Abstract: A hybrid medical imaging system comprises a nuclear medicine imaging subsystem for capturing an image of a target region of a subject, a magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) subsystem for capturing an MRI image of the target region based on at least one MRI parameter and processing structure communicating with the subsystems. The processing structure processes the MRI image to estimate attenuation within the target region and uses the estimated attenuation to correct the image captured by the nuclear medicine imaging subsystem.

Abstract: An apparatus for quantifying contrast agent behavior of an administrated contrast agent within a region of interest, comprises an imaging device configured to acquire images of a subject and processing structure communicating with the imaging device. The processing structure is configured to process image data of the acquired images to yield a time sequence of images, I(t), at a location (I) outside of the region of interest that detect contrast agent concentration before the contrast agent enters the region of interest and to yield a time sequence of images, J(t), at a location (J) within the region of interest that detect the contrast agent concentration as the contrast agent perfuses the region of interest.

Abstract: A hybrid medical imaging system comprises a nuclear medicine imaging subsystem for capturing an image of a target region of a subject, a magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) subsystem for capturing an MRI image of the target region based on at least one MRI parameter and processing structure communicating with the subsystems. The processing structure processes the MRI image to estimate attenuation within the target region and uses the estimated attenuation to correct the image captured by the nuclear medicine imaging subsystem.

Abstract: A method for quantifying contrast agent behavior of an administrated contrast agent within a region of interest, comprises: obtaining a time sequence of measurements, I(t), of contrast agent concentration starting before the contrast agent enters the region of interest and a time sequence of measurements, J(t), of the contrast agent concentration as the contrast agent perfuses the region of interest; deconvolving I(t) from J(t) to obtain an estimate of the tissue impulse response function for the region of interest, R?(t), where R?(t) is constrained to take into account at least one of physiologic and physical considerations and is chosen such that I(t)R?(t) is the maximum likelihood estimate of J(t), where denotes convolution; and determining the behaviour of the contrast agent in the region of interest based on R?(t).

Abstract: A system and method for performing local tomography is provided. The system comprises an anatomical imaging subsystem for imaging a patient and generating anatomical image data. A computing device generates an anatomical image from the anatomical image data and identifies a region-of-interest within the anatomical image. A molecular imaging subsystem captures molecular image data from only a portion of the patient including the region-of-interest. The computing device generates a molecular tomographic image of the region-of-interest from the molecular image data and the anatomical image.

Abstract: A method of applying scatter and attenuation correction to emission tomography images of a region of interest of a patient under observation comprises the steps of aligning a three-dimensional computer model representing the density distribution within the region of interest with the emission tomography images. The computer model is created from image data of other subjects thereby to avoid the need to image the subject under observation to create the computer model. Scatter and attenuation correction is applied to the emission tomography images using the aligned computer model as a guide.