Patents by Inventor Dominic Joseph Crotty
Dominic Joseph Crotty has filed for patents to protect the following inventions. This listing includes patent applications that are pending as well as patents that have already been granted by the United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO).
-
Patent number: 11497459Abstract: Methods and systems are provided for adjusting medical imaging parameters based on imaging parameters used during a previous imaging session. In one embodiment, a method for a computed tomography (CT) system includes reducing a radiation level of at least one CT scan of one or more successive CT scans performed on a patient based on CT scan information obtained from a previous CT scan performed on the patient, the radiation level reduced relative to a radiation level of the previous CT scan.Type: GrantFiled: January 26, 2018Date of Patent: November 15, 2022Assignee: General Electric CompanyInventors: John Irvin Jackson, Dominic Joseph Crotty, Franco Rupcich, John Londt, Mark Vincent Profio, Darin Robert Okerlund
-
Patent number: 11160518Abstract: Various methods and systems are provided for an integrated filter assembly including a plurality of bowtie filters and a hardening filter mounted on a single carriage. In one embodiment, an imaging system may include a carriage including a hardening filter and one or more bowtie filters, and a filter driving system for moving the carriage to selectively position the hardening filter and one of the one or more bowtie filters in a path of a radiation beam between a radiation source and an imaging subject, the hardening filter at least partially overlapping with at least one of the one or more bowtie filters. In this way, a single carriage may include a plurality of filters which may be selectively positioned in a path of the radiation beam entering a subject without having to stack multiple carriages and switch carriages between scans.Type: GrantFiled: August 16, 2019Date of Patent: November 2, 2021Assignee: GE Precision Healthcare LLCInventors: Brandon Allan Smith, Timothy Mathew Behlmer, Dominic Joseph Crotty
-
Patent number: 11141079Abstract: Methods and systems are provided for profile-based selection of imaging parameters for a clinical context. In one embodiment, a method comprises selecting a profile based on an indication of clinical context for a scan of a patient, selecting one or more sub-profiles based on the profile, selecting imaging settings for the scan based on the profile and the one or more sub-profiles, and performing the scan according to the selected imaging settings. In this way, a scan prescription may be defined more efficiently and personally for a patient while improving quality assurance and managing an x-ray radiation dose of the patient.Type: GrantFiled: January 29, 2018Date of Patent: October 12, 2021Assignee: General Electric CompanyInventors: Franco Rupcich, Chelsey Amanda Lewis, Christine Carol Hammond, Dominic Joseph Crotty, Mark Vincent Profio
-
Patent number: 11096642Abstract: Various methods and systems are provided for x-ray tube conditioning for a computed tomography imaging method. In one embodiment, a scout scan may be carried out prior to a diagnostic to warmup the x-ray tube to a desired temperature for the diagnostic scan. A scout scan parameter optimizing algorithm may be used to determine scout scan parameters based on a selected patient absorbed dose range and an amount of energy to be imparted to an x-ray tube during the scout scan preceding a diagnostic scan. By using a hardening filter in the path of the x-ray beam, radiation absorbed dose of the subject being scanned may be limited to the selected patient absorbed dose range.Type: GrantFiled: August 16, 2019Date of Patent: August 24, 2021Assignee: GE PRECISION HEALTHCARE LLCInventors: Dominic Joseph Crotty, Jean-Baptiste Thibault
-
Publication number: 20210045703Abstract: Various methods and systems are provided for x-ray tube conditioning for a computed tomography imaging method. In one embodiment, a scout scan may be carried out prior to a diagnostic to warmup the x-ray tube to a desired temperature for the diagnostic scan. A scout scan parameter optimizing algorithm may be used to determine scout scan parameters based on a selected patient absorbed dose range and an amount of energy to be imparted to an x-ray tube during the scout scan preceding a diagnostic scan. By using a hardening filter in the path of the x-ray beam, radiation absorbed dose of the subject being scanned may be limited to the selected patient absorbed dose range.Type: ApplicationFiled: August 16, 2019Publication date: February 18, 2021Inventors: Dominic Joseph Crotty, Jean-Baptiste Thibault
-
Publication number: 20210045702Abstract: Various methods and systems are provided for an integrated filter assembly including a plurality of bowtie filters and a hardening filter mounted on a single carriage. In one embodiment, an imaging system may include a carriage including a hardening filter and one or more bowtie filters, and a filter driving system for moving the carriage to selectively position the hardening filter and one of the one or more bowtie filters in a path of a radiation beam between a radiation source and an imaging subject, the hardening filter at least partially overlapping with at least one of the one or more bowtie filters. In this way, a single carriage may include a plurality of filters which may be selectively positioned in a path of the radiation beam entering a subject without having to stack multiple carriages and switch carriages between scans.Type: ApplicationFiled: August 16, 2019Publication date: February 18, 2021Inventors: Brandon Allan Smith, Timothy Mathew Behlmer, Dominic Joseph Crotty
