Abstract: A method for characterizing anatomical features includes receiving scanned data and image data corresponding to a subject. The scanned data comprises sinogram data. The method further includes identifying a first region in an image of the image data corresponding to a region of interest. The method also includes determining a second region in the scanned data. The second region corresponds to the first region. The method further includes identifying a sinogram trace corresponding to the region of interest. The sinogram trace comprises sinogram data present within the second region. The method includes determining a data feature of the subject based on the sinogram trace and a deep learning network. The method also includes determining a diagnostic condition corresponding to a medical condition of the subject based on the data feature.

Abstract: Systems, apparatuses, and/or methods to provide motion-gated medical imaging. An apparatus may identify a data capture range of a sensor device that is to capture motion of an object during a scan process by a medical imaging device. An apparatus may identify a prescribed scan range. An apparatus may focus motion detection to a region of interest in the data capture range based on the prescribed scan range.

Abstract: Methods and apparatus for monitoring and improving imaging system operation are provided. An example apparatus includes a first deployed deep learning network (DLN) which operates with an acquisition engine to generate an imaging device configuration. The example apparatus includes a second deployed DLN which operates with a reconstruction engine based on acquired image data. The example apparatus includes a first assessment engine with a third deployed DLN. The assessment engine receives output from at least one of the acquisition engine or the reconstruction engine to assess operation of the respective at least one of the acquisition engine or the reconstruction engine and to provide feedback to the respective at least one of the acquisition engine or the reconstruction engine. The first deployed DLN and the second deployed DLN are generated and deployed from first and second training DLNS, respectively.

Abstract: Methods and systems are provided for direct monochromatic image generation for spectral computed tomography. In one embodiment, a method comprises acquiring projection data during a scan of a subject, reconstructing a low energy image and a high energy image from the projection data, and generating a monochromatic image from the low energy image and the high energy image. In this way, a monochromatic image may be generated directly from low and high energy images with a substantial reduction in image noise, especially when compared to a monochromatic image generated indirectly from material density images.

Abstract: Methods and apparatus for monitoring and improving imaging system operation are provided. An example apparatus includes a first deployed deep learning network (DLN) which operates with an acquisition engine to generate an imaging device configuration. The example apparatus includes a second deployed DLN which operates with a reconstruction engine based on acquired image data. The example apparatus includes a first assessment engine with a third deployed DLN. The assessment engine receives output from at least one of the acquisition engine or the reconstruction engine to assess operation of the respective at least one of the acquisition engine or the reconstruction engine and to provide feedback to the respective at least one of the acquisition engine or the reconstruction engine. The first deployed DLN and the second deployed DLN are generated and deployed from first and second training DLNS, respectively.

Abstract: Methods and apparatus to automatically generate an image quality metric for an image are provided. An example method includes automatically processing a first medical image using a deployed learning network model to generate an image quality metric for the first medical image, the deployed learning network model generated from a digital learning and improvement factory including a training network, wherein the training network is tuned using a set of labeled reference medical images of a plurality of image types, and wherein a label associated with each of the labeled reference medical images indicates a central tendency metric associated with image quality of the image. The example method includes computing the image quality metric associated with the first medical image using the deployed learning network model by leveraging labels and associated central tendency metrics to determine the associated image quality metric for the first medical image.

Abstract: Methods and systems are provided for direct monochromatic image generation for spectral computed tomography. In one embodiment, a method comprises acquiring projection data during a scan of a subject, reconstructing a low energy image and a high energy image from the projection data, and generating a monochromatic image from the low energy image and the high energy image. In this way, a monochromatic image may be generated directly from low and high energy images with a substantial reduction in image noise, especially when compared to a monochromatic image generated indirectly from material density images.

Abstract: A system and method for estimating vascular flow using CT imaging include a computer readable storage medium having stored thereon a computer program comprising instructions, which, when executed by a computer, cause the computer to acquire a first set of data comprising anatomical information of an imaging subject, the anatomical information comprises information of at least one vessel. The instructions further cause the computer to process the anatomical information to generate an image volume comprising the at least one vessel, generate hemodynamic information based on the image volume, and acquire a second set of data of the imaging subject. The computer is also caused to generate an image comprising the hemodynamic information in combination with a visualization based on the second set of data.

Abstract: The present approach relates to the training of a machine learning algorithm for image generation and use of such a trained algorithm for image generation. Training the machine learning algorithm may involve using multiple images produced from a single set of tomographic projection or image data (such as a simple reconstruction and a computationally intensive reconstruction), where one image is the target image that exhibits the desired characteristics for the final result. The trained machine learning algorithm may be used to generate a final image corresponding to a computationally intensive algorithm from an input image generated using a less computationally intensive algorithm.

Abstract: Methods and apparatus for monitoring and improving imaging system operation are provided. An example apparatus includes a first deployed deep learning network (DLN) which operates with an acquisition engine to generate an imaging device configuration. The example apparatus includes a second deployed DLN which operates with a reconstruction engine based on acquired image data. The example apparatus includes a first assessment engine with a third deployed DLN. The assessment engine receives output from at least one of the acquisition engine or the reconstruction engine to assess operation of the respective at least one of the acquisition engine or the reconstruction engine and to provide feedback to the respective at least one of the acquisition engine or the reconstruction engine. The first deployed DLN and the second deployed DLN are generated and deployed from first and second training DLNS, respectively.

