Koninklijke Philips Corporation N.v.

Philips Intellectual Property & Standards Gmbh

Claas Bontus

Thomas Koehler

Michael Grass

Roland Proksa

Peter Forthmann

Axel Thran

Bernhard Gleich

Bernhard Johannes Brendel

Peter Koken

Udo Van Stevendaal

Thomas Köhler

Rafael Wiemker

Jochen Peters

Holger Schmitt

Liran Goshen

Dominic J Heuscher

Christian Haase

Heiner Daerr

Kevin Martin Brown

Klaus Erhard

Ingo Schmale

Andy Ziegler

Hannes Nickisch

Rolf Jürgen Weese

Ronald Bryan Sharpless

Tom Brosch

Guy A Lavi

Artur Sossin

Carsten Oliver Schirra

Johannes Bathazar Maria Soetens

Felix Peeters

Thomas KÖHLER

The present invention relates to multispectral imaging. In order to improve an identification of relevant multispectral material transitions (in particular caused by injected contrast agent), an apparatus is proposed to use the local maxima of the variances and/or covariances of the intensities of the multi-channel images to locate material transitions. In comparison to gradient vectors, the local variance is not directed and not prone to noise. An alternative apparatus is proposed to use the local covariance deficits of the intensities of the multi-channel images to locate material transitions. The proposed alternative approach is independent of spatial drifts across the image volume.

Local spectral-covariance or local spectral covariance deficits computation and display for highlighting of relevant material transitions in spectral CT and MR

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

An imaging system () includes a reconstructor () configured to reconstruct obtained cone beam projection data with a voxel-dependent redundancy weighting such that low frequency components of the cone beam projection data are reconstructed with more redundant data than high frequency components of the cone beam projection data to produce volumetric image data. A method includes reconstructing obtained cone beam projection data with a voxel-dependent redundancy weighting such that low frequency components are reconstructed with more redundant data than high frequency components to produce volumetric image data. A computer-readable storage medium, storing computer executable instructions, which when executed by a processor of a computer cause the processor to: obtain cone beam projection data and reconstruct the cone beam projection data with a voxel-dependent redundancy weighting such that low frequency components are reconstructed with more redundant data than high frequency components to produce volumetric image data.

Cone beam artifact correction for gated imaging

The invention relates to a system for reconstructing an image of an object. The system () comprises means () providing projection data acquired by an imaging unit, like a CT system, with an FOV, means () generating estimated image data indicative of a part of an object () located outside the FOV (), means () estimating virtual projection data based on virtual settings of a virtual imaging unit comprising a virtual FOV, means () generating fused projection data by fusing the provided projection data with the virtual projection data, and means () reconstructing a final image. This allows basing the reconstruction on a complete set of projection information for the object and thus providing an image with a high image quality.

System for reconstructing an image of an object

The invention refers to providing a system that allows to reduce the computational costs when using an iterative reconstructional algorithm. The system () comprises a providing unit () for providing CT projection data, a base image generation unit () for generating a base image based on the projection data, a modifying unit () for generating a modified image, wherein an image value of a voxel of the base image is modified based on the image value of the voxel, and an image reconstruction unit () for reconstructing an image using an iterative reconstruction algorithm that uses the modified image as a start image. Since the modifying unit is adapted to modify the base image, the base image can be modified such as to form an optimal start image for the chosen iterative reconstruction such that a faster convergence of the iterative reconstruction can be accomplished.

A device () for controlling an image acquisition of a multi-slice computed tomography system (), MSCT, is disclosed. The device comprises an input () for receiving projection image data from the MSCT (), an output () for controlling operation of the MSCT () and a processor (). The processor () is adapted for controlling the MSCT to acquire a large volume localizer radiograph, and for defining an organ region in the localizer radiograph that delimits an organ of interest. The processor is adapted for acquiring a large volume helical CT scan of the subject, in which an X-ray cone angle is increased when the organ region in the subject is translated into the examination volume and decreased when the organ region is translated out of the examination volume.

Adaptive helical computed tomography

The present invention relates to an apparatus and a method for influencing and/or detecting magnetic particles in a field of view (), in particular for examination of human patients. The apparatus comprises i) selection-and-focus means () for generating a magnetic selection-and-focus field (), wherein said at least one set of selection-and-focus field coils comprises&#x2014;at least one inner selection-and-focus field coil () being formed as a closed loop about an inner coil axis (), first inner selection-and-focus field coil ()&#x2014;a group of at least two outer selection-and-focus field coils (-) arranged at a larger distance from said inner coil axis () than said at least one inner selection-and-focus field coil () and at different angular positions, each being formed as a closed loop about an associated outer coil axis (-), and ii) drive means () comprising a drive field signal generator unit () and drive field coils () for changing the position in space and/or size of the two sub-zones () in the field of view () by means of a magnetic drive field so that the magnetization of the magnetic material changes locally.

