Abstract: An imaging system includes a radiation source (110) that emits radiation that traverses an examination region. A controller (116) activates the radiation source (110) to emit radiation and deactivates the radiation source (110) to stop radiation emission. The controller (116) selectively activates the radiation source (110) to emit radiation at one or more pre-determined angles. In another embodiment, the imaging system includes a data processing component (124) that generates a virtual three dimensional image of an object of interest of the scanned subject based on the image data. In another embodiment, the imaging system is in a communication with a data manipulation and packaging component (128) that generates at least a two dimensional or a three dimensional data set based on the volumetric image data and packages the data set in an object provided to a remote system (132) that manipulates and navigates through the data set.

Abstract: The present invention relates to an imaging apparatus for generating an image of a region of interest. The imaging apparatus comprises a radiation source (2), a detection unit (6) for generating detection data and a moving unit (1, 7, 8) for moving the radiation source (2) and the region of interest relative to each other, while the detection data are generated. The imaging apparatus further comprises an identification unit (13) for identifying in the detection data high density detection data and non-high density detection data. A density weighting unit (14) density weights the detection data, wherein at least a part of the high density detection data has a smaller density weight than the non-high density detection data, and a reconstruction unit (15) reconstructs an image of the region of interest from the weighted detection data.

Abstract: An imaging system includes a radiation source (106, T1, T2, T3) that rotates about an examination region and emits radiation that traverses the examination region. The radiation source (106, T1, T2, T3) emits radiation having an energy spectrum that is selectively alternately switched between at least two different energy spectra during an imaging procedure. The system further includes an energy-resolving detector array (116, D1, D2, D3) that detects radiation traversing the examination region. The energy-resolving detector array (116, D1, D2, D3) resolves the detected radiation over at least two different energy ranges and produces energy-resolved output signals as a function of both emission energy spectrum and energy range. The system further includes a reconstructor (126) that performs a spectral reconstruction of the energy-resolved output signals. In another embodiment, the detector array (116) includes a photon-counting detector array (116).

Abstract: To scan an object with differently shaped cone beams (112, 122), the present invention provides a CT scanner with a moveable X-ray tube (the meaning of “move the x-ray tube among a plurality of predefined positions” also covers the situation that the anode disk is moved among a plurality of corresponding positions, while the shell of the x-ray tube does not move). The X-ray tube is not only moveable along the axial direction, but also along the radial direction of the CT scanner gantry. The scanner comprises an X-ray tube, which X-ray tube further comprises: an anode disk (100), comprising a plurality of focal tracks (110, 120) each focal track being cone-shaped with an anode angle (114, 124) different from the anode angle(s) of the other focal track(s); and a first cathode (210), configured to emanate an electron beam targeting at least one of the plurality of focal tracks.

Abstract: A medical imaging system includes a generally stationary gantry (102) and a rotating gantry (106), rotatably supported by the generally stationary gantry (102), that rotates about a longitudinal axis around an examination region. The medical imaging system further includes a radiation source (112) that emits a radiation beam that traverses the examination region. The radiation source (112) is moveably affixed to the rotating gantry (106) so as to translate in a direction of the longitudinal axis with respect to the rotating gantry (106) while scanning a subject in the examination region. The medical imaging system further includes a detector array (120) that detects the radiation beam that traverses the examination region and generates a signal indicative thereof. The detector array (120) is moveably affixed to the rotating gantry (106) so as to move in coordination with the radiation source (112) while scanning the subject in the examination region.

Abstract: A method includes generating simulated complete projection data based on acquisition projection data, which is incomplete projection data, and virtual projection data, which completes the incomplete projection data and reconstructing the simulated complete projection data to generate volumetric image data. An alternative method includes supplementing acquisition image data generated from incomplete projection data with supplemental data to expand a volume of a reconstructable field of view and employing an artifact correction to correct a correctable field of view based on the expanded reconstructable field of view.

Abstract: A System (24) for positioning a carrier (9) of an object (10) within a field of view of an imaging unit (7b), the system comprising: an imaging receiving interface unit (14) for receiving image data (22) representing an image (9) of the object (10) from an imaging unit (7b), an object components position determination unit (15) for determining object components (11, 12) position data (25) representing positions of components (11, 12) of the object (10), a memory (16) with anatomic model data stored therein, the anatomic model data representing anatomic model (9*) component positions of anatomic model components (11*, 12*) of an atomic model (10*), a matching unit (17) designed to match object components (11, 12) positions and anatomic model components (11*, 12*) positions based on object components position data and anatomic model data, an input receiving unit (19) for receiving input data (23) representing a selected component (11) of interest, a positioning planning unit (18) for determining position shift

Abstract: The invention relates to an imaging system for imaging a region of interest, in particular to a computed tomography system. First data for generating an image of the region of interest are provided, which are used by a reconstruction unit (12) for reconstructing an image of the region of interest using an adaptable artefact correction method. Second data are provided by simulating the providing of the first data using the reconstructed image of the region of interest by a second data providing unit (13). A deviation determination unit (14) determines a deviation between the first and second data. An adaptation unit (15) adapts the artefact correction method such that the deviation between the first and second data is reduced and the reconstruction unit (12) reconstructs an image of the region of interest from first the data using the adapted artefact correction method.

