General Electric Company

Ge Precision Healthcare LLC

Brandon Allan Smith

Chad Allan Smith

Timothy Mathew Behlmer

Kenwood Dayton

Edward Emaci

Brian Edward Nett

Ross Christopher Stalter

John Moore Boudry

Ronald George Kulas

Michael Smith

Robert Surma

Jonathan Boutot

Alex Ryan

Mike Hebert

Jaime Lehrer

Jonathan S Maltz

Holly A McDaniel

Dominic Joseph Crotty

Changlyong Kim

Ariel Friedlander

Arka Datta

Michael D Maki

Mark Edmund Reznicek

Kentaro Ogata

Gregory Gabrysiak

Mark Tercha

Kotaro Yamaura

Benjamin Bichler

John Gilmore

Michael Eric Smith

Wesley George Heiman

Systems and methods are provided for performing computed tomography (CT) scans using different detector materials within a single CT system. In one embodiment, a CT system comprises a hybrid detector assembly coupled to a rotatable portion of a gantry of the CT system, the hybrid detector assembly including a plurality of detector arrays, the detector arrays separated along a direction parallel to an axis of motion of a table of the CT system, each detector array of the plurality of detector arrays including a different detector material. The hybrid detector assembly may be mounted on a translation mechanism configured to allow a position of the hybrid detector assembly to change within the rotatable portion of the gantry between a first acquisition of projection data and a second acquisition of projection data, to center an x-ray tube on a detector array of the hybrid detector assembly having a desired detector material.

Hybrid imaging detector configuration for computed tomography

Various systems and methods are provided for an integrated filter assembly including at least one bowtie filter and at least one beam hardening filter mounted on a carriage. In one embodiment, an imaging system may include a first carriage including at least one beam hardening filter and at least one bowtie filter, a second carriage including at least two additional bowtie filters, and a carriage driving system for moving the carriages to selectively position the at least one beam hardening filter and one of the bowtie filters in a path of an X-ray beam. The at least one beam hardening filter may overlap with at least one of the bowtie filters.

Systems and methods for an integrated filter assembly with two carriages

A scan window for an imaging system includes at least one flexible sheet made of an X-ray transparent material and having a first end and a second end. The scan window also includes at least one tapered joint formed between the first end and the second end and secured via a bonding agent to form a joined member with the at least one flexible sheet.

Joint for a scan window formed to a cylinder

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.

System and method for collimator screening in a computed tomography system

Methods and systems are provided for fasting switching a filter of an imaging system during scan. In one embodiment, a method comprises determining a first contrast enhancement of an injected contrast agent; responsive to the first contrast enhancement being higher than a first threshold, acquiring a first dataset by transmitting a radiation beam to an imaging subject via a first filter; switching to a different, second filter; acquiring a second dataset by transmitting the radiation beam to the imaging subject via the second filter, wherein an average contrast enhancement of the injected contrast agent during the acquisition of the first dataset is substantially the same as an average contrast enhancement of the injected contrast agent in the imaging subject during the acquisition of the second dataset.

Methods and systems for fast filter change

Various methods and systems are provided for an integrated filter assembly including a plurality of bowtie filters and a hardening filter mounted on a single carriage. In one embodiment, an imaging system may include a carriage including a hardening filter and one or more bowtie filters, and a filter driving system for moving the carriage to selectively position the hardening filter and one of the one or more bowtie filters in a path of a radiation beam between a radiation source and an imaging subject, the hardening filter at least partially overlapping with at least one of the one or more bowtie filters. In this way, a single carriage may include a plurality of filters which may be selectively positioned in a path of the radiation beam entering a subject without having to stack multiple carriages and switch carriages between scans.

Methods and systems for integrated filter system

Imaging apparatus

A support structure and an imaging component are provided in an imaging system. The imaging component comprises a port extension that frames an opening for x-ray emission. The support structure comprises a recess for receiving the port extension, the recess also framing an opening for x-ray transmission. The imaging system may be a computed tomography (CT) imaging system, x-ray diagnostic system, or other imaging system.

Interface for gantry and component

A collimator includes a panel and one or more blades. The panel defines an exit port, and the one or more blades are held between the panel and an X-ray source to cover at least a portion of the exit port. Each of the one or more blades has a primary blocking member and a secondary blocking member with material densities sufficient to block X-ray radiation. The primary blocking member shapes an X-ray beam emitted from the X-ray source. The secondary blocking member is secured in a fixed position relative to the primary blocking member between the primary blocking member and the panel to block scatter radiation from the X-ray beam from emanating through the exit port. The primary blocking member has a substantially non-planar surface facing toward the X-ray source. The secondary blocking member has a substantially planar surface facing toward the X-ray source.

X-ray collimator for imaging system

X-ray generator tube for a medical imaging device

An aperture comprises blocking members and for blocking X-rays. The blocking member has: an edge formed on an arc Alying on a circumference CFof a circle with radius raround a focal spot f in an XY-plane; an edge connected to one endpoint of the edge, the edge being formed to lie on the side of the X-ray detector with respect to an arc Acontiguous to the arc A; and an edge connected to the other endpoint of the edge, the edge being formed to lie on the side of the X-ray detector with respect to an arc Acontiguous to the arc A. The blocking member has: an edge formed on an arc Alying on the circumference CFof the circle with radius raround the focal spot f in the XY-plane; an edge connected to one endpoint of the edge, the edge being formed to lie on the side of the X-ray detector with respect to an arc Acontiguous to the arc Aand an edge connected to the other endpointof the edge, the edge being formed to lie on the side of the X-ray detector with respect to an arc Acontiguous to the arc A

Aperture, collimator, and X-ray tomographic imaging apparatus

A method is provided. The method includes partially supporting a subject to be imaged on a board extending from a mobile patient transport into a gantry bore of a stationary computed tomography (CT) imaging system while partially supporting both the subject and the board with a cradle extending from a table. The method also includes acquiring a single imaging volume, during an imaging scan with the stationary CT imaging system, without moving the subject.

System and method for auxiliary anatomy scanning utilizing a computed tomography (CT) system

A gantry of a tomography apparatus has a rotary member that is rotatable around an axis. The rotary member carries at least one component attached to the outside thereto. The component is attached by primary and secondary attachment mechanisms, with only the primary attachment mechanism engaged during normal operation. The secondary attachment mechanism, a T-slot interface in one embodiment, engages for safety and other reasons when the primary attachment mechanism is not functioning properly.

Rotary member with safety mechanism

Growing community of inventors

Waukesha, WI, United States of America

Brandon Allan Smith