Patents by Inventor Jiang Hsieh

Jiang Hsieh 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).

  • SYSTEM AND METHOD OF MITIGATING LOW SIGNAL DATA FOR DUAL ENERGY CT
    Publication number: 20110142312
    Abstract: A CT system includes a rotatable gantry having an opening for receiving an object to be scanned, and a controller configured to obtain kVp projection data at a first kVp, obtain kVp projection data at a second kVp, extract data from the kVp projection data obtained at the second kVp, add the extracted data to the kVp projection data obtained at the first kVp to generate mitigated projection data at the first kVp, and generate an image using the mitigated projection data at the first kVp and using the projection data obtained at the second kVp.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 11, 2009
    Publication date: June 16, 2011
    Inventors: Thomas L. Toth, Jiang Hsieh, Naveen Chandra, Xiaoye Wu
  • ADAPTIVE GRADIENT WEIGHTING TECHNIQUE FOR DETECTOR BAD CELL CORRECTION
    Publication number: 20110116700
    Abstract: An imaging system includes a two-dimensional detector having a plurality of cells wherein each cell is configured to detect energy or signal passing through an object. The imaging system includes a computer programmed to acquire imaging data for the plurality of cells, identify a cell to be corrected, based on the imaging data, interpolate Ix and Iy for the identified cell based on neighbor cells, and calculate local gradients gx and gy between the identified cell and its neighbor cells based on the interpolation. The computer is further programmed to calculate weighting factors wx and wy based on the local gradients, calculate a corrected final value I(0,0) for the identified cell, and correct the identified cell with the corrected final value.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 19, 2011
    Publication date: May 19, 2011
    Inventors: Baojun Li, Jiang Hsieh
  • Iterative Reconstruction
    Publication number: 20110097007
    Abstract: An improved iterative reconstruction method to reconstruct a first image includes generating an imaging beam, receiving said imaging beam on a detector array, generating projection data based on said imaging beams received by said detector array, providing said projection data to an image reconstructor, enlarging one of a plurality of voxels and a plurality of detectors of the provided projection data, reconstructing portions of the first image with the plurality of enlarged voxels or detectors, and iteratively reconstructing the portions of the first image to create a reconstructed image.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 28, 2009
    Publication date: April 28, 2011
    Applicant: GENERAL ELECTRIC COMPANY
    Inventors: Kai Zeng, Charles Addison Bouman, JR., Bruno Kristiaan Bernard De Man, Jiang Hsieh, Ken David Sauer, Jean-Baptiste Daniel Marie Thibault, Zhou Yu
  • Method of CT perfusion imaging and apparatus for implementing same
    Patent number: 7933377
    Abstract: A CT system includes a scintillator array having a first length in an axial direction of the CT system, the scintillator array includes a plurality of scintillator cells along the first length. The CT system includes a controller configured to repeatedly position a subject fore and aft along the axial direction and over a second length of the CT system, the second length greater than the first length, energize an x-ray source to emit x-rays toward the subject while the subject is being repeatedly positioned, and obtain non-uniform projection data of the subject from the scintillator array, the non-uniform projection data comprising the x-rays received from the x-ray source while the subject is repeatedly positioned.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 3, 2009
    Date of Patent: April 26, 2011
    Assignee: General Electric Company
    Inventors: Jiang Hsieh, Paul E. Licato, Akira Hagiwara, Mark Vincent Profio, Karen Ann Procknow, Saad Ahmed Sirohey, Srinivas Aluri, Olga Imas
  • SYSTEM AND METHOD OF IMAGE ARTIFACT REDUCTION IN FAST KVP SWITCHING CT
    Publication number: 20110085719
    Abstract: A CT system includes a generator configured to energize an x-ray source to a first kilovoltage (kVp) and to a second kVp, and a computer that is programmed to acquire a first view dataset with the x-ray source energized to the first kVp and a second view dataset with the x-ray source energized to the second kVp, generate a base correction image using the first view dataset and the second view dataset, and reconstruct a pair of base material images from the first view dataset and from the second view dataset. The computer is also programmed to estimate artifact correlation in the pair of base material images using the base correction image, generate a pair of final base material images and a final monochromatic image, and correct one of the pair of final base material images and the final monochromatic image at a keV value using the estimated artifact correlation.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 14, 2009
    Publication date: April 14, 2011
    Inventors: Jiahua Fan, Naveen Chandra, Andrew Johnson, Jiang Hsieh, Fang Dong, Mary Sue Kulpins, Peter Crandall
  • Adaptive gradient weighting technique for detector bad cell correction
    Patent number: 7920751