Abstract: A computed tomography apparatus (10) includes spaced radiation sources (82, 84), such as anodes, which each propagate a cone-beam of radiation (40, 50) into an examination region (14). A detector (22) detects radiation which has passed through the examination region. An attenuation system (55) interposed between the radiation sources and the examination region for cone-angle dependent filtering of the cone beams. The attenuation system allows rays which contribute little to a reconstructed image to be attenuated more than rays which contribute more.

Abstract: CT scanners have a certain scan-field-of-view defined by the fan-angle of the system. According to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention, object points outside the scan-field-of-view may be reconstructed on the basis of a system of linear equations which may be solved iteratively and with reasonable effort. Therefore, explicit regularization techniques may be applied to recover the unknown object function.

Abstract: The invention relates to an apparatus for determining a high density region in an image, wherein the apparatus comprises a provision unit (1, 2, 6, 7, 8) for providing projection data for reconstructing the image. The apparatus comprises further a high density shadow determination unit (12) for determining a high density shadow in the projection data and a backprojection unit (13) for backprojecting the determined high density shadow resulting in a high density image showing the high density region. The inventions relates further to a corresponding method and computer program for determining a high density region in an image.

Abstract: It is described a filter (300) for at least partially compensating for an X-ray tube (10) the target angle heel effect and preserving the tungsten spectrum of the X-rays. The filter (300) has an anode side (302) and a cathode side (304), wherein the cathode side (304) has a higher attenuation coefficient than the anode side (302). The attenuation coefficient is determined to at least partially compensate for the target angle heel effect. The filter (300) is from the same material as an anode plate (110) or the anode (108) of the X-raysource (10) which is usually tungsten or a tungsten alloy.

Abstract: A scanning method and apparatus useful for correcting artifacts which may appear in a primary short circular CT scan are provided. A secondary helical scan performed on a stationary subject, or a secondary circular scan, may be used to correct for artifacts. The secondary scan may be performed with a smaller radiation dosage than the primary circular CT scan.

Abstract: According to the invention, there is provided a method of recording images of the heart in computer tomography, in which, in order to prevent movement artifacts, the images are reconstructed on the basis of similar movement states of the heart and different radiation intensities are used for different movement states. Also provided is a computer tomograph for recording images of the heart in computer tomography by means of time windows which exhibit similar movement states of the heart in order to prevent movement artifacts, said computer tomograph comprising a control device which controls a radiation source with different radiation intensities for different movement states.

Abstract: A computer tomography apparatus and method, a computer-readable medium and a program element are provided for examining a region of interest (ROI) of an object or patient in real-time. When only a region of interest is to be reconstructed, it is sufficient to rotate the radiation source and detector elements such that they cover a circular arc whose extension is less than ?+?, ? being the beam angle of the radiation source. This scanning range is called super-short-scan. Super-short-scans produce less data. Consequently image reconstruction is quicker which is very preferable for real-time CT. The CT data can furthermore be weighted in a manner that data detected at the end of a super-short-scan are weighted stronger than data detected at the beginning of a super-short-scan.

Abstract: It is described an X-ray tube (205), in particular for use in computed tomography, comprising an electron source (250), for generating an electron beam (255), an electron deflection device (256) for deflecting the generated electron beam (255), a control unit (257) being coupled to the electron deflection device (256) for spatially controlling the deflection, and an anode (206), which is arranged such that the electron beam (255) impinges onto a focal spot of a surface of the anode (206). Thereby the anode (206) is movable along a z-axis in an oscillating manner, the surface of the anode (206) is oriented oblique with respect to the z-axis, and the control unit (257) is adapted to spatially control the focal spot (255 a) in such a manner that the focal spot moves essentially in a discrete manner between a first focal spot position (106a, 406a) having a first z-coordinate and a second focal spot position (106b, 406b) having a second z-coordinate being different from the first z-coordinate.

Abstract: Known reconstruction techniques from coherent scattered x-rays apply non-exact reconstruction techniques. According to the present invention, a relatively wide spectrum of wave-vector transfers q of the scattered x-ray photons is acquired. The projection data is interpreted as line integrals in the x y-q space and the projection data is resorted to correspond to an acquisition along any source trajectory. Due to this, an exact helical reconstruction algorithms may be applied and redundant data may be used to obtain a better image quality.

Abstract: A reconstruction method for an image of an object, the reconstruction method comprising receiving a first projection data set representing information about said object, receiving a second projection data set representing information about said object, reconstructing a first image of said object using the first projection data set, reconstructing a second image of said object using the second projection data set, performing a registration between the first image and the second image, and fusing the first image and the second image to said image of said object, wherein the first projecting data set and the second projecting data set are achieved by using a single radiation type.

Abstract: Since the soft tissue levels in an image usually comprise a variety of values between air and bone boundaries, it may not be obvious a priori what threshold value applies. According to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention, an examination apparatus is provided which is adapted for determining the optimal weight for subtraction of a soft tissue correction image without performing a multitude of forward and backward projections. This may be provided determining a roughness function based on a plurality of subtractions of the soft tissue streak image, each subtraction corresponding to a different weighting of the streak image.

Abstract: CT scanners have a certain scan-field-of-view defined by the fan-angle of the system. According to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention, object points outside the scan-field-of-view may be reconstructed on the basis of a system of linear equations which may be solved iteratively and with reasonable effort. Therefore, explicit regularization techniques may be applied to recover the unknown object function.