Abstract: A system includes an imaging acquisition unit, a reconstruction unit, and a determination system. The imaging acquisition unit is configured to perform a scan to acquire imaging information of a patient. The reconstruction unit is configured to reconstruct an image using the imaging information. The determination system is communicatively coupled to the imaging acquisition unit and the reconstruction unit. The determination system includes at least one processor configured to: acquire performance information corresponding to the scan; determine a scan quality for the scan based on the performance information; determine an update to a protocol used to at least one of acquire the imaging information or reconstruct the image; and provide control information to at least one of the imaging acquisition unit or the reconstruction unit to implement the determined update for at least one of performing a subsequent scan or reconstructing a subsequent image.

Abstract: A system includes an imaging acquisition unit, a reconstruction unit, and a determination system. The imaging acquisition unit is configured to perform a scan to acquire imaging information of a patient. The reconstruction unit is configured to reconstruct an image using the imaging information. The determination system is communicatively coupled to the imaging acquisition unit and the reconstruction unit. The determination system includes at least one processor configured to: acquire performance information corresponding to the scan; determine a scan quality for the scan based on the performance information; determine an update to a protocol used to at least one of acquire the imaging information or reconstruct the image; and provide control information to at least one of the imaging acquisition unit or the reconstruction unit to implement the determined update for at least one of performing a subsequent scan or reconstructing a subsequent image.

Abstract: A method for displaying medical image data. The method includes digitally combining 3D volume visualizations to form a plurality of four-dimensional (4D) volume visualizations representing the 3D volume visualizations over a period of time. The plurality of 4D volume visualizations include first and second 4D volume visualizations. The first 4D volume visualization including the entirety of the common region during a first time period, and the second 4D volume visualization including the entirety of the common region during a different second time period. The method also includes digitally combining the first and second 4D volume visualizations by digitally processing the first and second 4D volume visualizations to generate a modified 4D volume visualization of the entirety of the common region.

Abstract: Systems, methods and computer instructions for displaying multi-energy data are provided. Certain methods include: receiving multi-energy data from an operably connected data source; displaying the multi-energy data as an image via a graphical user interface; selecting a region of interest in the displayed image; and displaying information regarding the region of interest via the graphical user interface. Certain methods include: (1) displaying a graph that includes an attenuation line depicting radiodensity versus energy level; (2) displaying a material density graph of a region of interest and/or of results of segmenting a region of interest; and/or (3) displaying information in a window configured to be movable about an interface. Certain methods include: receiving multi-energy data from an operably connected data source; and displaying the multi-energy data as a fused image via a graphical user interface.

Abstract: A method for displaying medical image data. The method includes digitally combining 3D volume visualizations to form a plurality of four-dimensional (4D) volume visualizations representing the 3D volume visualizations over a period of time. The plurality of 4D volume visualizations include first and second 4D volume visualizations. The first 4D volume visualization including the entirety of the common region during a first time period, and the second 4D volume visualization including the entirety of the common region during a different second time period. The method also includes digitally combining the first and second 4D volume visualizations by digitally processing the first and second 4D volume visualizations to generate a modified 4D volume visualization of the entirety of the common region.

Abstract: Methods and systems for displaying medical images are provided. The method includes performing three-dimensional (3D) volume visualization on a plurality of two-dimensional (2D) images acquired continuously. The method further includes combining the 3D volume visualizations to form a plurality of four-dimensional (4D) volumes representing the 3D volume visualizations over a period of time and displaying at least one 4D volume.

Abstract: Systems, methods and computer instructions for displaying multi-energy data are provided. Certain methods include: receiving multi-energy data from an operably connected data source; displaying the multi-energy data as an image via a graphical user interface; selecting a region of interest in the displayed image; and displaying information regarding the region of interest via the graphical user interface. Certain methods include: (1) displaying a graph that includes an attenuation line depicting radiodensity versus energy level; (2) displaying a material density graph of a region of interest and/or of results of segmenting a region of interest; and/or (3) displaying information in a window configured to be movable about an interface. Certain methods include: receiving multi-energy data from an operably connected data source; and displaying the multi-energy data as a fused image via a graphical user interface.

