Ge Precision Healthcare LLC

General Electric Company

Ge Medical Systems Global Technology Company, LLC

John Moore Boudry

Arka Datta

Sergio Lemaitre

Scott William Petrick

Jiahua Fan

Brandon Allan Smith

Adam Israel Cohen

Ryan James Lemminger

Jibril Odogba

George E Possin

Douglas Albagli

Kenneth Scott Kump

Jean-Baptiste Thibault

Brian Edward Nett

Chelsey Amanda Lewis

Paul Richard Granfors

Rowland F Saunders

Richard Aufrichtig

Ping Xue

Chad Allan Smith

Naveen Stephan Chandra

Yannan Jin

Bradley Jay Gabrielse

Donald Fayette Langler

John Howard Londt

Richard Gordon Cronce

Dominic Joseph Crotty

Adam Gregory Pautsch

Douglas I Perry

Ariel Friedlander

Jean-Francois Larroux

John French

Ken Scott Kump

Jaime Lehrer

Joshua Thomas Lamb

Richard Leparmentier

Barry Fredric Belanger

Spencer Cutler

Douglas Grant

Johanna Sumner

Krista Mae McClure

Methods and systems are provided for repairing a defective segment of a sensor array of a photon counting detector of a photon counting computed tomography (PCCT) imaging system. In one example, a method for a PCCT imaging system comprises dividing a segment of the sensor array into a plurality of sub-segments, wherein each sub-segment of the plurality of sub-segments is electrically coupled to a readout electronics, the readout electronics configured to calculate a photon count for the segment; generating a total photon count for the divided segment based on combined electrical signals produced at each sub-segment of the divided segment; and reconstructing an image based on the total photon count at the divided segment. A defect detected in the divided segment may be traced to a defective sub-segment, which may be isolated from the readout electronics, thereby increasing a quality of the reconstructed image.

Photon counting computed tomography (PCCT) detector sensor repair for increased sensor yield

Methods and systems are provided for increasing a quality of computed tomography (CT) images. In one embodiment, a CT system comprises an X-ray tube and an X-ray controller including one or more processors having executable instructions stored in a non-transitory memory of the CT system that, when executed, cause the one or more processors to, during a first view of a CT scan of an object, focus an electron beam at a first focal spot on a target of the X-ray tube, the first focal spot of a first size; during a second view of the CT scan, focus the electron beam at a second focal spot on the target, the second focal spot of a second size different from the first size; and reconstruct an image of the object from projection data including the first view and the second view.

Systems and methods for computed tomography

Systems/techniques that facilitate thermally adaptive scan sequencing for computed tomography scanners are provided. In various embodiments, a system can access a set of scanning protocols performable by a computed tomography scanner. In various aspects, the system can further access a current thermal state of the computed tomography scanner. In various instances, the system can identify, in the set of scanning protocols and based on the current thermal state, a scanning protocol that is predicted to reduce or control thermal stresses experienced by the computed tomography scanner. In various cases, the system can cause the computed tomography scanner to perform the identified scanning protocol.

Thermally adaptive scan sequencing for computed tomography scanners

A method includes receiving data acquired with a light detection and ranging (LiDAR) scanning system physically coupled to a computed tomography (CT) imaging system of a subject to be imaged disposed on a cradle of a table, wherein the table is configured to move the subject into and out of a bore of a gantry of the CT imaging system. The method also includes generating a multi-dimensional avatar of the subject representing a topography of the subject. The method further includes causing display of the multi-dimensional avatar positioned on the cradle that represents a current position of the subject on the display, wherein the display is disposed adjacent the table within view of the subject. The method even further includes providing instructions on the display to enable the subject to guide themselves to a target position on the cradle for a CT scan with the CT imaging system.

System and method for a LIDAR guided patient positioning apparatus for a computed tomography system

A computer-implemented method includes obtaining, at a processor, a tomographic image of a phantom, wherein the phantom includes heterogeneous regions having a plurality of materials with varying attenuation coefficients. The method also includes automatically segmenting, via the processor, the heterogeneous regions from the tomographic image to generate a segmented image. The method further includes automatically identifying, via the processor, a plurality of regions of interest having varying attenuation coefficients within the tomographic image based on the segmented image. The method still further includes automatically labeling, via the processor, each region of interest of the plurality of regions of interest as representing a particular material of the plurality of materials. The method even further includes outputting, via the processor, a labeled image of the tomographic image. The method may be utilized in quality assurance testing and calibration.