Apparatus and method for influencing and/or detecting magnetic particles having a large field of view

A method and system to perform region-of-interest (ROI) reconstruction is provided, even if the original projection data are truncated. The reconstruction is performed on a superset of the ROI, including the ROI as well as other areas which are outside the scan field-of-view of the imaging system but still within the imaging bore.

Reconstruction of a region-of-interest image

Method for influencing and/or detecting magnetic particles in a field of view. Selection coils/magnets generate a magnetic selection field and drive coils generate a magnetic drive field for moving a field-free point along a predetermined trajectory through the field of view, changing the magnetization of the magnetic material locally. The drive field comprises a time-dependent oscillating drive field current per drive field coil having one or more individual oscillating frequencies and one or more individual current amplitudes and being generated by a corresponding drive field voltage generated by a superposition of a number of drive field voltage components including a drive field voltage component per drive field coil, wherein a drive field voltage component corresponding to a drive field coil comprises one or more sub-components, each having an individual voltage amplitude and having the same individual oscillating frequency as the respective drive field current of said particular drive field coil.

Apparatus and method for influencing and/or detecting magnetic particles

A medical imaging system includes a generally stationary gantry () and a rotating gantry (), rotatably supported by the generally stationary gantry (), that rotates about a longitudinal axis around an examination region. The medical imaging system further includes a radiation source () that emits a radiation beam that traverses the examination region. The radiation source () is moveably affixed to the rotating gantry () so as to translate in a direction of the longitudinal axis with respect to the rotating gantry () while scanning a subject in the examination region. The medical imaging system further includes a detector array () that detects the radiation beam that traverses the examination region and generates a signal indicative thereof. The detector array () is moveably affixed to the rotating gantry () so as to move in coordination with the radiation source () while scanning the subject in the examination region.

Source and/or detector positioning system

The invention relates to an imaging system for imaging a region of interest comprising a moving object, which moves less in small motion phases than in large motion phases. Detection values are provided and a small motion determination unit () determines the motion of the object in the region of interest in the small motion phases from the 5 detection values. A large motion determination unit () determines the motion of the object in the large motion phases from the determined motion of the object in the small motion phases. A reconstruction unit () reconstructs an image of the region of interest from the detection values, wherein the reconstruction unit () is adapted for performing a motion compensation using the determined motions in the small and large motion phases.

Imaging system for imaging a region of interest in different phases

A scanning method and apparatus useful for correcting artifacts which may appear in a primary short circular CT scan are provided. A secondary helical scan performed on a stationary subject, or a secondary circular scan, may be used to correct for artifacts. The secondary scan may be performed with a smaller radiation dosage than the primary circular CT scan.

Method and apparatus for correcting artifacts in circular CT scans

The present invention relates to an imaging system for imaging a field of interest, in particular to a computed tomography system. The imaging system comprises an irradiation unit () which moves relative to a field of interest along a first trajectory () and along a second trajectory (). While the irradiation unit () moves along the first trajectory (), first detection data are acquired and, while the irradiation unit () moves along the second trajectory (), second detection data are acquired. An intermediate image of the field of interest is reconstructed from at least the second detection data, and virtual detection data are determined by forward projection through the intermediate image. Finally, an image of the field of interest is reconstructed from the first detection data and the virtual detection data.

Imaging system

The invention relates to a computed tomography method in which a periodically moving object is irradiated by a conical beam bundle. An nPi-relative movement is generated between a radiation source, which generates the conical beam bundle, and the object. During the nPi-relative movement, measured values are acquired, which depend on the intensity in the beam bundle on the other side of the object and from these measured values filter values are determined, which are divided into different groups. The filter values of at least one group are weighted in dependence on the movement of the object, wherein, when filter values of several groups are weighted, filter values of different groups are weighted differently in dependence on the movement of the object. Finally, a CT image of the object is reconstructed from the filter values.

Computed tomography method with helical relative movement and conical beam bundle

A computer tomography apparatus () for examination of an object of interest () comprising an electromagnetic radiation source () adapted to emit electromagnetic radiation to an object of interest (), a detecting device () adapted to detect electromagnetic radiation generated by the electromagnetic radiation source () and passed through the object of interest (), and a motion generation device () adapted to move the electromagnetic radiation source () and the detecting device () with respect to the object of interest () along a first trajectory and along a second trajectory which differs from the first trajectory, wherein the second trajectory is selected in such a manner that electromagnetic radiation detected during performing the second trajectory provides data which complete mathematically incomplete data detected during performing the first trajectory to thereby allow a reconstruction of structural information concerning the object of interest ().

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Hamburg, Germany

Claas Bontus