Ge Precision Healthcare LLC

Arka Datta

John Moore Boudry

Brian Edward Nett

Chelsey Amanda Lewis

Brandon Allan Smith

John Howard Londt

Adam Israel Cohen

Zhoubo Li

Roy-Arnulf Helge Nilsen

Ryan James Lemminger

Krista Mae McClure

Daniel Joseph Grieshop

Adam Cohen

A method includes obtaining an electrocardiogram (ECG) signal during a scan of a heart of a subject with a CT scanner. The method includes calculating temporal R-R electrocardiogram interval measurements from the ECG signal. The method includes monitoring whether any irregular cardiac cycles are detected in the temporal R-R electrocardiogram interval measurements. The method includes determining whether an initial Z coverage of the scan is sufficient for obtaining an artifact free image of the heart at a target phase when one or more irregular cardiac cycles are detected. The method includes determining a required Z coverage to obtain the artifact free image of the heart at the target phase when the initial Z coverage is not sufficient. The method includes initiating a rescan of the heart to obtain the required Z coverage while continuing both to obtain the ECG signal and to monitor for any irregular cardiac cycles.

System and method for adaptive data acquisition for helical cardiac computed tomography

Methods and systems are provided for calibrating a medical imaging system. In one example, a method includes identifying a calibration vector to be updated based on an artifact in an image acquired with the medical imaging system, determining calibration data to be obtained with the medical imaging system based on the calibration vector, obtaining the calibration data with the medical imaging system, and updating the calibration vector based on the calibration data.

Systems and methods for image artifact mitigation with targeted modular calibration

A system and a method for maintaining an X-ray focal spot position at a desired location on an X-ray detector of an X-ray imaging system include obtaining, via processing circuitry, a scan protocol for performing an X-ray scan with the X-ray imaging system. The system and the method also include determining, via the processing circuitry, a bending magnet current value to utilize to maintain the X-ray focal spot position of an X-ray beam emitted from an X-ray tube of the X-ray imaging system at the desired location on the X-ray detector based on a plurality of acquisition parameters of the X-ray scan. The system and the method further include utilizing, via the processing circuitry, the bending magnet current value during the X-ray scan to maintain the X-ray focal spot position at the desired location on the X-ray detector.

System and method for a built-in alignment mechanism for an X-ray focal spot

Systems/techniques that facilitate thermally adaptive scan sequencing for computed tomography scanners are provided. In various embodiments, a system can access a set of scanning protocols performable by a computed tomography scanner. In various aspects, the system can further access a current thermal state of the computed tomography scanner. In various instances, the system can identify, in the set of scanning protocols and based on the current thermal state, a scanning protocol that is predicted to reduce or control thermal stresses experienced by the computed tomography scanner. In various cases, the system can cause the computed tomography scanner to perform the identified scanning protocol.

Thermally adaptive scan sequencing for computed tomography scanners

Methods and systems are provided for aiding a subject of a medical imaging exam in performing coached breathing. In one embodiment, a method for a medical imaging system comprises generating a three-dimensional (3-D) virtual representation of a portion of a surface of a chest and/or abdomen of a subject of the medical imaging system, the portion adjustable in size by an operator of the medical imaging system; displaying changes in the 3-D virtual representation to the subject on a display device of the medical imaging system while the subject breathes, in real time; displaying instructions to the subject on the display device to perform coached breathing in accordance with a selected breathing pattern, using the 3-D virtual representation as a guide; and in response to detecting a deviation of a breathing pattern of the subject from the selected breathing pattern, indicating the deviation to the subject.

Coached breathing system for medical imaging

A method includes receiving data acquired with a light detection and ranging (LiDAR) scanning system physically coupled to a computed tomography (CT) imaging system of a subject to be imaged disposed on a cradle of a table, wherein the table is configured to move the subject into and out of a bore of a gantry of the CT imaging system. The method also includes generating a multi-dimensional avatar of the subject representing a topography of the subject. The method further includes causing display of the multi-dimensional avatar positioned on the cradle that represents a current position of the subject on the display, wherein the display is disposed adjacent the table within view of the subject. The method even further includes providing instructions on the display to enable the subject to guide themselves to a target position on the cradle for a CT scan with the CT imaging system.

