Koninklijke Philips Corporation N.v.

Koninklike Philips N.v.

Axel Thran

Roland Proksa

Ewald Roessl

Heiner Daerr

Thomas Koehler

Bernhard Johannes Brendel

Michael Grass

Peter Forthmann

Claas Bontus

Rolf Dieter Bippus

Artur Sossin

Dirk Schaefer

Klaus Erhard

Bernd R David

Carsten Oliver Schirra

Cornelis Reinder Ronda

Christoph Herrmann

Gereon Vogtmeier

Roger Steadman Booker

Gregory M Lanza

Robert Manzke

Dominic J Heuscher

Christian Haase

Kevin Martin Brown

Frank Bergner

Jens-Peter Schlomka

Ronald Bryan Sharpless

Hans Barschdorf

Jens Peter Schlomka

Manindranath Vembar

Geoffry Harding

Cristian Buerger

Felix Peeters

Tanja Elss

Johannes Bathazar Maria Soetens

A spectral X-ray imaging system () includes an X-ray source () and an X-ray detector () that are mounted to a support structure (). The support structure () is configured to rotate the X-ray source () and the X-ray detector () around two or more orthogonal axes (A-A', B-B′). One or more processors () are configured to cause the system () to perform operations that include: generating a spectral image based on the spectral image data; and identifying, in the spectral image, a position of a first fiducial marker () comprising a first material, based on a first X-ray absorption k-edge energy value () of the first material.

X-ray position tracking

A radiation detector () adapted for detecting leakage currents is disclosed and comprises a direct conversion material () for converting incident radiation, at least one first electrode () and a plurality of second electrodes () connected to surfaces of the direct conversion material () for collecting each generated charges upon application of an electric field, at least one current measurement device (), and a plurality of signal processing chains (). Each signal processing chain comprises a readout unit () for discriminating between energy values with respect to the incident radiation, and a switching element () for sending signals on a first signal path () electrically connecting one of the plurality of second electrodes with the readout unit, or on a second signal path electrically connecting the one of the plurality of second electrodes with an input to one of the at least one current measurement devices. A plurality of switching elements is configured to send signals on the second signal path for measuring a leakage current received at a corresponding plurality of second electrodes of the detector in the absence of incident radiation.

Photon counting spectral CT

The invention relates to an image reconstruction apparatus comprising a detector value providing unit for providing detector values for each detector element of a plurality of detector elements forming a radiation detector and for each energy bin of a plurality of predefined energy bins, a correlation value providing unit for providing correlation values, wherein a correlation value is indicative of a correlation of a detector value detected by a detector element in an energy bin with at least one of a) a detector value detected by another detector element in the energy bin, b) a detector value detected by another detector element in another energy bin, and c) a detector value detected by the detector element in another energy bin, and a spectral image reconstruction unit for reconstructing a spectral image based on the detector values and the correlation values.

Apparatus, system, method and computer program for reconstructing a spectral image of a region of interest of an object

A method for operating a cardiac CT imaging system () in coronary CT with prospective electrocardiography-triggering of the imaging system () is proposed. The method comprises the steps of determining a plurality of R-peak times (ti) from a dataset of electrocardiography data, determining a variability of a heart rate by statistically analyzing the determined R-peak times (ti), and automatically adjusting an acquisition time period (&#x394;T) of the CT imaging system () for acquiring projection data based on the determined variability of the heart rate.

Cardiac computed tomography

Motion compensated reconstruction is currently not well-suited for reconstructing the valve, the valve leaflets and the neighboring vascular anatomy of the heart. Blurring of the valve and the valve leaflets occurs. This may lead to wrong diagnosis. A new approach for motion compensated reconstruction of the valve and the related anatomy is presented in which an edge-enhancing step is performed to suppress blurring.

Motion compensated cardiac valve reconstruction

A medical imaging system () includes a masking unit (), an image registration unit (), a motion estimator () and a motion compensating reconstructor (). The masking unit constructs a mask for each reconstructed volumetric phase image of a plurality of reconstructed volumetric phase images that masks portions of a corresponding image external to an anatomical model fitted to a segmented at least one anatomical structure, 5 wherein the plurality of reconstructed volumetric phase images include a target phase and a plurality of temporal neighboring phases reconstructed from projection data. The image registration unit registers the masked reconstructed volumetric phase images. The motion estimator estimates motion between the target phase and the plurality of temporal neighboring phases according to the model based on the registered masked reconstructed 10 volumetric phase images. The motion compensating reconstructor reconstructs a motion compensated medical image from the projection data using the estimated motion of the registered masked reconstructed volumetric phase images.

