General Electric Company

Ahmad Nadeem Ishaque

Peter Michael Edic

Donald E Castleberry

Dante E Piccone

Henri M Rougeot

Peter Menditto

Harvey E Cline

Alok Mani Srivastava

Holly Ann Comanzo

Emad Andarawis Andarawis

Ge Wang

Peter William Lorraine

Robert John Filkins

Xiaolei Shi

Wenxiang Cong

Vasile Bogdan Neculaes

Paul Andrew Frank

Gregory Boverman

Sam Joseph Camardello

Shankar Visranathan Guru

Douglas Ray Powell

Gene C Hilton

The present approach generally relates to systems and methods for implementing energy modulated tomographic imaging of nanoparticles. In certain embodiments, a first energy is used to activate probe particles labeling an anatomy or tissue of interest. The probe particles, once activated, emit photons at a different rate and/or spectrum in response to an underlying physiological event, such as action potentials propagating in the labeled anatomy or tissue. The emitted photons may then be detected and used to map or image the occurrence of the physiological event.

Energy modulated luminescence tomography

Techniques, hardware, and software are provided for quantification of extensional features of structures of an imaged subject from image data representing a two-dimensional or three-dimensional image. In one embodiment, stenosis in a blood vessel may be quantified from volumetric image data of the blood vessel. A profile from a selected family of profiles is fit to selected image data. An estimate of cross sectional area of the blood vessel is generated based on the fit profile. Area values may be generated along a longitudinal axis of the vessel, and a one-dimensional profile fit to the generated area values. An objective quantification of stenosis in the vessel may be obtained from the area profile. In some cases, volumetric image data representing the imaged structure may be reformatted to facilitate the quantification, when the structural feature varies along a curvilinear axis. A mask is generated for the structural feature to be quantified based on the volumetric image data. A curve representing the curvilinear axis is determined from the mask by center-finding computations, such as moment calculations, and curve fitting. Image data are generated for oblique cuts at corresponding selected orientations with respect to the curvilinear axis, based on the curve and the volumetric image data. The oblique cuts may be used for suitable further processing, such as image display or quantification.

Feature quantification from multidimensional image data

A method for arranging detector sections for an imaging system that has a field of view that is defined by a rotational axis and imaging geometry is provided. The method includes providing a plurality of detector sections, and arranging the detector sections in an asymmetric arrangement about a central axis of the field of view.

Methods and apparatus for computed tomography imaging

The present invention provides a model and a method and apparatus for utilizing the model to simulate an imaging scenario. The model is mathematically defined by analytical basis objects and/or polygonal basis objects. Preferably, the model is a model of the human heart and thorax. Polygonal basis objects are only used to define structures in the model that experience torsion, such as certain structures in the heart that experience torsion during the cardiac cycle. The manner in which the basis objects comprising the model are transformed by scaling, translation and rotation is defined for each basis object. In the case where a basis object experiences torsion, the rotation of the basis object will change as a function of the length along the axis of the basis object about which rotation is occurring. During an imaging system simulation, the model is utilized by a forward projection routine, which integrates the linear attenuation coefficients associated with the rays emitted by a simulated x-ray source and collected by a simulated detector array to obtain line integrals corresponding to forward projection data. The forward projection data is then processed to take into account the physics of the imaging technology, the x-ray source and the detector array. The processed projection data is then processed and back-projected by a reconstruction modeling routine to produce a reconstructed representation of the model of the heart as a function of time.

Mathematical model and a method and apparatus for utilizing the model

An apparatus and method used to calibrate a gamma camera include an energy source and intensity selector and an energy weighting device. The energy source provides an energy output, such as an electrical current. The intensity selector is connected to the energy source and adjusts the energy output to a predetermined energy level that corresponds to an intensity of a predetermined radioactive source. The energy weighting device is also connected to the energy source and gamma camera, and the spatial compensator creates calibration signals from the energy output of the energy source. The calibration signals are supplied to the gamma camera and used during calibration of the gamma camera in lieu of energy signals produced by the gamma camera in response to a radioactive source.

Apparatus and method for calibrating gamma cameras

An x-ray imaging system images an object by transmitting primary signals and includes a collimator placed between detectors of the x-ray imaging system. The collimator reduces respective scatter components of total signals including a primary signal component and a scatter signal component. One of the detectors detects the total signals, the collimator collimates the primary signals of the total signals focally aligned with the collimator and traveling through the one of the detectors, another of the detectors detects the collimated, primary signals. The x-ray imaging system reduces the scatter components of the total signals detected by the one of the detectors based on the detected, collimated signals and the corresponding, detected, total signals. In another aspect, a detector includes regions of reduced absorption.