-
Patent number: 10667767Abstract: An imaging system is provided including a selectable pre-object filter module, a detector, and a processing unit. The selectable pre-object filter module is configured to absorb radiation from the X-ray source to control distribution of X-rays passed to an object to be imaged. The selectable pre-object filter module has plural pre-object filter configurations providing corresponding X-ray distributions, and is selectable between the plural configurations to provide a selected pre-object filter configuration for a scan of the object. The detector is configured to receive X-rays that have passed through the object.Type: GrantFiled: May 2, 2014Date of Patent: June 2, 2020Assignee: General Electric CompanyInventors: Grant Morey Stevens, Dominic Joseph Crotty, Roy A. Nilsen
-
Patent number: 10426424Abstract: A computer-implemented method for generating and simulating a computed tomography (CT) protocol is provided. The method includes receiving, via a graphical user interface, at a processor user input including patient population size settings and scan technique settings for modeling the effects of the scan technique settings across a patient population as a function of patient size. The method also includes generating, via the processor, a patient population profile based on at least the patient population size settings and the scan technique settings, wherein the patient population profile includes specific CT scan technique settings to be applied across different size ranges of the patient population as a function of patient size. The method further includes displaying, on the graphical user interface, one or more visualization elements illustrating the effect of these specific CT scan technique settings on specific imaging metrics across the patient population.Type: GrantFiled: November 21, 2017Date of Patent: October 1, 2019Assignee: GENERAL ELECTRIC COMPANYInventors: Dominic Joseph Crotty, Franco Rupcich, John Howard Londt, Mark Vincent Profio, Darin Robert Okerlund, Roy-Arnulf Helge Nilsen
-
Patent number: 10368825Abstract: Methods and systems are provided for automatic exposure control in computed tomography imaging systems. In one embodiment, a method comprises in response to an object-specific dose metric input by a user via a user interface operably coupled to a scanner, predicting an image quality of a diagnostic scan, calculating an output level of a source of the scanner for the image quality, and performing the diagnostic scan at the output level when the image quality is higher than a threshold. In this way, patient-specific image quality settings may be determined.Type: GrantFiled: January 20, 2016Date of Patent: August 6, 2019Assignee: General Electric CompanyInventors: Dominic Joseph Crotty, Roy A. Nilsen, Jiahua Fan, Mary Sue Kulpins, Franco Rupcich, Grant Morey Stevens
-
Publication number: 20190231296Abstract: Methods and systems are provided for adjusting medical imaging parameters based on imaging parameters used during a previous imaging session. In one embodiment, a method for a computed tomography (CT) system includes reducing a radiation level of at least one CT scan of one or more successive CT scans performed on a patient based on CT scan information obtained from a previous CT scan performed on the patient, the radiation level reduced relative to a radiation level of the previous CT scan.Type: ApplicationFiled: January 26, 2018Publication date: August 1, 2019Inventors: John Irvin Jackson, Dominic Joseph Crotty, Franco Rupcich, John Londt, Mark Vincent Profio, Darin Robert Okerlund
-
Publication number: 20190231224Abstract: Methods and systems are provided for profile-based selection of imaging parameters for a clinical context. In one embodiment, a method comprises selecting a profile based on an indication of clinical context for a scan of a patient, selecting one or more sub-profiles based on the profile, selecting imaging settings for the scan based on the profile and the one or more sub-profiles, and performing the scan according to the selected imaging settings. In this way, a scan prescription may be defined more efficiently and personally for a patient while improving quality assurance and managing an x-ray radiation dose of the patient.Type: ApplicationFiled: January 29, 2018Publication date: August 1, 2019Inventors: Franco Rupcich, Chelsey Amanda Lewis, Christine Carol Hammond, Dominic Joseph Crotty, Mark Vincent Profio
-
Publication number: 20190150872Abstract: A computer-implemented method for generating and simulating a computed tomography (CT) protocol is provided. The method includes receiving, via a graphical user interface, at a processor user input including patient population size settings and scan technique settings for modeling the effects of the scan technique settings across a patient population as a function of patient size. The method also includes generating, via the processor, a patient population profile based on at least the patient population size settings and the scan technique settings, wherein the patient population profile includes specific CT scan technique settings to be applied across different size ranges of the patient population as a function of patient size. The method further includes displaying, on the graphical user interface, one or more visualization elements illustrating the effect of these specific CT scan technique settings on specific imaging metrics across the patient population.Type: ApplicationFiled: November 21, 2017Publication date: May 23, 2019Inventors: Dominic Joseph Crotty, Franco Rupcich, John Howard Londt, Mark Vincent Profio, Darin Robert Okerlund, Roy-Arnulf Helge Nilsen