    Abstract: An imaging system includes a two-dimensional detector having a plurality of cells wherein each cell is configured to detect energy or signal passing through an object. The imaging system includes a computer programmed to acquire imaging data for the plurality of cells, identify a cell to be corrected, based on the imaging data, interpolate Ix and Iy for the identified cell based on neighbor cells, and calculate local gradients gx and gy between the identified cell and its neighbor cells based on the interpolation. The computer is further programmed to calculate weighting factors wx and wy based on the local gradients, calculate a corrected final value I(0,0) for the identified cell, and correct the identified cell with the corrected final value.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 16, 2007
    Date of Patent: April 5, 2011
    Assignee: General Electric Company
    Inventors: Baojun Li, Jiang Hsieh
  • Methods and apparatus for x-ray imaging with focal spot deflection
    Patent number: 7869571
    Abstract: Methods and apparatus for x-ray imaging with focal spot deflection are provided. The apparatus includes an x-ray tube having a cathode configured to emit electrons and an anode having a target with a target surface defining a target angle. The emitted electrons are deflected onto the target surface with the target surface substantially aligned with a z-axis parallel to a gantry rotation axis.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 26, 2008
    Date of Patent: January 11, 2011
    Assignee: General Electric Company
    Inventors: Jiang Hsieh, Eugne Lino Saragnese, J. Eric Stahre, Bijan Dorri, James Kaufman, Robert Franklin Senzig
  • Methods and apparatus for artifact reduction
    Patent number: 7865006
    Abstract: A method for facilitating a reduction in image artifacts is provided. The method includes receiving data regarding a scan of an object, reconstructing a plurality of images using the received data to form a three-dimensional image space, determining an orientation for a maximum intensity pixel operation, locating the maximum intensity pixels within a plurality of ray paths in accordance with the determined orientation, and filtering around each maximum intensity pixel along each ray path.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 22, 2008
    Date of Patent: January 4, 2011
    Assignee: General Electric Company
    Inventors: Jiang Hsieh, Stanley Haim Fox
  • METHOD OF CT PERFUSION IMAGING AND APPARATUS FOR IMPLEMENTING SAME
    Publication number: 20100310040
    Abstract: A CT system includes a scintillator array having a first length in an axial direction of the CT system, the scintillator array includes a plurality of scintillator cells along the first length. The CT system includes a controller configured to repeatedly position a subject fore and aft along the axial direction and over a second length of the CT system, the second length greater than the first length, energize an x-ray source to emit x-rays toward the subject while the subject is being repeatedly positioned, and obtain non-uniform projection data of the subject from the scintillator array, the non-uniform projection data comprising the x-rays received from the x-ray source while the subject is repeatedly positioned.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 3, 2009
    Publication date: December 9, 2010
    Inventors: Jiang Hsieh, Paul E. Licato, Akira Hagiwara, Mark Vincent Profio, Karen Ann Procknow, Saad Ahmed Sirohey, Srinivas Aluri, Olga Imas
  • METHOD AND SYSTEM FOR GENERATING A COMPUTED TOMOGRAPHY IMAGE
    Publication number: 20100215233
    Abstract: A method of generating a computed tomography image is disclosed herein. The method includes acquiring a first plurality of projections at a first energy level and acquiring a second plurality of projections at a second energy level. The method includes reconstructing an image from the first plurality of projections and generating a synthesized projection from the image that corresponds to one of the second plurality of projections. The method includes comparing the synthesized projection to the one of the second plurality of projections and modifying the image to form an updated image based on the comparing the synthesized projection to the one of the second plurality of projections. A computed tomography imaging system is also disclosed.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 26, 2009
    Publication date: August 26, 2010
    Applicant: GENERAL ELECTRIC COMPANY
    Inventor: Jiang Hsieh
  • METHODS AND SYSTEMS TO FACILITATE CORRECTING GAIN FLUCTUATIONS IN ITERATIVE IMAGE RECONSTRUCTION
    Publication number: 20100215140
    Abstract: Methods and systems for reconstructing an image are provided. The method includes performing a tomographic image reconstruction using a joint estimation of at least one of a gain parameter and an offset parameter, and an estimation of the reconstructed image.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 31, 2007
    Publication date: August 26, 2010
    Inventors: Ken David Sauer, Charles Addison Bouman, Jiang Hsieh, Jean-Baptiste Thibault
  • Step-and-shoot cardiac CT imaging
    Patent number: 7778385
    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.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 16, 2009
    Date of Patent: August 17, 2010
    Assignee: General Electric Company
    Inventors: Jiang Hsieh, Jianying Li, John Howard Londt, Melissa L. Vass, Darin Robert Okerlund, Bernice E. Hoppel
  • Method and apparatus for field-of-view expansion of volumetric CT imaging
    Patent number: 7756315
    Abstract: A method for expanding a field-of-view of a volumetric computed tomography scan comprises identifying truncated views having projection truncation and non-truncated views without projection truncation based on an average value of one or more edge channels. An estimated missing projection is calculated for each of the truncated views based on at least one neighboring non-truncated view. A projection profile is calculated for each of the truncated views based on the estimated missing projection, and the projection profile provides at least one of attenuation data and projection data for an area outside a field-of-view.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 23, 2005
