Abstract: Various methods and systems are provided for stationary computed tomography (CT) imaging. In one embodiment, a stationary CT system includes one or more detector arrays extending around at least a portion of an imaging volume, a stationary distributed x-ray source unit comprising a plurality of emitters including a first set of emitters configured to operate at a first voltage and a second set of emitters configured to operate at a second voltage, different than the first voltage, and a source controller for triggering the first set of emitters for acquiring first projection data by the one or more detector arrays and triggering the second set of emitters for acquiring second projection data by the one or more detector arrays, the first projection data and the second projection data usable to reconstruct one or more basis material composition images or monochromatic images of an object within the imaging volume.

Abstract: Methods and systems are provided for detecting patient motion during a diagnostic scan. In one example, a method for a medical imaging system includes obtaining output from one or more patient monitoring devices configured to monitor a patient before and during a diagnostic scan executed with the medical imaging system, receiving a request to initiate the diagnostic scan, tracking patient motion based on the output from the one or more patient monitoring devices, and initiating the diagnostic scan responsive to patient motion being below a threshold level.

Abstract: Various methods and systems are provided for stationary computed tomography (CT) imaging. In one embodiment, a stationary CT system includes one or more detector arrays extending around at least a portion of an imaging volume, a stationary distributed x-ray source unit comprising a plurality of emitters including a first set of emitters configured to operate at a first voltage and a second set of emitters configured to operate at a second voltage, different than the first voltage, and a source controller for triggering the first set of emitters for acquiring first projection data by the one or more detector arrays and triggering the second set of emitters for acquiring second projection data by the one or more detector arrays, the first projection data and the second projection data usable to reconstruct one or more basis material composition images or monochromatic images of an object within the imaging volume.

Abstract: Methods and systems are provided for detecting patient motion during a diagnostic scan. In one example, a method for a medical imaging system includes obtaining output from one or more patient monitoring devices configured to monitor a patient before and during a diagnostic scan executed with the medical imaging system, receiving a request to initiate the diagnostic scan, tracking patient motion based on the output from the one or more patient monitoring devices, and initiating the diagnostic scan responsive to patient motion being below a threshold level.

Abstract: Methods and apparatus for an imaging system are provided. The imaging system includes a gantry having a stationary member coupled to a rotating member. The rotating member has an opened area proximate an axis about which the rotating member rotates. An x-ray source provided on the rotating member. An x-ray detector may be disposed on the rotating member and configured to receive x-rays from the x-ray source. A rotary transformer having circumferentially disposed primary and secondary windings may form part of a contactless power transfer system that rotates the rotatable portion of the gantry at very high speeds, the primary winding being disposed on the stationary member and the secondary winding being disposed on the rotating member.

Abstract: Methods and apparatus for an imaging system are provided. The imaging system includes a gantry having a stationary member coupled to a rotating member. The rotating member has an opened area proximate an axis about which the rotating member rotates. An x-ray source provided on the rotating member. An x-ray detector may be disposed on the rotating member and configured to receive x-rays from the x-ray source. A rotary transformer having circumferentially disposed primary and secondary windings may form part of a contactless power transfer system that rotates the rotatable portion of the gantry at very high speeds, the primary winding being disposed on the stationary member and the secondary winding being disposed on the rotating member.

Abstract: A CT detector capable of energy discrimination and direct conversion is disclosed. The detector includes multiple layers of semiconductor material with the layers having varying thicknesses. The detector is constructed to be segmented in the x-ray penetration direction so as to optimize count rate performance as well as avoid saturation. The detector also includes variable pixel pitch and a flexible binning of pixels to further enhance count rate performance.

Abstract: A CT detector capable of energy discrimination and direct conversion is disclosed. The detector includes multiple layers of semiconductor material with the layers having varying thicknesses. The detector is constructed to be segmented in the x-ray penetration direction so as to optimize count rate performance as well as avoid saturation. The detector also includes variable pixel pitch and a flexible binning of pixels to further enhance count rate performance.

Abstract: A method and system is disclosed that minimizes the effective dose to an object by determining a segmented component map for the object, parametrizing tube current/energy level/x-ray filtration/x-ray pulse width as a function of time, determining a corresponding absorbed dose map and variance map, and determining an energy level/tube current profile or curve that results in a desirable effective dose to the object and a desirable noise variance throughout the image.

Abstract: A CT detector capable of energy discrimination and direct conversion is disclosed. The detector includes multiple layers of semiconductor material with the layers having varying thicknesses. The detector is constructed to be segmented in the x-ray penetration direction so as to optimize count rate performance as well as avoid saturation. The detector also includes variable pixel pitch and a flexible binning of pixels to further enhance count rate performance.

