Abstract: A method of determining a trajectory for a rotorcraft, comprising: receiving an initial trajectory defining a planned flight path of the rotorcraft between a starting point and a target point; performing iterations of a loop comprising adding the initial trajectory to a set of selectable trajectories, evaluating a noise indicator of the rotorcraft for the initial trajectory on the basis of a noise-related acoustic footprint and a noise exposure level-related acoustic footprint, adding the evaluated noise indicator to a set of evaluated noise indicators, determining an alternative trajectory defining an alternative flight path of the rotorcraft between the starting point and the target point on the basis of the evaluated noise indicator, and setting the alternative trajectory as initial trajectory; and outputting a trajectory of the set of selectable trajectories associated with a selected noise indicator fulfilling predetermined noise indicator conditions.

Abstract: Methods and apparatus for determining radiation doses based on phantom matching are disclosed. An example apparatus includes memory to store computer readable instructions; and processor circuitry to execute the computer readable instructions to prompt a capture of a second scout image when at least one of: (A) a first anatomical landmark in a first scout image of a first scout image file does not include an organ, (B) a first set of dimensions of the first anatomic landmark in the first scout image cannot be determined, or (C) the first set of dimensions are outside of a predefined range; and calculate a radiation dose for an organ in a second anatomical landmark of a second scout image file corresponding to the second scout image.

Abstract: Methods and apparatus for determining radiation doses based on phantom matching are disclosed. An example apparatus includes memory to store computer readable instructions; and processor circuitry to execute the computer readable instructions to prompt a capture of a second scout image when at least one of: (A) a first anatomical landmark in a first scout image of a first scout image file does not include an organ, (B) a first set of dimensions of the first anatomic landmark in the first scout image cannot be determined, or (C) the first set of dimensions are outside of a predefined range; and calculate a radiation dose for an organ in a second anatomical landmark of a second scout image file corresponding to the second scout image.

Abstract: Methods and apparatus for determining radiation doses based on phantom matching are disclosed. An example apparatus includes an image processor to process a scout image to determine the first dimensions of an anatomical landmark of the scout image file; a comparator to select a phantom model based on the first dimensions, the phantom model including the anatomical landmark with second dimensions substantially similar to the first dimensions; and a dose calculator to calculate a radiation dose for an organ in the anatomical landmark based on the selected phantom.

Abstract: Methods and apparatus for automatically assessing quality of imaging systems are disclosed. An example apparatus includes a processor configured to receive data from an imaging device; determine whether the received data corresponds to a test exam; in response to determining that the received data corresponds to the test exam, determine whether the test exam was correctly performed based on a comparison of the data to a validity criterion; and when the test exam was correctly performed, determine that the imaging system satisfies a performance criteria based on a comparison of a characteristic of the data corresponding to the performance indicator with a performance threshold; and a storage configured to store the performance indicator in conjunction with the data.

Abstract: Methods and apparatus for determining radiation doses based on phantom matching are disclosed. An example apparatus includes an image processor to process a scout image to determine the first dimensions of an anatomical landmark of the scout image file; a comparator to select a phantom model based on the first dimensions, the phantom model including the anatomical landmark with second dimensions substantially similar to the first dimensions; and a dose calculator to calculate a radiation dose for an organ in the anatomical landmark based on the selected phantom.

Abstract: Methods and apparatus for determining radiation doses based on phantom matching are disclosed. An example apparatus includes an image processor to process a scout image to determine the first dimensions of an anatomical landmark of the scout image file; a comparator to select a phantom model based on the first dimensions, the phantom model including the anatomical landmark with second dimensions substantially similar to the first dimensions; and a dose calculator to calculate a radiation dose for an organ in the anatomical landmark based on the selected phantom.

Abstract: System and methods for automatically identifying anatomical regions in medical images are disclosed. A signature is computed from one or more images of a patient. The signature comprises a water equivalent diameter distribution generated from one or more images of the patient. A best matching atlas element is identified from an atlas. The atlas includes a group of atlas elements, each atlas element includes landmarks associated with a set of image data, and a signature associated with the set of image data. The signature of the best matching atlas element matches the signature of the patient the best among the atlas. Landmarks of the best matching atlas element are projected onto an image of the patient. The method can be used on its own for anatomy localization or used in conjunction with another anatomy localization method to correct the result of another method.

Abstract: System and methods for automatically identifying anatomical regions in medical images are disclosed. A signature is computed from one or more images of a patient. The signature comprises a water equivalent diameter distribution generated from one or more images of the patient. A best matching atlas element is identified from an atlas. The atlas includes a group of atlas elements, each atlas element includes landmarks associated with a set of image data, and a signature associated with the set of image data. The signature of the best matching atlas element matches the signature of the patient the best among the atlas. Landmarks of the best matching atlas element are projected onto an image of the patient. The method can be used on its own for anatomy localization or used in conjunction with another anatomy localization method to correct the result of another method.

