Abstract: A system for safely containing an infant on a mattress is described. The system includes a plurality of panels that extend upwardly from a base that supports the mattress, wherein the plurality of panels and the base form an enclosure around the mattress, and wherein at least one of the plurality of panels is configured to have a locked position and an unlocked position. The system also includes a detection system that detects when the at least one of the plurality of panels is in the unlocked position and a lighting system operatively coupled to the detection system, wherein the lighting system is configured to emit light when the at least one of the plurality of panels is detected to be in the unlocked position. Furthermore, the system includes a power system that provides energy to the lighting system for emitting the light.

Abstract: A method of controlling an infant care device includes identifying, via a location tracking system, a device location of the infant care device within a care facility by locating a device location tag on the infant care device, and also identifying any local clinician tags worn by a clinician within a predetermined area around the device location. The local clinician tags are compared to a list of authorized clinician tags to identify whether at least one local authorized clinician tag is within the predetermined area around the infant care device. User input is received at a user interface associated with the infant care device to modify operation of the infant care device. Operation of the infant care device is modified based on the user input only if at least one local authorized clinician tag is within the predetermined area around the infant care device at the time of receiving the user input.

Abstract: A system for safely containing an infant on a mattress is described. The system includes a plurality of panels that extend upwardly from a base that supports the mattress, wherein the plurality of panels and the base form an enclosure around the mattress, and wherein at least one of the plurality of panels is configured to have a locked position and an unlocked position. The system also includes a detection system that detects when the at least one of the plurality of panels is in the unlocked position and a lighting system operatively coupled to the detection system, wherein the lighting system is configured to emit light when the at least one of the plurality of panels is detected to be in the unlocked position. Furthermore, the system includes a power system that provides energy to the lighting system for emitting the light.

Abstract: A system for safely containing an infant on a mattress is described. The system includes a base that supports the mattress and panels that extend upwardly from the base and together form an enclosure around the mattress. A porthole is defined through at least one of the panels, where the porthole provides access into the enclosure. A porthole door has locked and unlocked positions and covers the porthole only in the locked position. A detection system detects when the porthole door is in the unlocked position. A lighting system is operatively coupled to the detection system and is configured to emit light when the porthole door is detected to be in the unlocked position. A power system provides energy to the lighting system for emitting the light.

Abstract: A system for safely containing an infant on a mattress is described. The system includes a base that supports the mattress and panels that extend upwardly from the base and together form an enclosure around the mattress. A porthole is defined through at least one of the panels, where the porthole provides access into the enclosure. A porthole door has locked and unlocked positions and covers the porthole only in the locked position. A detection system detects when the porthole door is in the unlocked position. A lighting system is operatively coupled to the detection system and is configured to emit light when the porthole door is detected to be in the unlocked position. A power system provides energy to the lighting system for emitting the light.

Abstract: An infant warming system includes a bassinet having a platform configured to support an infant, at least one wireless physiological sensor configured to measure a physiological parameter from the infant and transmit physiological parameter data, and at least two radio frequency identification (RFID) readers. The RFID readers are configured to communicate with the at least one wireless physiological sensor to facilitate pairing therewith so as to enable receipt of the physiological parameter data from the wireless physiological sensors at the infant warmer system. The RFID readers each have a range distance that is less than a length of the platform and are positioned such that the wireless physiological sensor is in the range distance of at least one of the at least two RFID readers from any location on the platform.

Abstract: A neonatal blanket includes a substrate material configured to cover a neonate and at least one antenna on the substrate material, where the antenna is configured to transmit RF energy to power the at least one wireless physiological sensor on the neonate. The blanket further includes a power connection configured to connect to a power source to power the wireless physiological sensor via the antennae.

Abstract: A method of controlling an infant care device includes identifying, via a location tracking system, a device location of the infant care device within a care facility by locating a device location tag on the infant care device, and also identifying any local clinician tags worn by a clinician within a predetermined area around the device location. The local clinician tags are compared to a list of authorized clinician tags to identify whether at least one local authorized clinician tag is within the predetermined area around the infant care device. User input is received at a user interface associated with the infant care device to modify operation of the infant care device. Operation of the infant care device is modified based on the user input only if at least one local authorized clinician tag is within the predetermined area around the infant care device at the time of receiving the user input.

Abstract: A CT system includes a gantry, an x-ray source configured to project x-rays toward an object, an x-ray detector positioned to receive x-rays from the x-ray source that pass through the object, a generator configured to energize the x-ray source to a first voltage and to a second voltage that is distinct from the first voltage, and a controller configured to cause the gantry to position the source and generator at a circumferential position during an imaging session, pass the object through the opening during the imaging session, cause the generator to energize the x-ray source to the first voltage and to the second voltage, acquire imaging data while the generator energizes the x-ray source to the first voltage and to the second voltage while the rotatable gantry is at the circumferential position, and generate an image using the imaging data.

Abstract: A CT system includes a gantry, an x-ray source configured to project x-rays toward an object, an x-ray detector positioned to receive x-rays from the x-ray source that pass through the object, a generator configured to energize the x-ray source to a first voltage and to a second voltage that is distinct from the first voltage, and a controller configured to cause the gantry to position the source and generator at a circumferential position during an imaging session, pass the object through the opening during the imaging session, cause the generator to energize the x-ray source to the first voltage and to the second voltage, acquire imaging data while the generator energizes the x-ray source to the first voltage and to the second voltage while the rotatable gantry is at the circumferential position, and generate an image using the imaging data.