Model regularized motion compensated medical image reconstruction

The present invention relates to an anti-scatter grid (ASG) assembly comprising a first and a second grid, wherein the second grid is arranged on top of the first grid and comprises a lateral shift. The lamella thickness of the first grid is smaller than the lamella thickness of the second grid. The present invention further relates to a detector arrangement comprising a pixel detector and an ASG assembly arranged on top of the pixel detector.

Anti-scatter grid assembly for detector arrangement

An imaging system includes radiation source that emits radiation that traverses an examination region and a portion of a subject therein and a detector array that detects radiation that traverses the examination region and the portion of the subject therein and generates a signal indicative thereof. A volume scan parameter recommender recommends at least one spectral scan parameter value for a volume scan of the portion of the subject based on a spectral decomposition of first and second 2D projections acquired by the radiation source and detector array. The first and second 2D projections have different spectral characteristics. A console employs the recommended at least one spectral scan parameter value to perform the volume scan of the portion of the subject.

Spectral imaging

An imaging system includes a radiation source () configured to rotate about an examination region () and emit radiation that traverses the examination region. The imaging system further includes an array of radiation sensitive pixels () configured to detect radiation traversing the examination region and output a signal indicative of the detected radiation. The array of radiation sensitive pixels is disposed opposite the radiation source, across the examination region. The imaging system further includes a rigid flux filter device () disposed in the examination region between the radiation source and the radiation sensitive detector array of photon counting pixels. The rigid flux filter device is configured to filter the radiation traversing the examination region and incident thereon. The radiation leaving the rigid flux filter device has a predetermined flux.

X-ray flux reducer for a photon counting detector

An imaging system includes radiation source () that emits radiation that traverses an examination region and a portion of a subject therein and a detector array () that detects radiation that traverses the examination region and the portion of the subject therein and generates a signal indicative thereof. A volume scan parameter recommender () recommends at least one spectral scan parameter value for a volume scan of the portion of the subject based on a spectral decomposition of first and second 2D projections acquired by the radiation source and detector array. The first and second 2D projections have different spectral characteristics. A console () employs the recommended at least one spectral scan parameter value to perform the volume scan of the portion of the subject.

The invention relates to an image generation apparatus () for generating an image of an object. A reconstruction unit () reconstructs the image based on provided measured projection values such that costs defined by a cost function are reduced, wherein the cost function depends on differences between calculated projection values, which have been determined by simulating a forward projection through the image, and the provided measured projection values, and wherein a degree of dependence of the cost function on a respective difference depends on the respective difference. This can allow for a consideration of a degree of disturbance of the measured projection values by motion and/or by an incomplete illumination of the object during the reconstruction process, which can lead to a reconstruction of an image having an improved image quality.

Image generation apparatus

The invention relates to a photon counting x-ray radiation detection system. The system () comprises an x-ray radiation device () for providing polychromatic x-ray radiation () for traversing an examination zone () during a detection period of a scan. A photon counting detection device () comprising detection elements () detects the x-ray radiation after having traversed the examination zone and measures for each detection element photon counts in one or more energy bins during the detection period. A correction unit () estimates for each detection element an amount of a build up charge present in the detection element and corrects the measured photon counts for the detection element based on the estimated amount of the build up charge. This allows the corruption of the photon count rates caused by the build up charges to be compensated and to improve the determination of the photon counts.

Correcting photon counts in a photon counting X-ray radiation detection system

The invention relates to a detection apparatus for detecting radiation. The detection apparatus comprises a GOS material () for generating scintillation light depending on the detected radiation (), an optical filter () for reducing the intensity of a part of the scintillation light having a wavelength being larger than 650 nm, and a detection unit () for detecting the filtered scintillation light. Because of the filtering procedure relatively slow components, i.e. components corresponding to a relatively large decay time, of the scintillation light weakly constribute to the detection process or are not detected at all by the detection unit, thereby increasing the temporal resolution of the detection apparatus. The resulting fast detection apparatus can be suitable for kVp-switching computed tomography systems.

Detection apparatus for detecting radiation

A method includes analyzing a spectral projection image of a portion of a subject, generating a value quantifying an amount of a target specific contrast material in a region of interest of the spectral projection image, and generating a signal indicative of a presence of the target in response to the value satisfying a predetermined threshold level.

The present invention discloses a method to calibrate a photon counting detector (). An absorption filter () is moved transversely through a photon beam () emitted towards the detector () to average out the effect of inhomogeneties of the absorption filter (). The invention also relates to an absorption filter assembly and an imaging device () comprising such an absorption filter assembly.

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Hamburg, Germany

Axel Thran