-
Patent number: 10085698Abstract: Methods and systems are provided for automated tube current modulation (ATCM). In one embodiment, a method for an imaging system comprises: calculating a desired dose level based on a clinical task, a size of a subject to be scanned, and an image quality level; generating a scan protocol based on a relation between the image quality level and at least one characteristic of the imaging system; and performing a scan of the subject at the desired dose level and according to the generated scan protocol. In this way, ATCM can be optimized based on elements that impact image quality such as the clinical task, the physical characteristics of the imaging system, the individual patient, and the reader's preference.Type: GrantFiled: January 26, 2016Date of Patent: October 2, 2018Assignee: Genereal Electric CompanyInventors: Jiahua Fan, Xiaoyu Tian, Dominic Joseph Crotty
-
Publication number: 20170209105Abstract: Methods and systems are provided for automated tube current modulation (ATCM). In one embodiment, a method for an imaging system comprises: calculating a desired dose level based on a clinical task, a size of a subject to be scanned, and an image quality level; generating a scan protocol based on a relation between the image quality level and at least one characteristic of the imaging system; and performing a scan of the subject at the desired dose level and according to the generated scan protocol. In this way, ATCM can be optimized based on elements that impact image quality such as the clinical task, the physical characteristics of the imaging system, the individual patient, and the reader's preference.Type: ApplicationFiled: January 26, 2016Publication date: July 27, 2017Inventors: Jiahua Fan, Xiaoyu Tian, Dominic Joseph Crotty
-
Publication number: 20170202534Abstract: Methods and systems are provided for automatic exposure control in computed tomography imaging systems. In one embodiment, a method comprises in response to an object-specific dose metric input by a user via a user interface operably coupled to a scanner, predicting an image quality of a diagnostic scan, calculating an output level of a source of the scanner for the image quality, and performing the diagnostic scan at the output level when the image quality is higher than a threshold. In this way, patient-specific image quality settings may be determined.Type: ApplicationFiled: January 20, 2016Publication date: July 20, 2017Inventors: Dominic Joseph Crotty, Roy A. Nilsen, Jiahua Fan, Mary Sue Kulpins, Franco Rupcich, Grant Morey Stevens
-
Patent number: 9420976Abstract: An imaging system is provided including an adjustable source collimator, an input unit, and a processing unit. The adjustable source collimator is configured to be interposed between an X-ray source and an object to be imaged, and is adjustable between plural settings corresponding to different amounts of collimation of rays from the X-ray source. The input unit is configured to obtain an input identifying a portion to be imaged of the object. The processing unit is operably coupled to the input unit and the adjustable source collimator, and configured to obtain the input. The processing unit is also configured to determine a prescribed collimation configuration to perform a scan of the portion to be imaged based on the input, the prescribed collimation configuration having a corresponding scanning volume that includes the portion to be imaged.Type: GrantFiled: March 19, 2014Date of Patent: August 23, 2016Assignee: General Electric CompanyInventors: John Irvin Jackson, Holly Ann McDaniel, Grant Morey Stevens, Bradley Jay Gabrielse, Dominic Joseph Crotty
-
Publication number: 20150313569Abstract: An imaging system is provided including a selectable pre-object filter module, a detector, and a processing unit. The selectable pre-object filter module is configured to absorb radiation from the X-ray source to control distribution of X-rays passed to an object to be imaged. The selectable pre-object filter module has plural pre-object filter configurations providing corresponding X-ray distributions, and is selectable between the plural configurations to provide a selected pre-object filter configuration for a scan of the object. The detector is configured to receive X-rays that have passed through the object.Type: ApplicationFiled: May 2, 2014Publication date: November 5, 2015Applicant: General Electric CompanyInventors: Grant Morey STEVENS, Dominic Joseph CROTTY, Roy A. NILSEN
-
Publication number: 20150265226Abstract: An imaging system is provided including an adjustable source collimator, an input unit, and a processing unit. The adjustable source collimator is configured to be interposed between an X-ray source and an object to be imaged, and is adjustable between plural settings corresponding to different amounts of collimation of rays from the X-ray source. The input unit is configured to obtain an input identifying a portion to be imaged of the object. The processing unit is operably coupled to the input unit and the adjustable source collimator, and configured to obtain the input. The processing unit is also configured to determine a prescribed collimation configuration to perform a scan of the portion to be imaged based on the input, the prescribed collimation configuration having a corresponding scanning volume that includes the portion to be imaged.Type: ApplicationFiled: March 19, 2014Publication date: September 24, 2015Applicant: General Electric CompanyInventors: John Irvin Jackson, Holly Ann McDaniel, Grant Morey Stevens, Bradley Jay Gabrielse, Dominic Joseph Crotty