared (62) to received event data (44) to determine a discrepancy (64). The discrepancy (64) is back projected (66) and the back projection (68) updates (70) the estimate image (54). In at least one iteration, the estimate image (54) is filtered (52) in the image domain prior to being back projected.

Abstract: A positron emission tomography (PET) system includes a memory (18), a subject support (3), a categorizing unit (20), and a reconstruction unit (22). The memory (18) continuously records detected coincident event pairs detected by PET detectors (4). The subject support (3) supports a subject and moves in a continuous movement through a field of view (10) of the PET detectors (4). The categorizing unit (20) categorizes the recorded coincident pairs into each of a plurality of spatially defined virtual frame (14). The reconstruction unit (22) reconstructs the categorized coincident pairs of each virtual frame into a frame image and combines the frame images into a common elongated image.

Abstract: A nuclear scanner includes an annular support structure (12) which supports a plurality of radiation detector units (14), each detector unit including crystals (52), tiles (66) containing an array of crystals, or modules (14) of tiles. The detector units define annular ranks of crystals, and the annular ranks of crystals define spaces between the ranks. In another embodiment, the crystals define axial spaces between crystals. Separate rings of crystals have axial spaces that are staggered such that no area of the imaging region is missed. The spaces between the detector units may be adjusted to form uniform or non-uniform spacing. Moving the patient through the annular support structure compensates for reduced sampling under the spaces between ranks.

Abstract: A hybrid imaging system includes a first imaging system configured to acquire anatomical data of a first field of view of an anatomical structure. A second imaging system configured to acquire functional data of the anatomical structure, the second imaging system acquiring functional data in a two-pass list-mode acquisition scheme. A reconstruction processor configured to reconstruct the functional data based on attenuation data into an attenuation corrected image and reconstruct the anatomical data into one or more high resolution images of one or more regions of interest.

Abstract: A PET scanner (20, 22, 24, 26) generates a plurality of time stamped lines of response (LORs). A motion detector (30) detects a motion state, such as motion phase or motion amplitude, of the subject during acquisition of each of the LORs. A sorting module (32) sorts the LORs by motion state and a reconstruction processor (36) reconstructs the LORs into high spatial, low temporal resolution images in the corresponding motion states. A motion estimator module (40) determines a motion transform which transforms the LORs into a common motion state. A reconstruction module (50) reconstructs the motion corrected LORs into a static image or dynamic images, a series of high temporal resolution, high spatial resolution images.

Abstract: When generating a magnetic resonance (MR) attenuation map (39), an MR image is segmented to identify a patient's body outline, soft tissue structures, and ambiguous structures comprising bone and/or air. To distinguish between bone and air in the ambiguous structures, a nuclear emission image (e.g., PET) of the same patient or region of interest is segmented. The segmented functional image data is correlated to the segmented MR image data to distinguish between bone and air in the ambiguous structures. Appropriate radiation attenuation values are assigned respectively to identify air voxels and bone voxels in the segmented MR image, and an MR attenuation map is generated from the enhanced segmented MR image, in which ambiguity between air and bone has been resolved. The MR attenuation map is used to generate an attenuation-corrected nuclear image, which is displayed to a user.

Abstract: A nuclear medicine scanner system (1) includes an intelligent scheduler (2) which schedules a plurality of patients, each for an ordered nuclear medicine scanning procedure with a nuclear medicine scanning device (4) based on data mined from prior patients with like scanning procedures and in a time window which minimizes the patient dose.

Abstract: A positron emission tomography (PET) system includes a memory (18), a subject support (3), a categorizing unit (20), and a reconstruction unit (22). The memory (18) continuously records detected coincident event pairs detected by PET detectors (4). The subject support (3) supports a subject and moves in a continuous movement through a field of view (10) of the PET detectors (4). The categorizing unit (20) categorizes the recorded coincident pairs into each of a plurality of spatially defined virtual frame (14). The reconstruction unit (22) reconstructs the categorized coincident pairs of each virtual frame into a frame image and combines the frame images into a common elongated image.

Abstract: A medical imaging system includes a data store (16) of re-construction procedures, a selector (24), a reconstructor (14), a fuser (28), and a display (22). The data store (16) of reconstruction procedures identifies a plurality of reconstruction procedures. The selector (24) selects at least two reconstruction procedures from the data store of reconstruction procedures based on a received input, each reconstruction procedure optimized for one or more image characteristics. The reconstructor (14) concurrently performs the selected at least two reconstruction procedures, each reconstruction procedure generates at least one image (26) from the at least one data store of imaging data (12). The fuser (28) fuses the at least two generated medical images to create a medical diagnostic image which includes characteristics from each generated image (26). The display (22) displays the medical diagnostic image.

