Abstract: Data processing systems (DPS) and related methods for nuclear medicine imaging. At an input interface (IN), first projection data (?), or a first image (V) reconstructable from the first projection data, is received. The first projection data is associated with a first waiting period (?T*). The first waiting period indicates the time period from administration of a tracer agent to a start of acquisition by a nuclear medicine imaging apparatus (IA) of the projection date. A trained machine learning module (MLM) estimates, based on the first projection data (?) or on the first image (V), a second projection data (??) or a second image (V?) associable with a second waiting period (?T), longer than the first waiting period (?T*). Nuclear imaging can thus be conducted quicker. Similar machine learning based data processing systems and related methods are also envisaged to reduce acquisition time periods or the time it takes to reconstruct imagery.

Abstract: A method and apparatus are provided to improve large field of view CT image acquisition by using at least two scanning procedures: (i) one with the radiation source and detector centered and (ii) one in an offset configuration. The imaging data obtained from both of the scanning procedures is used in the reconstruction of the image. In addition, a method and apparatus are provided for detecting motion in a reconstructed image by generating a motion map that is indicative of the regions of the reconstructed image that are affected by motion artifacts. Optionally, the motion map may be used for motion estimation and/or motion compensation to prevent or diminish motion artifacts in the resulting reconstructed image. An optional method for generating a refined motion map is also provided.

Abstract: A flow pattern in a tube system is calculated from acquired image data. From the flow pattern virtual image data are generated and compared with the acquired data in order to determine a quality measure for the usability of the generated flow pattern at characteristic locations.

Abstract: A method and apparatus are provided to improve large field of view CT image acquisition by using at least two scanning procedures: (i) one with the radiation source and detector centered and (ii) one in an offset configuration. The imaging data obtained from both of the scanning procedures is used in the reconstruction of the image. In addition, a method and apparatus are provided for detecting motion in a reconstructed image by generating a motion map that is indicative of the regions of the reconstructed image that are affected by motion artifacts. Optionally, the motion map may be used for motion estimation and/or motion compensation to prevent or diminish motion artifacts in the resulting reconstructed image. An optional method for generating a refined motion map is also provided.

Abstract: A method includes generating, via a dose estimator, a dose map indicative of an estimated dose deposited in a subject based on acquisition protocol parameter values of an acquisition protocol of an imaging system, and generating, via a noise estimator, at least one of a noise map indicative of an estimated image noise based on the acquisition protocol parameter values or a contrast-to-noise map based on the noise map and an attenuation map. The method further includes displaying, via a display, the dose and noise maps in a human readable format.

Abstract: A method and an apparatus for motion visualization of a moving object in angiographic images are described. In a preferred embodiment of the method, first a mask image of the object of interest is acquired and a sequence of angiographic images of the object in different phases of motion of the object is acquired. Then, a first angiographic subtraction image and at least a second angiographic subtraction image are generated by subtracting the angiographic images from the mask image. Subsequently, a twice subtracted image is generated by subtracting the first angiographic subtraction image from the second angiographic subtraction image. In this way a double subtraction, i.e. a twice subtracted angiography is performed, to facilitate the assessment of the motion.

Abstract: When performing image-guided biopsy of an anatomical structure in a patient, a target anatomical patient region containing biopsy target is imaged using both SPECT and XCT concurrently. 3D SPECT and XCT image data is fused to generate a fused 3D reference image that is overlaid on 2D patient image(s) generated during the biopsy procedure to generate an overlay image. The overlay image also includes a planned path or trajectory for a biopsy instrument. The 2D patient images are generated using SPECT and/or XCT, and are updated periodically to show biopsy instrument position and progress.

Abstract: The present invention relates to an image generation device for generating an image from measured data, wherein image quality is optimized for a region of interest and to an imaging system comprising this image generation device. The image generation device comprises a noise determination unit for determining a distribution of noise in a projection domain of the region of interest, and a dose control unit (32) for determining a dose profile for a radiation source (2) of said image generation device based on said determined distribution of noise by using a noise propagation algorithm. Thereby, signal-to-noise ratio of a reconstructed volume can be improved and is not sensitively dependent on a selected region of interest.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a device (2) for automatically quantifying intravascular embolization success, comprising a registration unit (4) adapted for registering a first image and a second image, a segmentation unit (6) adapted for segmenting a tissue of interest in the first image and in the second image and an evaluation unit (8) for evaluating a deviation of perfusion of the tissue of interest by comparing the first image and the second image. The first image is obtained before an interventional treatment, whereas the second image is obtained after such a treatment. Evaluating may comprise comparing the segments of the first and the second images and thus providing a quantitative measure for a perfusion deviation of the tissue, e.g. the perfusion deviation of a tumorous tissue before and after an embolization treatment.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a detection values correction apparatus for correcting detection values of a projection image of a multi-energy imaging system. A scatter contribution providing unit provides scatter contributions for different intensities, different energies and different locations on the detection surface of the detection values. A scatter contributions combining unit combines scatter contributions for correcting a detection value, wherein the combined scatter contributions represent the contribution of the scatter, which is caused by radiation of the other detection values of the projection image, to the detection value to be corrected and wherein the scatter contributions are combined under consideration of the intensity, energy and location on the detection surface of the other detection values. A correction unit scatter corrects the detection value of the projection image by using the combined scatter contributions.

