General Electric Company

Ge Medical Systems Global Technology Company, LLC

Jonathan Richard Schmidt

Thomas L Toth

Jason Stuart Katcha

Michael Solomon Idelchik

Brian D Lounsberry

Stephen W Gravelle

James S Shepard

Bruce Matthew Dunham

James A Blake

Jiang Hsieh

Phil E Pearson, Jr

Steven John Woloschek

David Michael Hoffman

Sergio Lemaitre

Robert F Senzig

Jianying Li

Clarence Lavere Gordon, Iii

William F Wirth

Ariel Friedlander

Steven D Hansen

Michael A Wu

Alexander M Blok

Michael Shane Jansen

Marcela Alejandra Gonzalez

Joseph L Block

Kenneth R Williams

Herbert K Koehl

Methods and systems are generally described for measuring a voltage used by an imaging system to generate radiation used in imaging. In embodiments, different datasets are acquired using different degrees of attenuation of the radiation. The differently attenuated datasets are processed to derive a ratio of the differential attenuation. The attenuation ratio is processed to derive a measure of the voltage used by the imaging system to generate the radiation used to acquire the different datasets.

Voltage measurement in an imaging system

Methods and apparatus for an imaging system are provided. The imaging system includes a gantry having a stationary member coupled to a rotating member. The rotating member has an opened area proximate an axis about which the rotating member rotates. An x-ray source provided on the rotating member. An x-ray detector may be disposed on the rotating member and configured to receive x-rays from the x-ray source. A rotary transformer having circumferentially disposed primary and secondary windings may form part of a contactless power transfer system that rotates the rotatable portion of the gantry at very high speeds, the primary winding being disposed on the stationary member and the secondary winding being disposed on the rotating member.

Methods and apparatus for fast rotation speed scanners

Apparatus includes a fixed computed tomography (CT) system including a storage device configured to share power delivery with an input power line in order to reduce peak load requirements of the input power line.

Power handling methods and apparatus

A method includes performing an at least partially automated method to synchronize an x-ray source focal spot (FS) position to a FS deflection feedback signal.

X-ray source focal spot deflection methods and apparatus

A method for controlling focal spot size changes of an x-ray source in an imaging system includes measuring focal spot sizes as a function of a plurality of x-ray source operating parameters, determining a calibration table or transfer function utilizing the measured focal spot sizes as a function of the plurality of x-ray tube operating parameters, and utilizing the calibration table or transfer function to control focal spot size variations during operation of the imaging system.

Method and apparatus to control radiation tube focal spot size

In accordance with one embodiment, a contactless power transfer system is provided that comprises a stationary member including a power input configured to receive power at first voltage from a power supply. The system further includes a rotating member rotatably coupled to the stationary member and a rotary transformer. The rotary transformer has primary and secondary sides, with the primary side being disposed on the stationary member. The primary side has a primary winding that receives power at the first voltage from the power input. The secondary side is disposed on the rotating member and produces power at a second voltage. The secondary side has a rotating core and separate secondary sub-windings, each of which has forward and return paths that are circumferentially disposed about the rotating core. The forward and return paths of each of the sub-windings rotate proximate to, and are disposed a substantially equal distance from, the primary winding disposed on the stationary member.

Contactless power transfer system

The present invention is directed to an apparatus for supplying power to a rotatable x-ray tube for generation of an x-ray beam for acquisition of CT data. The apparatus includes a slip ring to transfer power from a stationary inverter to a rotatable HV tank. The HV tank conditions the transferred power and creates a voltage potential across the x-ray tube for x-ray generation. The inverter has a single or pair of series resonant circuits connected either directly to the slip ring or indirectly through a transformer to limit frequency content and reduce common-mode component of the voltage and current waveforms carried by the slip ring as well as reduce power losses.

X-ray generator and slip ring for a CT system

A method for associating a field replaceable unit with a medical diagnostic system includes querying for information on a field replaceable unit to be associated with a medical diagnostic system by sending a query to an electronic device associated with the field replaceable unit, receiving information on the field replaceable unit, and configuring the medical diagnostic system in accordance with the information. A corresponding apparatus includes a storage medium physically coupled to the field replaceable unit and a programmed digital processing circuit coupled to the storage medium. The storage medium contains identification information for a field replaceable unit. The processing circuit responds to requests for identification information from the medical diagnostic system.

