General Electric Company

Ge Precision Healthcare LLC

Dominic Joseph Crotty

Franco Rupcich

Jiahua Fan

Mark Vincent Profio

Grant Morey Stevens

Darin Robert Okerlund

John Howard Londt

John Irvin Jackson

Roy A Nilsen

Jean-Baptiste Thibault

Chelsey Amanda Lewis

Yannan Jin

Brandon Allan Smith

Bradley Jay Gabrielse

John Moore Boudry

Holly A McDaniel

Roy-Arnulf Helge Nilsen

Mary Sue Kulpins

Timothy Mathew Behlmer

Xiaoyu Tian

Tal Gilat Schmidt

Christine Carol Hammond

Sylvie Jacquot-Ingles

Parag Khobragade

François Gardavaud

Alain Luciani

Hugo Pasquier

Methods and systems are provided for adjusting medical imaging parameters based on imaging parameters used during a previous imaging session. In one embodiment, a method for a computed tomography (CT) system includes reducing a radiation level of at least one CT scan of one or more successive CT scans performed on a patient based on CT scan information obtained from a previous CT scan performed on the patient, the radiation level reduced relative to a radiation level of the previous CT scan.

Methods and system for optimizing an imaging scan based on a prior scan

Methods and systems are provided for improving image quality with three-dimensional (3D) scout scans for computed tomography (CT) imaging. In one embodiment, a method comprises reconstructing an image from projection data acquired during a diagnostic scan of a patient with corrections based on scout projection data acquired during a 3D scout scan of the patient. In this way, the image quality of a diagnostic image can be improved by using 3D scout data to correct projection data or image data.

Systems and methods for improving image quality with three-dimensional scout

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

Methods and systems are provided for profile-based selection of imaging parameters for a clinical context. In one embodiment, a method comprises selecting a profile based on an indication of clinical context for a scan of a patient, selecting one or more sub-profiles based on the profile, selecting imaging settings for the scan based on the profile and the one or more sub-profiles, and performing the scan according to the selected imaging settings. In this way, a scan prescription may be defined more efficiently and personally for a patient while improving quality assurance and managing an x-ray radiation dose of the patient.

Systems and methods for profile-based scanning

Various methods and systems are provided for x-ray tube conditioning for a computed tomography imaging method. In one embodiment, a scout scan may be carried out prior to a diagnostic to warmup the x-ray tube to a desired temperature for the diagnostic scan. A scout scan parameter optimizing algorithm may be used to determine scout scan parameters based on a selected patient absorbed dose range and an amount of energy to be imparted to an x-ray tube during the scout scan preceding a diagnostic scan. By using a hardening filter in the path of the x-ray beam, radiation absorbed dose of the subject being scanned may be limited to the selected patient absorbed dose range.

Methods and systems for X-ray tube conditioning

Computed tomography (CT) imaging system has at least one processing unit configured to receive operator inputs that include a modified system feature and a clinical task having a task object and also receive operator inputs for determining a task-based image quality (IQ) metric. The task-based IQ metric represents a desired overall image quality of image data for performing the clinical task. The image data acquired using a reference system feature. The at least one processing unit is also configured to determine an exposure-control parameter based on the task object, the modified system feature, and the task-based IQ metric. The at least one processing unit is also configured to direct the x-ray source to generate the x-ray beam during the CT scan, wherein at least one of the tube current or the tube potential during the CT scan is a function of the exposure-control parameter.

CT imaging system and method using a task-based image quality metric to achieve a desired image quality

Methods, apparatus, systems and articles of manufacture to correct the measurement of water equivalent diameter in Computed Tomography (CT) imaging when patients are miscentered are disclosed. A disclosed example apparatus includes a patient size characteristic calculator to calculate a set of patient size characteristics for a set of axial slices along a height of the patient. The apparatus further includes a patient size characteristic corrector module to calculate a set of correction factors for the set of patient size characteristics and apply the set of correction factors to the set of patient size characteristics. The apparatus further includes a computation manager to utilize a set of corrected patient size characteristics for the set of axial slices along the height of the patient to perform a CT scan on the patient by modulating an X-ray current to control a radiation dose applied to the patient.

Methods and apparatus to correct the measurement of water equivalent diameter in computed tomography when patients are miscentered

An imaging system is provided including a selectable pre-object filter module, a detector, and a processing unit. The selectable pre-object filter module is configured to absorb radiation from the X-ray source to control distribution of X-rays passed to an object to be imaged. The selectable pre-object filter module has plural pre-object filter configurations providing corresponding X-ray distributions, and is selectable between the plural configurations to provide a selected pre-object filter configuration for a scan of the object. The detector is configured to receive X-rays that have passed through the object. The processing unit is operably coupled to the selectable pre-object filter module and the detector, and is configured to identify an anatomy to be imaged, determine a corresponding image quality and radiation dose for each of the plural pre-object filter configurations; and select the selected pre-object filter configuration based upon the determined corresponding image qualities and radiation doses.

Systems and methods for selecting bowtie filter configuration

A computer-implemented method for generating and simulating a computed tomography (CT) protocol is provided. The method includes receiving, via a graphical user interface, at a processor user input including patient population size settings and scan technique settings for modeling the effects of the scan technique settings across a patient population as a function of patient size. The method also includes generating, via the processor, a patient population profile based on at least the patient population size settings and the scan technique settings, wherein the patient population profile includes specific CT scan technique settings to be applied across different size ranges of the patient population as a function of patient size. The method further includes displaying, on the graphical user interface, one or more visualization elements illustrating the effect of these specific CT scan technique settings on specific imaging metrics across the patient population.

System and method for generating and performing imaging protocol simulations

Methods and systems are provided for automatic exposure control in computed tomography imaging systems. In one embodiment, a method comprises in response to an object-specific dose metric input by a user via a user interface operably coupled to a scanner, predicting an image quality of a diagnostic scan, calculating an output level of a source of the scanner for the image quality, and performing the diagnostic scan at the output level when the image quality is higher than a threshold. In this way, patient-specific image quality settings may be determined.

Methods and systems for computed tomography

Methods and systems are provided for automated tube current modulation (ATCM). In one embodiment, a method for an imaging system comprises: calculating a desired dose level based on a clinical task, a size of a subject to be scanned, and an image quality level; generating a scan protocol based on a relation between the image quality level and at least one characteristic of the imaging system; and performing a scan of the subject at the desired dose level and according to the generated scan protocol. In this way, ATCM can be optimized based on elements that impact image quality such as the clinical task, the physical characteristics of the imaging system, the individual patient, and the reader's preference.

Methods and systems for automated tube current modulation

An imaging system is provided including an adjustable source collimator, an input unit, and a processing unit. The adjustable source collimator is configured to be interposed between an X-ray source and an object to be imaged, and is adjustable between plural settings corresponding to different amounts of collimation of rays from the X-ray source. The input unit is configured to obtain an input identifying a portion to be imaged of the object. The processing unit is operably coupled to the input unit and the adjustable source collimator, and configured to obtain the input. The processing unit is also configured to determine a prescribed collimation configuration to perform a scan of the portion to be imaged based on the input, the prescribed collimation configuration having a corresponding scanning volume that includes the portion to be imaged.

Growing community of inventors

Waukesha, WI, United States of America

Dominic Joseph Crotty