Apparatus, methods, and computer programs for estimating and correcting scatter in digital radiographic and tomographic imaging

A method and apparatus for use with a volumetric computed tomography (CT) scanning system. In accordance with the present invention, the volumetric CT scanning system utilizes an area detector to acquire projection data. The acquired projection data is stored in memory. The projection data corresponding to groups of pixels of the detector is then rebinned to thereby reduce the amount of projection data that will be utilized in performing an initial volumetric reconstruction of the image. The reconstructed image may then be processed to identify particular regions of interest, such as a pathology. If a particular region of interest is identified, all of the projection data corresponding to the region is then used to retrospectively reconstruct a high resolution image of the region of interest. The retrospectively reconstructed high resolution image can then be processed and analyzed to further evaluate the region of interest.

Method and apparatus for reconstructing images from projection data acquired by a computed tomography system

A method of forming a planar semiconductor device, such as an array of APDs, includes the steps of doping a substantially planar block of n type semiconductor material with a p type dopant in accordance with a selected pattern to form a plurality of n type wells in the block surrounded by a foundation of p type semiconductor material. Each n type well is disposed so as to respectively adjoin a first surface of the block and such that a respective p-n junction is formed between the n type material in the well and the p type material foundation. The n type semiconductor material in each well has a substantially constant concentration of n type dopant throughout the n type material; the concentration of p type dopant in the foundation has a positive gradient extending from the p-n junction towards the second surface such that the peak surface electric field of the p-n junction in each well is less than the bulk electric field of the same p-n junction.

Method for fabrication of deep-diffused avalanche photodiode

A large area deep-diffused phototransistor having a photosensitive area of at least 1 mm.sup.2, and typically 25 mm.sup.2 or larger includes a light entry layer of a deep-diffused p type semiconductor material; at least one well of an n type semiconductor material that is disposed in contact with the light entry layer so as to form a first p-n junction therebetween; and a respective readout contact comprising a p type semiconductor material that is disposed in the n type well so as to form a second p-n junction. The p type material light entry layer, the n type material well, and the p type material readout contact respectively comprises the collector, base and emitter of the phototransistor. The concentration of the p type dopant in the deep diffused light entry layer has a positive gradient extending from the first p-n junction towards the surface of the light entry layer such that the concentration of the p type dopant is greater the closer the proximity to that surface. The base width of the well is selected such that capacitance of the device is in the range between 0.5 pf/mm.sup.2 and 2 pf/mm.sup.2, whereby the phototransistor provides a desired frequency response up to several GHz.

Deep-diffused phototransistor

A method of forming a planar photosensitive device, such as an array of APDs, includes the steps of doping a substantially planar block of n type semiconductor material with a p type dopant in accordance with a selected pattern to form a plurality of p type wells in the block surrounded by a foundation of n type semiconductor material. Each p type well corresponds to an APD pixel and is disposed so as to respectively adjoin a first surface of the block and such that a respective p-n junction is formed between the p type material in the well and the n type material foundation. Each APD pixel further comprises depletion layer profile modification means such that the peak surface electric field of the p-n junction in each well is substantially less than the bulk electric field of the same p-n junction. One type of depletion layer profile modification means is an peripheral doped region of p material disposed around each respective well; an alternative depletion layer profile modification means is a respective isolation moat around each well so as to separate p type material in the well from n type material in the foundation except along a parallel plane segment of the p-n junction.

Method for fabricating planar avalanche photodiode array

Deep-diffused planar avalanche photodiode

A planar photosensitive device, such as an array of APDs, includes a planar block of n type semiconductor material having a plurality of p type wells in the block surrounded by a foundation of n type semiconductor material. Each p type well corresponds to an APD pixel and is disposed so as to respectively adjoin a first surface of the block and such that a respective p-n junction is formed between the p type material in the well and the n type material foundation. Each APD pixel further comprises depletion layer profile modification means such that the peak surface electric field of the p-n junction in each well is substantially less than the bulk electric field of the same p-n junction. One type of depletion layer profile modification means is a peripheral doped region of p material disposed around each respective well; an alternative depletion layer profile modification means is a respective isolation moat around each well so as to separate p type material in the well from n type material in the foundation except along a parallel plane segment of the p-n junction.

Planar avalanche photodiode array with sidewall segment

A radiation detection device includes a scintillator having an upper scintillator body section and a lower scintillator body section. The upper section forms an arcuate-shaped cap through which the incident radiation enters the scintillator, and the lower section has sidewalls disposed at a selected taper angle with respect to the longitudinal axis of the scintillator body and an optically transmissive window disposed opposite the cap of the upper section such that optical photons can pass from the scintillator to a photodetector coupled to the window. An optically-diffuse reflective layer is disposed over the sidewalls and the cap. The sidewalls typically have a positive taper angle, being closer to one another near the optically transmissive window and farther from one another near the cap. The arcuate shape of the cap typically conforms to the arc of a circle centered on the optically transmissive window. The selected taper angle of the sidewalls and the radius of the arc of the cap are chosen to cause light photons generated within the scintillator body to be reflected from the sidewalls toward the cap and reflected from the cap towards the optically transmissive window (or reflected directly to the optically transmissive window for sidewalls having a negative taper angle) such that the photons are focussed on the window and strike the window at an angle greater than the critical angle for the scintillator-to-photodetector interface.

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Clifton Park, NY, United States of America

Ahmad Nadeem Ishaque