Abstract: A system and method of medical imaging using a variable speed patient positioning table are provided. The patient positioning table is configured to operate at a plurality of table speeds during acquisition of data from a selected region, such as the thorax region baying predefined cardiac and non-cardiac regions. In a non-cardiac region, the table is controlled to move at one speed and when the cardiac region is detected, the table is controlled to move at another speed, preferably faster than in the cardiac region to speed data acquisition and eliminate motion artifacts.

Abstract: A system and method of medical imaging using a variable speed patient positioning table are provided. The patient positioning table is configured to operate at a plurality of table speeds during acquisition of data from a selected region, such as the thorax region baying predefined cardiac and non-cardiac regions. In a non-cardiac region, the table is controlled to move at one speed and when the cardiac region is detected, the table is controlled to move at another speed, preferably faster than in the cardiac region to speed data acquisition and eliminate motion artifacts.

Abstract: The invention includes a technique for efficient multi-slice fast spin echo image acquisition with black blood contrast in cardiac imaging. The technique includes applying a non-selective inversion pulse, followed by a re-inversion pulse that is slice-selective over a region encompassing a plurality of slice selections. Execution of a series of RF excitation pulses with fast spin echo readout is timed such that signal from blood is near a null point before acquiring data for each spatial slice. For greater contrast consistency, the flip angles for the excitation pulses occurring before the null point can be reduced, and those occurring after the null point can be increased.

Abstract: A scalable multislice system which, in one embodiment, includes a scalable multi-slice detector, a scalable data acquisition system (SDAS), scalable scan management, control, and image reconstruction processes, and scalable image display and analysis, is described. In the axial multi-slice scan mode, multiple rows of scan data can be processed before image reconstruction, and the data can be used to produce either multiple thin slices or a reduced number of thicker slices with reduced image artifact. In addition, images with thicker slice thicknesses can be later reconstructed retrospectively into thinner slices of images based on clinical diagnosis needs. As a result, the number of unwanted images for viewing, filming, and archiving is reduced. In addition, high z-axis resolution images can be later reconstructed for patient diagnosis.