System and method for a LIDAR guided patient positioning apparatus for a computed tomography system

An imaging system and method for using the imaging system are described. In one example, a method of creating representative position information of a patient during a medical imaging scan is provided. The method includes, prior to performing a medical imaging scan, performing initial LiDAR data acquisition to obtain baseline LiDAR data, performing segmentation of the baseline LiDAR data, wherein the baseline LiDAR data includes a three-dimensional (3D) point cloud model, performing continuous LiDAR data acquisition to obtain continuous LiDAR data, which includes a real-time 3D point cloud model, and comparing the baseline LiDAR data with the continuous LiDAR data to detect motion of a patient.

System and method for LiDAR guided auto gating in a CT imaging system

A medical imaging system includes a CT imaging system including a gantry having a bore, rotatable about an axis of rotation. The CT imaging system includes a table configured to move a subject to be imaged into and out of the bore, a radiation source mounted on the gantry and configured to emit an X-ray beam, and a detector configured to detect the X-ray beam. The medical imaging system includes a LiDAR scanning system physically coupled to the CT imaging system. The LiDAR scanning system is configured to acquire data of the subject from different angular positions relative to the axis of rotation. The medical imaging system includes processing circuitry configured to receive the data acquired with the LiDAR scanning system, to generate a three-dimensional (3D) measurement of the subject, and to utilize the 3D measurement in a subsequent workflow process for a CT scan of the subject.

System and method for incorporating lidar-based techniques with a computed tomography system

Systems/techniques that facilitate low-cost estimation and/or tracking of intra-scan focal-spot displacement are provided. In various embodiments, a system can cause a medical imaging scanner to perform an air scan. In various aspects, the system can access data produced by the medical imaging scanner and relating to the air scan, where the data can include a set of gantry angles swept by an X-ray tube during the air scan, where the data can include a set of intensity value matrices recorded by a multi-channel-multi-row detector during the air scan, and where the set of intensity value matrices respectively correspond to the set of gantry angles. In various instances, the system can compute a set of channel-spanning intensity slopes based on the set of intensity value matrices. In various cases, the system can apply a slope-to-displacement transfer function to the set of channel-spanning intensity slopes, thereby yielding a set of focal-spot displacements.

Low-cost estimation and/or tracking of intra-scan focal-spot displacement

A computer-implemented method includes obtaining, at a processor, a tomographic image of a phantom, wherein the phantom includes heterogeneous regions having a plurality of materials with varying attenuation coefficients. The method also includes automatically segmenting, via the processor, the heterogeneous regions from the tomographic image to generate a segmented image. The method further includes automatically identifying, via the processor, a plurality of regions of interest having varying attenuation coefficients within the tomographic image based on the segmented image. The method still further includes automatically labeling, via the processor, each region of interest of the plurality of regions of interest as representing a particular material of the plurality of materials. The method even further includes outputting, via the processor, a labeled image of the tomographic image. The method may be utilized in quality assurance testing and calibration.

System and method for autonomous identification of heterogeneous phantom regions

A method for verifying aperture positions of a pre-patient collimator of a computed tomography (CT) imaging system includes obtaining data collected by an X-ray measurement device having detector elements subjected to X-rays emitted from an X-ray source of the CT imaging system with the pre-patient collimator at an expected aperture position. The method also includes calculating a measured collimator aperture position for the pre-patient collimator based on the obtained data. The method further includes comparing the measured collimator aperture position to a system specification for the expected aperture position for the CT imaging system. The method even further includes generating an output based on the comparison of the measured collimator aperture position to the system specification.

Growing community of inventors

Waukegan, IL, United States of America

Arka Datta