Abstract: When generating a 3D image of a subject or patient, a cone beam X-ray source (20a, 20b) is mounted to a rotatable gantry (14) opposite an offset flat panel X-ray detector (22a, 22b). A wedge-shaped attenuation filter (24a, 24b) of suitable material (e.g., aluminum or the like) is adjustably positioned in the cone beam to selectively attenuate the beam as a function of the shape, size, and density of a volume of interest (18) through which X-rays pass in order to maintain X-ray intensity or gain at a relatively constant level within a range of acceptable levels.

Abstract: A method and apparatus are provided to improve CT image acquisition using a displaced acquisition geometry. A CT apparatus may be used having a source (102) and a detector (104) transversely displaced from a center (114) of a field of view (118) during acquisition of the projection data. The amount of transverse displacement may be determined based on the size of the object (108). The source and the detector may be adjusted to vary the size of the transverse field of view. The first data set acquired by the detector may be reconstructed and used to simulate missing projection data that could not be acquired by the detector at each projection angle. The measured projection data and the simulated projection data may be used to obtain a second data set. The second data set may be compared to the first data set to produce a corrected data set.

Abstract: A flow pattern in a tube system is calculated from acquired image data. From the flow pattern virtual image data are generated and compared with the acquired data in order to determine a quality measure for the usability of the generated flow pattern at characteristic locations.

Abstract: A method and an apparatus for motion visualization of a moving object in angiographic images are described. In a preferred embodiment of the method, first a mask image of the object of interest is acquired and a sequence of angiographic images of the object in different phases of motion of the object is acquired. Then, a first angiographic subtraction image and at least a second angiographic subtraction image are generated by subtracting the angiographic images from the mask image. Subsequently, a twice subtracted image is generated by subtracting the first angiographic subtraction image from the second angiographic subtraction image. In this way a double subtraction, i.e. a twice subtracted angiography is performed, to facilitate the assessment of the motion.

Abstract: The present invention relates to an imaging apparatus for generating an image of a region of interest of an object. The imaging apparatus comprises a radiation source (2) for emitting radiation (4) and a detector (6) for measuring the radiation (4) after having traversed the region of interest and for generating measured detection values depending on the measured radiation (4). The imaging apparatus further comprises an attenuation element for attenuating the radiation (4) before traversing the region of interest and an attenuation element scatter values providing unit (12) for providing attenuation element scatter values, which depend on scattering of the radiation (4) caused by the attenuation element. A detection values correction unit (17) corrects the measured detection values based on the provided attenuation element scatter values, and a reconstruction unit (18) reconstructs an image of the region of interest from the corrected detection values.

Abstract: A method includes generating, via a dose estimator (208), a dose map indicative of an estimated dose deposited for a subject based on acquisition protocol parameter values of an acquisition protocol of an imaging system (100), and generating, via a noise estimator (210), at least one of a noise map indicative of an estimated image noise based on the acquisition protocol parameter values or a contrast-to-noise map based on the noise map and an attenuation map. The method further includes displaying, via a display (216), the dose and noise maps in a human readable format.

Abstract: A beverage dispensing device including a housing, a tapping device for dispensing a beverage, a beverage container connectable with the tapping device, a freshness indicator device, a data input unit for recording replacement of the beverage container, a temperature sensor for measuring the storage temperature of the beverage, a temperature controller for adjusting the cooling temperature of a chiller, a storage unit for storing the freshness criteria, and a processing unit. The temperature sensor transmits the current beverage storage temperature to the processing unit and the processing unit calculates, depending on a recorded storage temperature period and based on stored freshness criteria, the actual freshness of the beverage, the time left until expiry of the freshness of the beverage and/or the date of expiry of the freshness of the beverage. The processing unit transmits the calculated data to the display.

Abstract: Adaptively controlling an imaging system (200, 205) includes constructing model feature characteristics (105) of a process over time, determining parameters and commands (110) for controlling the imaging system for each state of the process, performing data acquisition (120) for the process, extracting current features (130) of the process from the acquired data, matching (135) the current features (130) with the model feature characteristics (105) to determine a state of the process (140), and controlling the data acquisition based on the state of the process to produce optimized data.

Abstract: A method and apparatus are provided to improve large field of view CT image acquisition by using at least two scanning procedures: (i) one with the radiation source and detector centered and (ii) one in an offset configuration. The imaging data obtained from both of the scanning procedures is used in the reconstruction of the image. In addition, a method and apparatus are provided for detecting motion in a reconstructed image by generating a motion map that is indicative of the regions of the reconstructed image that are affected by motion artifacts. Optionally, the motion map may be used for motion estimation and/or motion compensation to prevent or diminish motion artifacts in the resulting reconstructed image. An optional method for generating a refined motion map is also provided.

Abstract: A method includes generating a plurality of scatter distributions based on geometric models having different object to detector distances, determining an imaged object to detector distance, and identifying a scatter distribution of the plurality of scatter distributions having a object to detector distance that corresponds to the imaged object to detector distance. The method also includes employing the identified scatter distribution to scatter correct projection data corresponding to the imaged object. Another method includes generating an estimate of wedge scatter by propagating a predetermined wedge scatter profile through an intermediate reconstruction of an object; and employing the estimate to wedge scatter correct the projection data.