General Electric Company

Ge Precision Healthcare LLC

Ge Medical Systems Israel, Ltd

Jonathan Sachs

Yaron Hefetz

Gil Kovalski

Jean-Paul Bouhnik

Yariv Grobshtein

Raz Carmi

Yulim Zingerman

Arie Eshco

Avi Bar-Shalev

Lana Volokh

Floribertus Philippus Martinus Heukensfeldt Jansen

Roee Khen

Sergio Steinfeld

Moshe Levy

Omri Warshavski

Nurit Rivka Wartski

Amir Abecassis

Ilya Dudarev

Elias Shalabi

Rani Zananiri

Pavel Livshits

A computing system includes computer readable medium and a processor. The computer readable medium includes a computer readable medium including a positron emission tomography (PET)-to-single photon emission tomography (SPECT) module with instructions for generating simulated SPECT image data based on first PET image data. The PET image data is acquired prior to a treatment course of a treatment regimen with a SPECT-based treatment/imaging radiopharmaceutical. The processor is configured to obtain the first PET image data, system parameters of a SPECT-CT imaging system utilized to generate corresponding SPECT image data for the treatment regimen and scan parameters utilized by the SPECT-CT imaging system to acquire the corresponding SPECT image data. The processor is further configured to execute the instructions to generate the simulated SPECT image data based on the PET image data and the system parameters and the scan parameters.

System and method for comparing SPECT and PET image data in theranostics

A computer-implemented method for determining a flow rate for a given vessel includes obtaining, via a processor, dynamic three-dimensional (3D) images of a subject utilizing nuclear medicine imaging. The method also includes obtaining, via the processor, injection parameters for a radiotracer bolus injected into the subject via an automated injector. The method further includes generating, via the processor, time activity curves (TACs) for the radiotracer bolus from the 3D images. The method even further includes estimating, via the processor, the flow rate for the given vessel based on a morphology of the one or more TACs and the injection parameters.

System and method for measuring radiotracer bolus morphology for quantitative analysis

A method and workstation for combining multiple functional imaging datasets into a joint-visualization image. In one aspect, a method of functional imaging includes accessing a plurality of functional imaging datasets acquired from a volume-of-interest, wherein each of the plurality of functional imaging datasets is a different one of a plurality of functional imaging data types. The method includes registering the plurality of functional imaging datasets and determining a visualization priority for each of a plurality of pixels in a joint-visualization image based on a logical comparison of corresponding information in each of the plurality of functional imaging datasets. The method includes generating the joint-visualization image based on the visualization priority and at least a portion of each of the plurality of functional imaging datasets, wherein each of a plurality of pixels in the joint-visualization image represents only a single one of the plurality of functional imaging data types.

Method and workstation for generating a joint-visualization image based on multiple functional imaging datasets

A method is provided for updating a uniformity map of a detector. The detector defines a detector surface area. The method includes positioning a flood on a sub-portion of the detector surface area of the detector. The flood defines a flood area that is smaller than the detector surface area. Also, the method includes collecting counts from the flood for the sub-portion of the detector surface area. Further, the method includes updating an adjustment portion of the uniformity map using the counts collected for the sub-portion of the detector surface area, wherein the adjustment portion corresponds to at least a part of the sub-portion of the detector surface area.

Systems and methods for localized calibration

Methods and systems are provided for a medical imaging system having a detector array. In one example, the detector array may include a plurality of adjustable imaging detectors, each of the plurality of adjustable imaging detectors including a first detector unit or a second detector unit, each first detector unit having a plurality of rows of detector modules and each second detector unit having at least one row of detector modules, wherein each second detector unit may have fewer rows of detector modules than each first detector unit, the plurality of adjustable imaging detectors may be arranged on an annular gantry, the annular gantry configured for rotation about an axis of a cylindrical aperture of the annular gantry, the axis extending a length of the cylindrical aperture, and each of the plurality of adjustable imaging detectors may be disposed within the cylindrical aperture and may extend orthogonally toward the axis.

Adjustable detector array for a nuclear medicine imaging system

Methods and systems are provided for calibrating a nuclear medicine imaging system having more than 5 detector heads. In one embodiment, a method includes obtaining residual center of gravity determinations corresponding to each of a plurality of detector units based on point source projections acquired over a series of detector unit rotational steps, obtaining center of gravity determinations for each of the plurality of detector units based on point source projections acquired over a series of detector unit sweep angles, obtaining a fit of the center of gravity determinations for each of the plurality of detector units, and determining a sweep offset for each of the plurality of detector units based on the residual center of gravity determinations and the fit of the center of gravity determinations for each of the plurality of detector units. In this way, a sweep axis zero degree position for each of the plurality of detector units is determined.

