General Electric Company

George E Seidenschnur

Thomas L Toth

Hui David He

Jiang Hsieh

Fang Frank Dong

Thomas John Myers

Neil Barry Bromberg

Gary R Strong

David Michael Hoffman

Robert F Senzig

Guy M Besson

Hui Hu

Jianying Li

Armin H Pfoh

Paul C Schanen

Jonathan Alan Murray

Willi W Hampel

Brian James Grekowicz

Anne Marie Conry

Rudolph T Kopp, Iii

Zachary William Sopcak

Methods and apparatus for producing an image of an object with a multi-slice imaging apparatus having a row of detectors are provided. The method includes generating a first partial image using projection data acquired at a first imaging position in a step-and-shoot imaging mode, generating a second partial image using projection data acquired at a second imaging position, and combining the partial images to form a final image.

Methods and apparatus for image reconstruction

Method and apparatus for locally enhancing image data represented as pixels having CT numbers is provided. The image data includes bony structures, and the method comprises segmenting pixels within the image data into areas based on the pixel's CT number. A first area represents a combination of soft tissue and lower density bones and a second area represents higher density bones. A subset of pixels is identified within the first area representative of the lower density bones. An enhancement is applied to the subset of pixels within the first area and to the second area to create an enhanced dataset, and a locally enhanced image is generated based on the image data and the enhanced dataset.

Method and apparatus for improving inner auditory canal images

The present invention is, in one embodiment, a method for determining tracking control parameters for positioning an x-ray beam of a computed tomography imaging system having a movable collimator positionable in steps and a detector array including a plurality of rows of detector elements. The method includes steps of obtaining detector samples at a series of collimator step positions while determining a position of a focal spot of the x-ray beam; determining a beam position for each detector element at each collimator step utilizing the determined focal spot positions, a nominal focal spot length, and geometric parameters of the x-ray beam, collimator, and detector array; and determining a calibration parameter utilizing information so obtained. For example, in determining a target beam position at which to maintain the x-ray beam, a detector element differential error is determined according to ratios of successive collimator step positions; and a target beam position is selected for an isocenter element in accordance with the determined element differential errors.

Methods and apparatus for calibrating CT x-ray beam tracking loop

The present invention, in one form, is an imaging system which, in one embodiment, alters the configuration of a detector array and a data acquisition system to determine degraded component performance and generate fault isolation information. More specifically, by altering the configuration to include different combinations of detector array cells, interconnections, and one or more data acquisition channels, fault isolation information is generated.

Methods and apparatus for troubleshooting scaleable multislice imaging system

The present invention is, in one aspect, an imaging system having a detector that has multiple detector cells extending along a z-axis, the detector being configured to collect multiple slices of data; and a scalable data acquisition system configured to convert signals from the detector to digital form, the scalable data acquisition system having a plurality of converter boards each with a plurality of channels, the channels and detector cells having an interweaved coupling to reduce susceptibility to band artifact.

Scalable multislice imaging system

The present invention, in one form, is a system which, in one embodiment, varies DAS gain to better accommodate different scanning parameters between different scans, even at the same slice thickness. Specifically, in one embodiment, the DAS gain is varied, or modulated, as a function of slice thickness, x-ray tube current and voltage levels, scan time, and average detector gain. The DAS gain is modulated using a gain factor Gain.sub.-- Fac which is determined in accordance with each of the above-mentioned scanning parameters. The gain factor Gain.sub.-- Fac is then used to determine an appropriate DAS gain for such parameters. Particularly, DAS gains are stored in a look-up table in the CT system computer, and the gain factor Gain.sub.-- Fac is used to select the appropriate DAS gain from the look-up table. The determined DAS gain is then utilized to correct data acquired during a scan.

Methods and apparatus for modulating data acquisition system gain

Growing community of inventors

Waukesha, WI, United States of America

George E Seidenschnur