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: 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: A method for combining images acquired using helical half-scan imaging comprises identifying an image plane within an overlap region comprising data from first and second view streams representative of first and second cycles of acquired image data. The image plane comprises the same anatomical structure. First and second weighting functions are calculated for first and second images based on first and second tube positions of an x-ray tube. The first and second images correspond to the image plane and are from the first and second view streams, respectively. The first and second tube positions also correspond to the image plane. A weighted image is then formed based on the first and second weighting functions and the first and second images.

Abstract: Methods and systems for generating computed tomographic (CT) images from image data acquired during different biological cycles are provided. A computer is programmed to receive a plurality of scan data acquired during a gated acquisition window of each of a plurality of biological cycles, blend the scan data acquired during a first of the plurality of biological cycles with the scan data acquired during a second of the plurality of biological cycles, and construct a final image from the blended data.

Abstract: Methods and systems for displaying medical images are provided. The method includes performing three-dimensional (3D) volume visualization on a plurality of two-dimensional (2D) images acquired continuously. The method further includes combining the 3D volume visualizations to form a plurality of four-dimensional (4D) volumes representing the 3D volume visualizations over a period of time and displaying at least one 4D volume.

Abstract: In one embodiment, a method is provided for performing computed tomography (CT) imaging. The method includes obtaining EKG gating information from an object and obtaining attenuation measurements from the object utilizing a detector that is rotated in a scan plane around the object. The method further includes performing a first reconstruction based on a first portion of the attenuation measurements that are collected by a first region of the detector, where the first reconstruction is performed independent of the EKG gating information to obtain a first reconstruction data set. A second reconstruction is performed based on a second port of the attenuation measurements that are collected by a second region of the detector, where the second reconstruction is performed based on the EKG gating information to obtain a second reconstruction data set.

Abstract: In one embodiment, a method is provided for performing computed tomography (CT) imaging. The method includes obtaining EKG gating information from an object and obtaining attenuation measurements from the object utilizing a detector that is rotated in a scan plane around the object. The method further includes performing a first reconstruction based on a first portion of the attenuation measurements that are collected by a first region of the detector, where the first reconstruction is performed independent of the EKG gating information to obtain a first reconstruction data set. A second reconstruction is performed based on a second port of the attenuation measurements that are collected by a second region of the detector, where the second reconstruction is performed based on the EKG gating information to obtain a second reconstruction data set.

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: A method and apparatus for use with a gated CT imaging system for correcting for Rpeak errors in a heart beat signal, the method including identifying heart rate corresponding to each specific heart beating cycle and comparing the heart rate for each specific cycle to moving averages to determine when a likely Rpeak error has occurred and, when a likely error has occurred, modifying the heart beat signal to generate a more accurate signal and thereby render more accurate gated images.

Abstract: A method and system for filtering medical images is described. The described method of filtering medical images includes receiving image data including a plurality of images from an image scan, determining a number of interpolation elements based on a slice thickness of the plurality of images, and filtering the image data using the determined interpolation elements.

Abstract: A method for registration of cardiac image data in an interventional system includes inserting a first plurality of fiducial points on an acquired 3D anatomical image and exporting the 3D anatomical image, with the first plurality of inserted fiducial points thereon, to an interventional system. A second plurality of fiducial points is inserted on the exported 3D anatomical image using the interventional system, and the first and said second plurality of fiducial points are aligned to one another so as to register the exported 3D anatomical image with the interventional system.

Abstract: A method for plaque characterization. The method comprises obtaining a first set of image data created in response to a first x-ray energy level and including a plurality of pixel elements. Each of the first pixel elements corresponds to a unique location in an object being scanned. The method further comprises obtaining a second set of image data created in response to a second x-ray energy level and including a plurality of second pixel elements. Each of the second pixel elements corresponds to one of the first pixel elements and the second x-ray energy level is higher than the first x-ray energy level. The method also comprises calculating a third set of image data in response to the first set of image data and the second set of image data. The calculating includes subtracting each second pixel element from the corresponding first pixel element.

Abstract: A method for filtering images is provided. The method includes obtaining at least one set of image data of a subject using an imaging system, removing at least one slice of image data from the at least one set to form a filtered set, and reconstructing images from the filtered set.