Systems and methods for mechanically calibrating a multidetector of a nuclear medicine imaging system

Methods and systems are provided for molecular breast imaging. In one embodiment, a method for nuclear medicine imaging comprises: during an acquisition of emission data from an anatomy of interest, calculating an average counts per pixel in non-target tissue; and responsive to the average counts per pixel reaching a threshold, automatically stopping the acquisition. In this way, an amount of time spent by a patient undergoing an MBI procedure is optimized for the patient.

Systems and methods for molecular breast imaging

Systems and methods described herein generally relate to improved medical diagnostics for nuclear medicine (NM) imaging. The systems and methods define an uncertainty model of a medical imaging system. The uncertainty model is based on natural-statistics distribution of the medical imaging system response. The systems and methods acquire image data of a patient from the medical imaging system, and calculate an uncertainty map of the patient based on the uncertainty model and the image data. The uncertainty map represents a collection of realizations that are generated based on the image data and the uncertainty model. The systems and methods apply a classification or ranking algorithm to the image data and the uncertainty map to calculate image data classification or ranking of the patient including confidence values.

Systems and methods for improved diagnostics for nuclear medicine imaging

A method and apparatus for defining a volume of interest in a physiological image based upon an anatomical image. The method and system acquires an anatomical image of a volume of interest using a first imaging modality. A physiological image is acquired using a second imaging modality different from the first imaging modality. An outline of the volume of interest is defined on the anatomical image and applied to the physiological image to define the volume of interest m the physiological image. Based upon the outline, the system and method assigns binary values to voxels within the outline to more accurately define the volume of interest.

Method and system for defining a volume of interest in a physiological image

A customizable and upgradable imaging system is provided. Imaging detector columns are installed in a gantry to receive imaging information about a subject. Imaging detector columns can extend and retract radially as well as be rotated orbitally around the gantry. The gantry can be partially populated with detector columns and the detector columns can be partially populated with detector elements.

Systems for image detection

A radiation detector system is provided that includes plural detector units and at least one processor. The detector units are configured to acquire imaging information at plural corresponding projection angles. The at least one processor is configured to acquire projections at the projection angles; organize the projections into groups based on the projection angles; and, for each group of projections, rotate a corresponding image from an original orientation so that the group of projections are parallel to a first axis of the rotated image, convolute and sum slices from the group of projections using kernels to provide a corresponding coordinate set forward projection; perform a back projection to provide back projections; and rotate the back projections to the original orientation and sum the rotated back projections to provide a back projected transaxial image.

Systems and methods for rotation based reconstruction for multi-column detector geometries

A customizable and upgradeable imaging system is provided. Imaging detector columns are installed in a gantry to receive imaging information about a subject. Imaging detector columns can extend and retract radially as well as be rotated orbitally around the gantry. The gantry can be partially populated with detector columns and the detector columns can be partially populated with detector elements.

An imaging system includes a rotating gantry, a bed, plural nuclear medicine (NM) imaging detectors, and a processing unit. The rotating gantry has a bore. The NM detectors are disposed about the bore of the gantry. The NM detectors each have an in-plane field of view, and are configured to pivot about a corresponding axis with respect to the gantry to change the in-plane field of view. The processing unit is configured to acquire first NM imaging information at a first gantry rotational position, with the in-plane fields of view of the NM imaging detectors parallel to a predetermined direction; actuate the gantry to rotate to a second gantry rotational position; actuate the NM imaging detectors to pivot such that the in-plane fields of view are parallel to the predetermined direction; acquire additional NM imaging information at the second gantry rotational position; and reconstruct a planar image of the object.

Systems and methods for planar imaging using a camera with multiple detector heads

An imaging system is provided including a gantry, a bed, nuclear medicine (NM) imaging detectors, and a processing unit. The NM imaging detectors are disposed about the bore of the gantry. The processing unit is operably coupled to the imaging detectors, and is configured to acquire first NM imaging information of the object with the imaging detectors in a first axial position, iteratively actuate the gantry in a series of steps between the first axial position and the second axial position, acquire additional NM imaging information of the object at each of the steps, and reconstruct an image of the object using the first NM imaging information and the additional NM imaging information.

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Haifa, Israel

Jonathan Sachs