Abstract: Methods and apparatus for automatically assessing quality of imaging systems are disclosed. An example apparatus includes a processor configured to receive data from an imaging device; determine whether the received data corresponds to a test exam; in response to determining that the received data corresponds to the test exam, determine whether the test exam was correctly performed based on a comparison of the data to a validity criterion; and when the test exam was correctly performed, determine that the imaging system satisfies a performance criteria based on a comparison of a characteristic of the data corresponding to the performance indicator with a performance threshold; and a storage configured to store the performance indicator in conjunction with the data.

Abstract: Methods and apparatus for determining radiation doses based on phantom matching are disclosed. An example apparatus includes an image processor to process a scout image to determine the first dimensions of an anatomical landmark of the scout image file; a comparator to select a phantom model based on the first dimensions, the phantom model including the anatomical landmark with second dimensions substantially similar to the first dimensions; and a dose calculator to calculate a radiation dose for an organ in the anatomical landmark based on the selected phantom.

Abstract: Systems, methods and computer program products to provide a patient-specific contrast injection protocol in order to achieve optimal contrast enhancement for a given patient, clinical application, contrast media, CT scanner and protocol, are provided. Aspects of the present disclosure disclosed and described herein enable an optimal contrast product concentration and volume for one or more patients to get the best image quality with the minimum quantity of contrast product in a given computerized tomography (CT) exam.

Abstract: Systems, methods, and computer program products that enable calculating the water equivalent diameter of an exposed subject by defining a patient object using anterior/posterior (AP) and lateral (LAT) scout images are provided. Pixels corresponding to air in the LAT and AP scout image are determined. Pixels outside the of the air area belong to either to the patient or the table. The table for both the LAT and AP scout images is identified. The remaining pixels in the LAT AP scout images are from the patient. For each segmented object (patient or table) the boundaries of the segmented object are identified and the attenuations within the segmented boundaries are computed. The final shape and attenuation values of the patient is stored and the size-specific dose estimate (SSDE) is calculated. The water equivalent diameter value is normalized by using the technical acquisition parameters provided by the acquisition device.

Abstract: Systems, methods, and computer program products that enable calculating the water equivalent diameter of an exposed subject by defining a patient object using anterior/posterior (AP) and lateral (LAT) scout images are provided. Pixels corresponding to air in the LAT and AP scout image are determined. Pixels outside the of the air area belong to either to the patient or the table. The table for both the LAT and AP scout images is identified. The remaining pixels in the LAT AP scout images are from the patient. For each segmented object (patient or table) the boundaries of the segmented object are identified and the attenuations within the segmented boundaries are computed. The final shape and attenuation values of the patient is stored and the size-specific dose estimate (SSDE) is calculated. The water equivalent diameter value is normalized by using the technical acquisition parameters provided by the acquisition device.

Abstract: A system and method to illustrate a radiation dose applied to different organs of an exposed subject with diagnostic image acquisition by an imaging scanner is provided. From a scout image, a computer processor can calculate a contour of an extremity of the exposed subject from the two-dimensional scout image; calculate a contour of a first organ dependent on a greyscale intensity of the plurality of pixels that comprise the two-dimensional scout image; calculate a contour of at least one anatomical stage dependent on a predefined geometric orientation relative the contour of the first organ; and apply a predefined auxology criteria to calculate a contour of a second organ dependent on a predefined geometric orientation relative to the contour of the at least one anatomical stage; and create a display illustrative of the a measurement of dose applied at the area defined by the contour of the anatomical stage.

Abstract: A system and method for use in mapping a radiation dose applied in an angiography imaging procedure is provided. The system can include an image acquisition system, a table in support of the patient, and a computer processor that calculates an angulation of a radiation beam to the patient in the angiography imaging procedure relative to the table; calculating an angulation of the table; calculating an intersection of the radiation beam relative to a two-dimensional grid; calculating the radiation dose applied at the intersection of the radiation beam to each of the predefined areas of the two-dimensional grid; calculating an orientation of the patient relative to the two-dimensional grid of predefined areas; and creating a graphic display illustrative of an aggregation of the radiation dose applied to each of the predefined areas of the two-dimensional grid for viewing by a user.

Abstract: A system and method for use in mapping a radiation dose applied in an angiography imaging procedure is provided. The system can include an image acquisition system, a table in support of the patient, and a computer processor that calculates an angulation of a radiation beam to the patient in the angiography imaging procedure relative to the table; calculating an angulation of the table; calculating an intersection of the radiation beam relative to a two-dimensional grid; calculating the radiation dose applied at the intersection of the radiation beam to each of the predefined areas of the two-dimensional grid; calculating an orientation of the patient relative to the two-dimensional grid of predefined areas; and creating a graphic display illustrative of an aggregation of the radiation dose applied to each of the predefined areas of the two-dimensional grid for viewing by a user.