Abstract: The present invention is directed to a method and system of blending data acquired from neighboring partial-scans. Data is acquired from an imaging volume in a series of fractional or partial-scans. Each partial-scan samples a fraction of the imaging volume. During reconstruction, data from the partial-scans are combined to compensate for the unsampled portion of the imaging volume that is experienced in any partial-scan alone.

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 reconstructing an image of an object utilizing a cone-beam volumetric computed tomographic imaging apparatus includes helically scanning the object with a radiation source utilizing the cone-beam volumetric computed tomographic imaging apparatus, selecting radiation beams emitted by the radiation source passing through a pixel P, a Tam-window, and a Katsevich window, filtering the selected projection data, and reconstructing an image of the object utilizing the filtered selected projection data including projection data within the Katsevich window and outside the Tam-window.

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: A method for creating a variable slice thickness for displaying an imaged object is disclosed. The method includes acquiring a plurality of projection images from a plurality of different projection angles within a defined sweep angle, reconstructing a plurality of object images from the plurality of projection images, each object image having a first slice thickness, and applying a function rule to combine images, whole images or portions thereof or attributes thereof, of the plurality of projection images, of the plurality of object images, or of both, thereby providing for the display of the object utilizing a second slice thickness that varies from the first slice thickness.

Abstract: A method for reconstructing images of structures undergoing physiological motion comprises acquiring a first volume of data over a first motion cycle. The first volume comprises a first overlap volume. A second volume of data is acquired over a second motion cycle and comprises a second overlap volume. The first and second overlap volumes comprise like anatomical regions with respect to each other. A reconstructed volume of data is formed based on temporal data within the first and second overlap volumes.

Abstract: A method of improving a resolution of an image using image reconstruction is provided. The method includes acquiring scan data of an object and forward projecting a current image estimate of the scan data to generate calculated projection data. The method also includes applying a data-fit term and a regularization term to the scan data and the calculated projection data and modifying at least one of the data fit term and the regularization term to accommodate spatio-temporal information to form a reconstructed image from the scan data and the calculated projection data.

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.

Abstract: Systems, methods and apparatus are provided through which in one aspect, a three-dimensional (3D) image of an object is constructed from a plurality of two-dimensional (2D) images of the object using a specialized filter. In some embodiments, the specialized filter implements a linear ramp function, a windowing function, and/or a polynomial function. In some embodiments, the 3D image is back-projected from the filtered two-dimensional images, yielding a 3D image that has improved visual distinction of overlapping anatomic structures and reduced blurring.

Abstract: A method for improving images of an imaging system including a plurality of detector cells includes assigning a quality factor for each detector cell.

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.

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.

Abstract: ECG and ultrasound data of the heart are received in real-time during a scan. CT projection data is also acquired and an image is reconstructed based on the CT projection data, ECG data, and ultrasound data.

Abstract: A method for reconstructing tilted cone beam data acquired using a CT apparatus. The CT apparatus has a gantry and a table. The gantry has an x-ray source and a detector array with columns and rows. The gantry is tilted at a gantry tilt angle with respect to the table and a plurality of projection data is acquired using the CT apparatus. Fan-parallel rebinning is performed on a row by row basis to form a plurality of reconstructed pixels. The coordinate locations of the plurality of reconstructed pixels are adjusted based on the gantry tilt angle and used to form a reconstructed image.

Abstract: A method for reconstructing an image of an object, the image comprising a plurality of image elements, is disclosed. The method includes accessing image data associated with the plurality of image elements, applying a first algorithm to the plurality of image elements, selecting a spatially non-homogenous set of the plurality of image elements, and applying an iterative algorithm to the set of image elements to reduce an amount of time necessary for reconstructing the image, or to improve an image quality at a fixed computation time, or both.

Abstract: A CT system in an example comprises an x-ray source, a detector, a data acquisition system (DAS), and a computer. The x-ray source emits a beam of x-rays toward an object to be imaged. The detector receives x-rays emitted by the x-ray source. The DAS is operably connected to the detector. The computer is operably connected to the DAS. The computer is programmed to reconstruct a CT image of the object to comprise a plurality of CT images, of a respective plurality of points of the object, through employment of a function that describes how many times a trajectory curve, of an interpretation of relative movement between the x-ray source and the object as that of the x-ray source, goes around each of the plurality of points of the object.

Abstract: Systems, methods and apparatus are provided through which in one aspect, a three-dimensional (3D) image of an object is constructed from a plurality of two-dimensional (2D) images of the object using a specialized filter. In some embodiments, the specialized filter implements a linear ramp function, a windowing function, and/or a polynomial function. In some embodiments, the 3D image is back-projected from the filtered two-dimensional images, yielding a 3D image that has improved visual distinction of overlapping anatomic structures and reduced blurring.

Abstract: In one aspect, the present invention is a method for producing CT images of a patient's heart suitable for calcification scoring, in which the heart has a cardiac cycle. The method includes steps of acquiring data representative of a first scout-scanned CT image of physical locations of the patient's body including at least a portion of the patient's heart at phases ?1(L) of the cardiac cycle, acquiring data representative of a second scout-scanned CT image of the physical locations of the patient's body including at least a portion of the patient's heart at phases ?2(L) of the cardiac cycle different from ?1(L) at physical positions L of interest, and determining a difference image from the acquired data representative of the first scout-scanned CT image and the acquired data representative of the second scout-scanned CT image data. It is not necessary that ?1(L) and ?2(L) be constant as a function of position L.