Abstract: A medical imaging scanner is constructed such that its data acquisition subsystem is located at the site of a medical imaging scan. Through either a wired or wireless link, the raw data collected during the scan is transmitted to a remotely located image processing and reconstruction subsystem that processes the raw data to reconstruct an image. Preferably, the remotely located image processing and reconstruction subsystem is located at a centralized facility and is connected to receive and process data from various scanners. The remotely located image processing and reconstruction subsystem is preferably equipped to process and reconstruct an image from data acquired with multiple types of medical imaging scanners. In this regard, reconstruction of a CT, PET, MR, x-ray, or the like image can be carried out remotely from the scanner used to acquire the corresponding raw data.

Abstract: Systems and methods for creating a reformatted medical diagnostic image of a physical structure of the body including obtaining a plurality of axial images of the physical structure of the body and automatically selecting a plurality of points from the plurality of axial images of the physical structure of the body using an algorithm, wherein the plurality of points define a path associated with the physical structure of the body. The systems and methods also including automatically generating a curved reformatted image of the physical structure of the body along the path associated with the physical structure of the body. The systems and methods further including displaying the curved reformatted image of the physical structure of the body for diagnostic purposes.

Abstract: A method for operating a plurality of user interfaces coupled to a plurality of medical devices through a communication network is provided. The method includes performing medical diagnostics on a patient using at least two of the plurality of medical devices, wherein the user interface is configured to control the at least two of the plurality of medical devices, and displaying a result of the medical diagnostics on at least one of the plurality of user interfaces.

Abstract: A method of operating a user interface is provided. The method includes receiving a first control command at a console operationally coupled to a first and second medical system, wherein the console has control over both the first and second medical systems. The first medical system is operated based upon the first control command. The method further includes receiving a second control command at the console. The second medical system is operated based upon the second control command.

Abstract: A CT detector capable of energy discrimination and direct conversion is disclosed. The detector includes multiple layers of semiconductor material with the layers having varying thicknesses. The detector is constructed to be segmented in the x-ray penetration direction so as to optimize count rate performance as well as avoid saturation. The detector also includes variable pixel pitch and a flexible binning of pixels to further enhance count rate performance.

Abstract: Configurations for stationary imaging systems are provided. The configurations may include combinations of various types of distributed sources of X-ray radiation, which generally include addressable emitter elements which may be triggered for emission in desired sequences and combinations. The sources may be ring-like, partial ring-like, or line-like (typically along a Z-axis), and so forth. Combinations of these are envisaged. Corresponding detectors may also be full ring detectors or partial ring detectors associated with the sources to provide sufficient coverage of imaging volumes and to provide the desired mathematical completeness of the collected data.

Abstract: Systems and methods for creating a reformatted medical diagnostic image of a physical structure of the body including obtaining a plurality of axial images of the physical structure of the body and automatically selecting a plurality of points from the plurality of axial images of the physical structure of the body using an algorithm, wherein the plurality of points define a path associated with the physical structure of the body. The systems and methods also including automatically generating a curved reformatted image of the physical structure of the body along the path associated with the physical structure of the body. The systems and methods further including displaying the curved reformatted image of the physical structure of the body for diagnostic purposes.

Abstract: The present invention is, in one embodiment, a method for facilitating the analysis of computed tomographic (CT) images. The method includes steps of: acquiring attenuation data of a patient using a CT imaging system; reconstructing images of the patient using the acquired attenuation data; mapping intensity data from at least one reconstructed image into a color image using a color mapping indicative of physiological thresholds; and displaying the color image. Embodiments of the present invention facilitate the assessment of images and differences between images for functional image data and for perfusion-related imaging data.

Abstract: The present invention, in one form, is a system which, in one embodiment, adjusts the x-ray source current to reduce image noise to better accommodate different scanning parameters. Specifically, in one embodiment, the x-ray source current is adjusted as a function of image slice thickness, scan rotation time, collimation mode, table speed, scan mode, and filtration mode. Particularly, a function is stored in a CT system computer to determine an x-ray source current adjustment factor so that the appropriate x-ray source current is supplied to the x-ray source for the determined parameters. After adjusting the x-ray source current, an object is scanned.

Abstract: The present invention, in one form, is a method for modifying slice thickness during a helical scan without interrupting the scan. The method includes identifying adjacent and different regions within an object to be scanned. A transition region also is identified to include a portion of each of two adjacent regions and the interface therebetween. Slice thickness is modified during the scan so that redundant data is obtained in the transition region. Particularly, in one embodiment, a variable collimator is used to scan a first region with a first slice thickness. The variable collimator is rotated at the interface between the two adjacent regions, without interrupting table translation, to scan the second region with a second slice thickness. When changing the slice thickness, the collimator also is swept so that the x-ray beam with the second slice thickness re-scans a portion of the first region within the transition region.