Abstract: Methods and apparatus for improved deep learning for image acquisition are provided. An imaging system configuration apparatus includes a training learning device including a first processor to implement a first deep learning network (DLN) to learn a first set of imaging system configuration parameters based on a first set of inputs from a plurality of prior image acquisitions to configure at least one imaging system for image acquisition, the training learning device to receive and process feedback including operational data from the plurality of image acquisitions by the at least one imaging system. The example apparatus includes a deployed learning device including a second processor to implement a second DLN, the second DLN generated from the first DLN of the training learning device, the deployed learning device configured to provide a second imaging system configuration parameter to the imaging system in response to receiving a second input for image acquisition.

Abstract: Methods and apparatus to automatically generate an image quality metric for an image are provided. An example method includes automatically processing a first medical image using a deployed learning network model to generate an image quality metric for the first medical image, the deployed learning network model generated from a digital learning and improvement factory including a training network, wherein the training network is tuned using a set of labeled reference medical images of a plurality of image types, and wherein a label associated with each of the labeled reference medical images indicates a central tendency metric associated with image quality of the image. The example method includes computing the image quality metric associated with the first medical image using the deployed learning network model by leveraging labels and associated central tendency metrics to determine the associated image quality metric for the first medical image.

Abstract: A system and method for estimating vascular flow using CT imaging include a computer readable storage medium having stored thereon a computer program comprising instructions, which, when executed by a computer, cause the computer to acquire a first set of data comprising anatomical information of an imaging subject, the anatomical information comprises information of at least one vessel. The instructions further cause the computer to process the anatomical information to generate an image volume comprising the at least one vessel, generate hemodynamic information based on the image volume, and acquire a second set of data of the imaging subject. The computer is also caused to generate an image comprising the hemodynamic information in combination with a visualization based on the second set of data.

Abstract: A method for characterizing anatomical features includes receiving scanned data and image data corresponding to a subject. The scanned data comprises sinogram data. The method further includes identifying a first region in an image of the image data corresponding to a region of interest. The method also includes determining a second region in the scanned data. The second region corresponds to the first region. The method further includes identifying a sinogram trace corresponding to the region of interest. The sinogram trace comprises sinogram data present within the second region. The method includes determining a data feature of the subject based on the sinogram trace and a deep learning network. The method also includes determining a diagnostic condition corresponding to a medical condition of the subject based on the data feature.

Abstract: The present invention provides an apparatus and method for beam hardening artifact correction of CT image, comprising a bone tissue image obtain module, a first correction module, an orthographic projection module, and a correction image obtaining module. The bone tissue image obtain module is used to extract a bone tissue image from a reconstructed original image; the first correction module is used to increase a current CT value of the bone tissue image; the orthographic projection module is used to perform an orthographic projection on the bone tissue image with the CT value being increased to obtain an orthographic projection data of the bone tissue image; the correction image obtaining module is used to perform image reconstruction according to the orthographic projection data of the bone tissue image described above and obtain a correction image.

Abstract: Systems, apparatuses, and/or methods to provide motion-gated medical imaging. An apparatus may identify a data capture range of a sensor device that is to capture motion of an object during a scan process by a medical imaging device. An apparatus may identify a prescribed scan range. An apparatus may focus motion detection to a region of interest in the data capture range based on the prescribed scan range.

Abstract: Methods and apparatus for improved deep learning for image acquisition are provided. An imaging system configuration apparatus includes a training learning device including a first processor to implement a first deep learning network (DLN) to learn a first set of imaging system configuration parameters based on a first set of inputs from a plurality of prior image acquisitions to configure at least one imaging system for image acquisition, the training learning device to receive and process feedback including operational data from the plurality of image acquisitions by the at least one imaging system. The example apparatus includes a deployed learning device including a second processor to implement a second DLN, the second DLN generated from the first DLN of the training learning device, the deployed learning device configured to provide a second imaging system configuration parameter to the imaging system in response to receiving a second input for image acquisition.

Abstract: The present invention provides a system and method for generating a CT slice image. The system comprises an MIP image generation module, a region of interest determination module, an angle setting module, a curve determination module, a match module and a slice generation module.

Abstract: Methods and apparatus to automatically generate an image quality metric for an image are provided. An example method includes automatically processing a first medical image using a deployed learning network model to generate an image quality metric for the first medical image, the deployed learning network model generated from a digital learning and improvement factory including a training network, wherein the training network is tuned using a set of labeled reference medical images of a plurality of image types, and wherein a label associated with each of the labeled reference medical images indicates a central tendency metric associated with image quality of the image. The example method includes computing the image quality metric associated with the first medical image using the deployed learning network model by leveraging labels and associated central tendency metrics to determine the associated image quality metric for the first medical image.

Abstract: An imaging system includes a computed tomography (CT) acquisition unit and at least one processor. The CT acquisition unit includes an X-ray source and a CT detector configured to collect CT imaging data of an object. The at least one processor is operably coupled to the CT acquisition unit, and configured to reconstruct an initial image using the CT imaging information, the initial image including at least one object representation portion and at least one artifact portion; identify at least one region of the initial image containing at least one artifact and isolate the at least one artifact by analyzing the initial image using an artifact dictionary and a non-artifact dictionary, the artifact dictionary including entries describing corresponding artifact image portions, the non-artifact dictionary including entries defining corresponding non-artifact image portions; and remove the at least one artifact from the initial image to provide a corrected image.