Method and apparatus for associating a field replaceable unit with a medical diagnostic system and recording operational data

A multichannel, contactless power transfer system includes a primary power inverter disposed on a stationary side of the system, and an auxiliary power inverter disposed on the stationary side of the system. A rotary transformer has a primary side thereof disposed on the stationary side of the system and a secondary side disposed on a rotating side of the system. The rotary transformer is configured to couple primary power from an output of the primary power inverter to a primary power voltage output on the rotating side of the system, and is further configured to couple auxiliary power from an output of the auxiliary power inverter to at least one auxiliary voltage output on the rotating side of the system.

Multichannel contactless power transfer system for a computed tomography system

A method and apparatus is disclosed to acquire scout scan data of a subject and analyzed to determine a peak-to-peak modulation amplitude of a normalized waveform indicative of subject size and shape. The scout scan data provides a representation of patient size and shape that is associated with an ideal tube current modulation waveform or profile. The ideal tube current modulation profile may then be sampled or approximated at various points to determine a tube current modulation profile for implementation to acquire CT data with reduced dose but without sacrificing image quality.

Method and apparatus to determine tube current modulation profile for radiographic imaging

A system and method of diagnostic imaging with reduced x-ray exposure to the scan subject during scanning includes acquiring a set of cardiac signals or other motion (cardiac mechanical motion or respiratory motion) related signals and determining and imaging profile therefrom. Pursuant to the imaging profile, voltage applied to an x-ray source is modulated to provide an energizing voltage during primary data acquisition stages and a reduced voltage during secondary or non-data acquisition stages. Voltage modulation repeats until sufficient data for image reconstruction has been acquired.

Method and apparatus of CT imaging with voltage modulation

A method for communicating operational data for a system unit in a medical diagnostic system includes communicating identification information from an electronic device coupled to the system unit in the medical diagnostic system to an imaging unit in said medical diagnostic system, operating the medical diagnostic system in accordance with the identification information and generating operational data, and communicating the operational data to the system unit in order to establish a record of operational data for the system unit in the electronic device. The operational data includes information relating to the operation of the system unit in the medical diagnostic system. A corresponding apparatus includes a storage medium, a communication interface, and a programmed digital processing circuit coupled to the storage medium and the communication interface. The storage medium contains identification information for a system unit in a medical diagnostic system and a memory location for a record of operational data for the system unit. The communication interface is configured to allow for the communication between the system unit and the medical diagnostic system of identification information and operational data regarding the system unit. The processing circuit is responsive to requests for identification information and controlling communication of operational data via the communication interface to the medical diagnostic system.

Method and apparatus for communicating operational data for a system unit in a medical diagnostic system

In one aspect, the present invention relates to tube-spit detection and correction. In an exemplary embodiment, and once a sample of projection data has been collected, the projection data is preprocessed in accordance with known preprocessing algorithms including applying a detector primary speed correction to the projection data. Such primary speed correction removes contamination of previous signal sample from the current sample. After primary speed correction, tube-spit detection is performed on the sample. Such detection can be performed using many different methods. Generally, the objective is to determine whether the x-ray source experienced a drop in power. If a tube-spit event is not detected, then processing proceeds with further preprocessing and image reconstruction. If a tube-spit event is detected, then a tube spit correction is performed. Generally, the objective of tube-spit correction is to remove image artifacts due to the occurrence of a tube-spit event. Many different methods can be utilized to perform tube-spit correction.

Methods and apparatus for tube-spit correction

A method and apparatus for detecting interruptions of continuity in a circuit is provided. The method includes transmitting a signal through a brush contacting a conductive band of a slipring, wherein the brush and the slipring have a relative motion. The apparatus is configured to determine a circuit interruption using a plurality of parameters of the signal transmitted through the brush and the slipring, and provide an indication of an interruption when the parameters of the signal transmitted through the brush and slipring are indicative of a circuit interruption.

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Wales, WI, United States of America

Jonathan Richard Schmidt