Abstract: A method for associating EKG waveform data with computed tomography image data using a data synchronization scheme including generating the EKG waveform data using an electrocardiogram device, operating a computed tomography imaging system so as to create the computed tomography image data, communicating an exposure marker-in signal to the electrocardiogram device such that the exposure marker-in signal is associated with the EKG waveform data and processing the computed tomography image data, the EKG waveform data and the exposure marker-in signal, so as to correlate the EKG waveform data with the computed tomography image data. Also claimed is a medium encoded with a machine-readable computer program code for associating EKG waveform data with image data generated by an imaging system using a data synchronization scheme, the medium including instructions for causing controller to implement the aforementioned method.

Abstract: A method and apparatus is disclosed to acquire scout scan data of a subject and analyzed to determine a peak-to-peak modulation amplitude of a normalized waveform indicative of subject size and shape. The scout scan data provides a representation of patient size and shape that is associated with an ideal tube current modulation waveform or profile. The ideal tube current modulation profile may then be sampled or approximated at various points to determine a tube current modulation profile for implementation to acquire CT data with reduced dose but without sacrificing image quality.

Abstract: A system and method of diagnostic imaging with reduced x-ray exposure to the scan subject during scanning includes acquiring a set of cardiac signals or other motion (cardiac mechanical motion or respiratory motion) related signals and determining and imaging profile therefrom. Pursuant to the imaging profile, voltage applied to an x-ray source is modulated to provide an energizing voltage during primary data acquisition stages and a reduced voltage during secondary or non-data acquisition stages. Voltage modulation repeats until sufficient data for image reconstruction has been acquired.

Abstract: A method for associating EKG waveform data with computed tomography image data using a data synchronization scheme including generating the EKG waveform data using an electrocardiogram device, operating a computed tomography imaging system so as to create the computed tomography image data, communicating an exposure marker-in signal to the electrocardiogram device such that the exposure marker-in signal is associated with the EKG waveform data and processing the computed tomography image data, the EKG waveform data and the exposure marker-in signal, so as to correlate the EKG waveform data with the computed tomography image data. Also claimed is a medium encoded with a machine-readable computer program code for associating EKG waveform data with image data generated by an imaging system using a data synchronization scheme, the medium including instructions for causing controller to implement the aforementioned method.

Abstract: A system and method of diagnostic imaging with reduced x-ray exposure to the scan subject during scanning includes acquiring a set of cardiac signals or other motion (cardiac mechanical motion or respiratory motion) related signals and determining and imaging profile therefrom. Pursuant to the imaging profile, voltage applied to an x-ray source is modulated to provide an energizing voltage during primary data acquisition stages and a reduced voltage during secondary or non-data acquisition stages. Voltage modulation repeats until sufficient data for image reconstruction has been acquired.

Abstract: A method is described for controlling x-ray exposure during gated cardiac scanning, including the steps of detecting a first cardiac signal; starting scanning after a pre-selected wait time after detecting the first cardiac signal; and stopping the scanning after a first to occur of passage of a pre-selected data collection time and detection of a second cardiac signal.

Abstract: One embodiment of the present invention is a method for imaging an object with a computed tomographic (CT) imaging system that includes steps of scanning an object with a beam of radiation from a CT imaging system to produce a view stream including attenuation data for the object being scanned; sensing one or more dynamic parameters relating to at least one of the object being scanned and the CT imaging system; and integrating information relating to the one or more sensed dynamic parameters into the view stream. This embodiment integrates information necessary for compensating reconstructed images directly into the view stream, thereby making the necessary information more conveniently available for such compensation.

Abstract: In one embodiment, the present invention is a method for positioning an x-ray beam on a multi-slice detector array of an imaging system in which the detector array has rows of detector elements and is configured to detect x-rays in slices along a z-axis. The method includes steps of comparing data signals representative of x-ray intensity received from different rows of detector elements and positioning the x-ray beam in accordance with a result of the comparison.

Abstract: In one embodiment of the present invention, a method is provided for analyzing performance of tracking control loop in a CT imaging system configured to position an x-ray beam using the tracking control loop. The method includes the steps of collecting control loop data over a plurality of views during scanning and of evaluating control loop data relative to the corresponding views to measure at least one imaging system characteristic. This method provides the imaging system user with data that facilitates insight into possible causes for imaging artifacts. In another embodiment, a CT imaging system is provided including a tracking control loop. The CT imaging system is configured to position an x-ray beam using the tracking control loop, collect control loop data over a plurality of views during scanning and evaluate control loop data relative to the corresponding views to measure at least one imaging system characteristic.

Abstract: Methods and corresponding apparatus for imaging a portion of a patient's body with a computed tomographic imaging system configured to scan the patient's body at a cyclically varying view angle, in which the imaging system includes a radiation source and detector array providing a fan angle width of image data. In one embodiment, the method includes axially scanning the portion of the patient's body, gating the radiation source on over less than a 360 °view angle cycle of the axial scan, acquiring image data of the portion of the patient's body during at least a portion of the time the radiation source is gated on, and assembling the acquired image data into an image of the portion of the patient's body.