System and method for autonomous identification of heterogeneous phantom regions

Systems/techniques that facilitate correction of intra-scan focal-spot displacement are provided. In various embodiments, a system can access a first gantry angle of a medical scanner. In various aspects, the system can determine a first displacement of a focal-spot of the medical scanner based on the first gantry angle, by referencing a mapping that correlates gantry angles to focal-spot displacements. In various instances, the system can compensate, via one or more focal-spot position adjusters of the medical scanner, for the first displacement.

Correction of intra-scan focal-spot displacement

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 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

A system and method for calibrating an X-ray tube is provided in which the X-ray tube includes an electronic storage medium associated with the X-ray tube on which calibration information for the X-ray tube is stored. The calibration information includes operating parameters for the focusing elements of the X-ray tube for desired focal spots, tolerance limits for variations in the focal spots and a number of gradient coefficient values corresponding to certain modulation transfer functions (MTF) for the X-ray tube that the imaging system can employ in an iterative manner to correct the operating parameters of the focusing elements to achieve the desired focal spot. This automatic iterative process significantly reduces the time required for the calibration of the X-ray tube. The system and method also employs scan sequencing to minimize the heat generated enabling the scans to be completed in a shorter amount of time than prior calibration processes.

System and method for calibration of an X-ray tube

Methods and systems are provided for indirectly measuring a current of a radiation source. In one embodiment, a method comprises generating a scan dataset by transmitting a radiation from a radiation source directly to a detector; calculating a signal to noise ratio of the scan dataset; and determining a current that was used to generate the scan dataset based on the calculated signal to noise ratio. In this way, current of the radiation source may be evaluated without connecting extra equipment to the radiation source.

Current measurement in an imaging system

A patient support system includes a support beam that may translocate along an axial axis of a medical imaging system. At least a portion of the support beam may be disposed within a central bore of the medical imaging system. The patient support system also includes a patient support removably coupled to the support beam and including a backing that may support a patient during an imaging procedure and a restraint extending a longitudinal length of the backing. The restraint includes a first end coupled to the backing and a second end that may be removably coupled to the support beam, and the restraint may secure the patient support to the support beam and to restrain the patient within the patient support.

Patient support system and method for medical imaging

A tilting head support for use in medical imaging is described. The tilting head support allows a patient to receive the equivalent of a tilted gantry exam study even when using a scanner gantry that does not tilt. In certain embodiments, the tilted head support assembly has metallic or sharp edge components, if present, positioned outside the imaging area when in use. In addition, in certain embodiments, the tilted head support assembly allows for user selection of a tilt angle from among a continuous range of available angles.

Tilting head support for medical imaging

An apparatus and method for calibrating an x-ray tube include a computer programmed to acquire a starter voltage/current value corresponding to a width, a length, or a position of a target focal spot capable of being generated by the x-ray tube. The computer is programmed to generate an electron beam and to steer the electron beam based on the starter voltage/current value. The computer is also programmed to steer the electron beam based on a value adjusted from the starter voltage/current value. The computer is programmed to calculate a final voltage/current value that is configured to generate the width, length, or position of the target focal spot based on the starter voltage/current value and the adjusted starter voltage/current value.

Apparatus and method for calibrating an X-ray tube

An apparatus for use with a detector system including a solid state flat panel detector and an image processor, the detector including a plurality of pixels, each pixel generating an initial intensity signal, the initial signals together defining an initial image, the processor storing an initial bad pixel map that includes a known bad pixel set, after signals are generated, the processor automatically using intensity signals corresponding to other than the bad pixel set to generate replacement intensity signals for each of the bad pixel set pixels thereby generating a corrected image, the apparatus for identifying additional bad pixels, the apparatus comprising a processor that, after the image data is collected, examines at least one of the initial image and the corrected image to identify a likely additional bad pixel set including pixels that have unexpected values and an interface for indicating the likely bad set to a system user.

Method and apparatus for identifying composite defective pixel map

A method is provided for identifying detector elements in a solid state X-ray detector susceptible to causing line artifacts due to faulty detector elements that leak charge. A portion of the X-ray detector is covered by a radiation occluding material and the detector is exposed to a level of radiation sufficient to reach a predetermined threshold in the exposed portion of the detector. An image representative of the radiation is acquired and further analyzed to determine whether line artifacts exist. Data lines found to exhibit line artifacts are stored in the image processor.

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Waukesha, WI, United States of America

John Moore Boudry