Abstract: Various methods and systems are provided for digital mammography imaging procedures. In one example a method for an x-ray system includes acquiring a comparative image of a patient with an x-ray detector, aligning the comparative image with a reference image which includes an ROI, mapping the ROI of the reference image onto the comparative image. When mapping indicates the ROI is outside of frame of the comparative image, the method includes displaying comparative image with instructions indicating a relative position of the ROI.

Abstract: A system for performing a scan of internal structures of an object/patient is provided. The system includes a radiation source operative to emit a radiation beam, a radiation detector operative to receive the radiation beam and generate an output signal based at least in part on the received radiation beam, and a controller in electronic communication with the radiation source and the radiation detector and operative to generate at least one image of the object/patient. The controller is further operative to determine an offset of the at least one image relative to an image reference and to employ the offset to automatically align the at least one image with the image reference without the need for stopping the operation of the radiation source and detector to reposition the object/patient being scanned.

Abstract: Various methods and systems are provided for reducing blur in a diagnostic image. In one example, a method includes reducing blur in a diagnostic image by applying a deconvolution filter to the diagnostic image, the deconvolution filter generated from a point spread function (PSF) estimation of blur at each pixel of the diagnostic image, the PSF estimation generated based on a motion vector field between the diagnostic image and a pre-shot image acquired prior to the diagnostic image.

Abstract: Various methods and systems are provided for tracking a biopsy target across one or more images. In one example, a method includes determining a position of a biopsy target in a selected image of a patient based on an image registration process with a reference image of the patient, and displaying a graphical representation of the position of the biopsy target on the selected image.

Abstract: A system for performing a scan of internal structures of an object/patient is provided. The system includes a radiation source operative to emit a radiation beam, a radiation detector operative to receive the radiation beam and generate an output signal based at least in part on the received radiation beam, and a controller in electronic communication with the radiation source and the radiation detector and operative to generate at least one image of the object/patient. The controller is further operative to determine an offset of the at least one image relative to an image reference and to employ the offset to automatically align the at least one image with the image reference without the need for stopping the operation of the radiation source and detector to reposition the object/patient being scanned.

Abstract: Methods and systems are provided for cross calibration between two or more dual energy x-ray absorptiometry (DXA) systems. In one example, a calibration phantom is scanned along with a patient during a scanning sequence, with a first system, to obtain one or more coefficients that map pixel values retrieved from a phantom image from the phantom scan to image pixel values in the reconstructed patient image from the patient scan. The one or more coefficients may be utilized to adjust and/or compare BMD values of the patient obtained when the patient is scanned with a different system utilizing a phantom with similar composition and parameters as the calibration phantom.

Abstract: Methods and systems are provided for cross calibration between two or more dual energy x-ray absorptiometry (DXA) systems. In one example, a calibration phantom is scanned along with a patient during a scanning sequence, with a first system, to obtain one or more coefficients that map pixel values retrieved from a phantom image from the phantom scan to image pixel values in the reconstructed patient image from the patient scan. The one or more coefficients may be utilized to adjust and/or compare BMD values of the patient obtained when the patient is scanned with a different system utilizing a phantom with similar composition and parameters as the calibration phantom.

Abstract: Various methods and systems are provided for tracking a biopsy target across one or more images. In one example, a method includes determining a position of a biopsy target in a selected image of a patient based on an image registration process with a reference image of the patient, and displaying a graphical representation of the position of the biopsy target on the selected image.

Abstract: Various methods and systems are provided for reducing blur in a diagnostic image. In one example, a method includes reducing blur in a diagnostic image by applying a deconvolution filter to the diagnostic image, the deconvolution filter generated from a point spread function (PSF) estimation of blur at each pixel of the diagnostic image, the PSF estimation generated based on a motion vector field between the diagnostic image and a pre-shot image acquired prior to the diagnostic image.

Abstract: In the present invention, an image review method and system for performing the method is provided to facilitate the review of image volumes obtained in different imaging modalities and to evaluate the correlation between findings in the respective volumes in an easy to review manner compared with prior art systems and processes. The method and system of the invention provides simulated or actual combined or fused images or representations of registered images obtained in each imaging modality to simplify and accelerate the review of multi-modal breast imaging volumes, in particular when correlation of information between the two modes, including but not limited to, LE and DE, DBT and ABUS, DE and ABUS, etc., is important to evaluate.

Abstract: A method for monitoring an amount of a contrast agent within an object is provided. The method includes obtaining contrast data from one or more images of an object via an imaging device. The contrast data corresponds to the contrast agent. The method further includes calculating a measured amount of the contrast agent for each of the one or more images by applying a kinetic model to the contrast data, and generating a predictive curve of the amount of the contrast agent via the kinetic model. The kinetic model generates the predictive curve based at least in part on the measured amount of the contrast agent for each of the one or more images.

Abstract: Method and system for obtaining tomosynthesis and material decomposition images of an object of interest using a system comprising an x-ray source facing a detector. The method comprises generating a 2D material decomposition image of an object of interest from at least two sets of acquisitions. Each set is performed at a different energy spectrum and comprises at least one projection image or a plurality of projection images acquired at different x-ray source angulation positions, and the 2D material decomposition image can be generated for a predetermined orientation selected from one of said different x-ray source angulation positions or from a virtual orientation. At least one of the plurality of 3D volume portion images and/or the 2D contrast enhanced material decomposition image are displayed for review by a health care professional.

Abstract: In the present invention, an image review method and system for performing the method is provided that enriches the information displayed in the reference image or synthetic views and/or slabs reviewed by the physician with colored layers of information obtained from an image volume and merged with the reference image, slabs and/or synthetic views. The colored layer enhancement of the reference image, slabs and/or synthetic views highlights the colored areas of interest or features from the image volume in the slabs and/or synthetic views in a manner that prevents the features from becoming lost due to tissue superposition effects or other issues with the combination of the colored layers and reference image to form the displayed combined images.

Abstract: In the present invention, an image review method and system for performing the method is provided to facilitate the review of image volumes obtained in different imaging modalities and to evaluate the correlation between findings in the respective volumes in an easy to review manner compared with prior art systems and processes. The method and system of the invention provides simulated or actual combined or fused images or representations of registered images obtained in each imaging modality to simplify and accelerate the review of multi-modal breast imaging volumes, in particular when correlation of information between the two modes, including but not limited to, LE and DE, DBT and ABUS, DE and ABUS, etc., is important to evaluate.

Abstract: Method and system for obtaining tomosynthesis and material decomposition images of an object of interest using a system comprising an x-ray source facing a detector. The method comprises generating a 2D material decomposition image of an object of interest from at least two sets of acquisitions. Each set is performed at a different energy spectrum and comprises at least one projection image or a plurality of projection images acquired at different x-ray source angulation positions, and the 2D material decomposition image can be generated for a predetermined orientation selected from one of said different x-ray source angulation positions or from a virtual orientation. At least one of the plurality of 3D volume portion images and/or the 2D contrast enhanced material decomposition image are displayed for review by a health care professional.