Abstract: A database (52) stores image recipient reconstruction profiles each comprising image reconstruction parameter values. An image reconstruction module (30) is configured to reconstruct medical imaging data to generate a reconstructed image. An image reconstruction setup module (50) is configured to retrieve an image recipient reconstruction profile from the database (52) for an intended image recipient associated with a set of medical imaging data and to invoke the image reconstruction module (30) to reconstruct the set of medical imaging data using image reconstruction parameter values of the retrieved image recipient reconstruction profile to generate a reconstructed image for the intended image recipient. A feedback acquisition module (54) is configured to acquire feedback from the intended image recipient pertaining to the reconstructed image for the intended image recipient.

Abstract: A hybrid imaging system includes a first imaging system configured to acquire anatomical data of a first field of view of an anatomical structure. A second imaging system configured to acquire functional data of the anatomical structure, the second imaging system acquiring functional data in a two-pass list-mode acquisition scheme. A reconstruction processor configured to reconstruct the functional data based on attenuation data into an attenuation corrected image and reconstruct the anatomical data into one or more high resolution images of one or more regions of interest.

Abstract: A PET apparatus includes a detector array including individual detectors which receive radiation events from an imaging region. A movement controller controls at least one of relative longitudinal movement between a subject support and the detector array and circumferential movement between the detector array and the subject. A time stamp processor assigns a time stamp to each received radiation event. A list mode event storage buffer stores time stamped events. An event verification processor screens for coincidentally received radiation events, locations at which each pair of corresponding coincidentally received events defining a line of response. A reconstruction processor reconstructs valid events into an image representation of the imaging region.

Abstract: When generating a magnetic resonance (MR) attenuation map (39), an MR image is segmented to identify a patient's body outline, soft tissue structures, and ambiguous structures comprising bone and/or air. To distinguish between bone and air in the ambiguous structures, a nuclear emission image (e.g., PET) of the same patient or region of interest is segmented. The segmented functional image data is correlated to the segmented MR image data to distinguish between bone and air in the ambiguous structures. Appropriate radiation attenuation values are assigned respectively to identify air voxels and bone voxels in the segmented MR image, and an MR attenuation map is generated from the enhanced segmented MR image, in which ambiguity between air and bone has been resolved. The MR attenuation map is used to generate an attenuation-corrected nuclear image, which is displayed to a user.

Abstract: When compensating for truncated patient scan data acquired by a multi-modal PET/CT or PET/MR imaging system (14, 16), such as occurs when a patient is larger than a field of view for an anatomical imaging device, a segmented contour of a non-attenuation-corrected (NAC) PET image is used to identify a contour of the truncated region. An appropriate tissue type is used to fill in truncated regions of a truncated CT or MR image for the attenuation map. The corrected attenuation map is then used to generate an attenuation-corrected PET image of the patient or a region of interest. Alternatively, the system can be employed in PET/CT or PET/MR imaging scenarios where two modalities are performed sequentially (e.g., not simultaneously), and thus the contour derived from the PET scan can be compared to the CT or MR image to infer potential subject motion between the PET and CT or MR scans.

Abstract: A method of processing a positron emission tomography (PET) imaging data set (30) acquired of a subject includes independently localizing each positron-electron annihilation event of the PET imaging data set based on time of flight (TOF) localization of the positron-electron annihilation event to form a generated image (34). The generated image may be displayed. The generated image is suitably used as the basis for an initial image of an iterative reconstruction (40) of the PET imaging data set (30) to produce a reconstructed image (42). A spatial contour (56) of an image of the subject in the PET imaging data set (30) is suitably delineated based on the generated image (34). A subject attenuation map (62) for use in PET image reconstruction (40) is suitably constructed based in part on the spatial contour (56).

Abstract: A PET scanner (20, 22, 24, 26) generates a plurality of time stamped lines of response (LORs). A motion detector (30) detects a motion state, such as motion phase or motion amplitude, of the subject during acquisition of each of the LORs. A sorting module (32) sorts the LORs by motion state and a reconstruction processor (36) reconstructs the LORs into high spatial, low temporal resolution images in the corresponding motion states. A motion estimator module (40) determines a motion transform which transforms the LORs into a common motion state. A reconstruction module (50) reconstructs the motion corrected LORs into a static image or dynamic images, a series of high temporal resolution, high spatial resolution images.