    Date of Patent: July 13, 2010
    Assignee: General Electric Company
    Inventors: Jiang Hsieh, Albert Henry Roger Lonn, Mark Lynn Nyka
  • Methods and apparatus for noise estimation
    Patent number: 7756312
    Abstract: The method includes estimating a noise level in a reconstructed image using a total attenuation of the reconstructed image.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 19, 2006
    Date of Patent: July 13, 2010
    Assignee: General Electric Company
    Inventors: Jiang Hsieh, Michael Joseph Washburn, Erik Normann Steen, Gopal B. Avinash
  • Methods and apparatus for image reconstruction
    Patent number: 7734079
    Abstract: Methods and apparatus for producing an image of an object with a multi-slice imaging apparatus having a row of detectors are provided. The method includes generating a first partial image using projection data acquired at a first imaging position in a step-and-shoot imaging mode, generating a second partial image using projection data acquired at a second imaging position, and combining the partial images to form a final image.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 22, 2005
    Date of Patent: June 8, 2010
    Assignee: General Electric Company
    Inventors: Jiang Hsieh, Fang Frank Dong, Thomas John Myers, George Seidenschnur, Anne Marie Conry, Zachary William Sopcak, Brian Grekowicz
  • Step-and-shoot cardiac CT imaging
    Patent number: 7734005
    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.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 24, 2007
    Date of Patent: June 8, 2010
    Assignee: General Electric Company
    Inventors: Jiang Hsieh, Jianying Li, John Howard Londt, Melissa L. Vass, Darin Robert Okerlund, Bernice E. Hoppel
  • Method and apparatus for improving inner auditory canal images
    Patent number: 7720270
    Abstract: Method and apparatus for locally enhancing image data represented as pixels having CT numbers is provided. The image data includes bony structures, and the method comprises segmenting pixels within the image data into areas based on the pixel's CT number. A first area represents a combination of soft tissue and lower density bones and a second area represents higher density bones. A subset of pixels is identified within the first area representative of the lower density bones. An enhancement is applied to the subset of pixels within the first area and to the second area to create an enhanced dataset, and a locally enhanced image is generated based on the image data and the enhanced dataset.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 14, 2005
    Date of Patent: May 18, 2010
    Assignee: General Electric Company
    Inventors: Jianying Li, Jiang Hsieh, Fang Frank Dong, Thomas John Myers, George Edward Seidenschnur
  • Method and system for filtering scan data
    Patent number: 7711170
    Abstract: Methods and systems for filtering scan data are provided. The method includes generating scan data from a plurality of signals. The method further includes adjusting an initial filtering threshold, independent of an amplitude of the signals, to generate an adjusted threshold. Furthermore, the method includes filtering the scan data, based on the adjusted threshold.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 10, 2005
    Date of Patent: May 4, 2010
    Assignee: General Electric Company
    Inventors: Jianying Li, Jiang Hsieh
  • Methods and apparatus for noise estimation for multi-resolution anisotropic diffusion filtering
    Patent number: 7706497
    Abstract: A method for reducing noise in a computed tomographic (CT) image includes acquiring both a first set of projection views and a second set of projection views, wherein for each projection view in the first set of projection views there is an associated projection view in the second set of projection views representing the same object scanned at substantially the same time from substantially the same position. The method further includes reconstructing the first set of projection views and the associated second set of projection views to obtain a first image and a second image, respectively. Next, the first image and the second image are combined to obtain a noise map and an amount of noise in a product image is estimated utilizing the noise map. The method also includes filtering using the noise map to perform noise reduction.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 14, 2008
    Date of Patent: April 27, 2010
    Assignee: General Electric Company
    Inventors: Jiang Hsieh, Jean-Baptiste Thibault
  • WIDE COVERAGE X-RAY TUBE AND CT SYSTEM
    Publication number: 20100080357
    Abstract: An x-ray tube is disclosed herein. The x-ray tube includes an anode assembly adapted to rotate generally about a rotational axis. The anode assembly includes a first target surface at least partially disposed at a first angle greater than 70 degrees with respect to the rotational axis and a second target surface at least partially disposed at a second angle greater than 70 degrees with respect to the rotational axis. The first target surface is adapted to emit a first x-ray beam and the second target surface is adapted to emit a second x-ray beam. A CT system is also disclosed.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 1, 2008
    Publication date: April 1, 2010
    Applicant: GENERAL ELECTRIC COMPANY
    Inventors: Jason Stuart Katcha, Thomas Louis Toth, Jiang Hsieh, Carey Shawn Rogers, John Scott Price, Baojun Li, Yun Zou