Abstract: Methods and systems are provided for increasing a quality of computed tomography (CT) images. In one embodiment, a CT system comprises an X-ray tube and an X-ray controller including one or more processors having executable instructions stored in a non-transitory memory of the CT system that, when executed, cause the one or more processors to, during a first view of a CT scan of an object, focus an electron beam at a first focal spot on a target of the X-ray tube, the first focal spot of a first size; during a second view of the CT scan, focus the electron beam at a second focal spot on the target, the second focal spot of a second size different from the first size; and reconstruct an image of the object from projection data including the first view and the second view.

Abstract: Methods and systems are provided for adaptive scan control. In one embodiment, a method includes, upon an injection of a contrast agent, initiating a contrast scan of a subject according to a fallback scan prescription, processing acquired projection data of an anatomical region of interest (ROI) of the subject to measure a contrast signal of the contrast agent, identifying a peak in the contrast signal within a predetermined time frame, if the peak in the contrast signal is not identified within the predetermined time frame, updating the fallback scan prescription to generate an adapted scan prescription for the contrast scan based on the contrast signal, and performing a remainder of the contrast scan according to the adapted scan prescription, and if the peak in the contrast signal is not identified within the predetermined time frame, continuing the remainder of the contrast scan according to the fallback scan prescription.

Abstract: Methods and systems are provided for adaptive scan control. In one embodiment, a method includes, upon an injection of a contrast agent, initiating a contrast scan of a subject according to a fallback scan prescription, processing acquired projection data of an anatomical region of interest (ROI) of the subject to measure a contrast signal of the contrast agent, identifying a peak in the contrast signal within a predetermined time frame, if the peak in the contrast signal is not identified within the predetermined time frame, updating the fallback scan prescription to generate an adapted scan prescription for the contrast scan based on the contrast signal, and performing a remainder of the contrast scan according to the adapted scan prescription, and if the peak in the contrast signal is not identified within the predetermined time frame, continuing the remainder of the contrast scan according to the fallback scan prescription.

Abstract: A system for imaging a subject with a contrast agent is provided. The system includes an X-ray source, an X-ray detector, and a controller. The X-ray source is operative to transmit X-rays through the subject. The X-ray detector is operative to receive the X-rays after having passed through the subject. The controller is in electronic communication with the X-ray source and the X-ray detector and operative to: generate a target contrast level based at least in part on a contrast adjustment factor; determine when a level of the contrast agent in a first plurality of images of the subject acquired via the X-ray source and the X-ray detector reaches the target contrast level; and acquire a second plurality of images of the subject via the X-ray source and the X-ray detector after the level of the contrast agent has reached the target contrast level.

Abstract: A system for imaging a subject with a contrast agent is provided. The system includes an X-ray source, an X-ray detector, and a controller. The X-ray source is operative to transmit X-rays through the subject. The X-ray detector is operative to receive the X-rays after having passed through the subject. The controller is in electronic communication with the X-ray source and the X-ray detector and operative to: generate a target contrast level based at least in part on a contrast adjustment factor; determine when a level of the contrast agent in a first plurality of images of the subject acquired via the X-ray source and the X-ray detector reaches the target contrast level; and acquire a second plurality of images of the subject via the X-ray source and the X-ray detector after the level of the contrast agent has reached the target contrast level.

Abstract: 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.

Abstract: 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.

Abstract: Methods and systems are provided that obtain a scan prescription and receive physiologic feature or interest (FOI) measurements of an object of interest during a scan time. The methods and systems further compare at least one of the received physiologic FOI measurements with a predetermined threshold range, and determine a scan setting by evaluating an acquisition rule set based on the physiologic FOI measurement.

Abstract: Methods and systems are provided that obtain a scan prescription and receive physiologic feature or interest (FOI) measurements of an object of interest during a scan time. The methods and systems further compare at least one of the received physiologic FOI measurements with a predetermined threshold range, and determine a scan setting by evaluating an acquisition rule set based on the physiologic FOI measurement.

Abstract: Methods and systems for generating computed tomographic (CT) images from image data acquired during different biological cycles are provided. A computer is programmed to receive a plurality of scan data acquired during a gated acquisition window of each of a plurality of biological cycles, blend the scan data acquired during a first of the plurality of biological cycles with the scan data acquired during a second of the plurality of biological cycles, and construct a final image from the blended data.

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: 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 combining images acquired using helical half-scan imaging comprises identifying an image plane within an overlap region comprising data from first and second view streams representative of first and second cycles of acquired image data. The image plane comprises the same anatomical structure. First and second weighting functions are calculated for first and second images based on first and second tube positions of an x-ray tube. The first and second images correspond to the image plane and are from the first and second view streams, respectively. The first and second tube positions also correspond to the image plane. A weighted image is then formed based on the first and second weighting functions and the first and second images.

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.