General Electric Company

Ge Medical Systems Global Technology Company, LLC

Other

Matthew Aaron Halsmer

Jonathan C Boomgaarden

Richard Jon Warp

Kenneth Scott Kump

Renuka Uppaluri

Stephen Wayne Metz

Vianney Pierre Battle

Jiang Hsieh

Bing A Shen

Jonathan Mark Butzine

Gregory Scott Zeman

Mahesh Raman Narayanaswamy

Jonathon Carl Boomgaarden

Erdogan O Gurmen

Lori A Schultz

Aziz Ikhlef

Tyler Justin Sprenger

Systems, methods and apparatus are described in which in some embodiments, an automatic tensioner employs a puller assembly with a first indicia coupled to a fix base by a movement mechanism, a belt side assembly with a second indicia attached to one end of a belt, and a spring mechanism having a first end coupled to the puller assembly and a second end coupled to the belt side assembly. In some embodiments, the movement of the puller assembly in a first direction increases tension on the belt and movement of the puller assembly in a second direction decreases tension on the belt. In some embodiments, the spring mechanism compressed to exert a force in the first direction. In some embodiments, a movement mechanism is then adjusted until the first indicia and the second indicia are coincidental.

Automatic tensioning mount for belts

A positioning system for imaging devices is provided. The positioning system includes an imaging element and a tilting arm support having the imaging element coupled thereto. The tilting arm support includes a linkage to tilt the imaging element when the tilting arm support moves.

Positioning system with tilting arm support for imaging devices

A mobile imaging system comprises a motorized drive assembly having first and second drive wheels that are coupled to the motorized drive assembly. A column is coupled to and extends upwardly from the motorized drive assembly and is rotatable around a pivot point. An arm is coupled to the column and includes a radiation source mounted on an outer end thereof. A longitudinal axis extends parallel to the length of the mobile imaging system and is centered between the first and second drive wheels. A controller is configured to determine first and second velocities to drive the first and second drive wheels based on an angle of rotation of the column with respect to the longitudinal axis.

Method and apparatus for driving a mobile imaging system

Systems, methods and apparatus are provided through which in some embodiments, a medical imaging apparatus includes a medical image receptor, a wallstand, and a mechanism that provides at least 3 degrees of freedom. The mechanism is operably coupled to the medical image receptor and the mechanism is operably coupled to the wallstand.

Systems, methods and apparatus of an image receptor arm

A system is provided for rotating a detector of an imaging system about an axis of rotation. The system includes a shaft extending a length between a pair of opposite end portions. The shaft is threaded on an exterior surface thereof. A carriage is mounted on the shaft. The carriage is threadably connected to the shaft such that rotation of the shaft moves the carriage along the length of the shaft. A connection member has a first portion mounted on the carriage, and a second portion configured to be connected to the detector such that movement of the carriage along the shaft rotates the detector about the axis of rotation.

Method and apparatus for rotating an imaging system detector

A method for obtaining data includes scanning an object with radiation to collect projection data using an imaging system having a detector array with detector cells and a post-patient collimator, wherein the post-patient collimator has plates having non-uniform thicknesses. The method further includes applying a correction to the projection data to shift an effective center of at least some of the detector cells to compensate for the non-uniform thicknesses of the collimator plates.

Method and apparatus for compensating non-uniform detector collimator plates

A method includes obtaining a first image of a subject at a first position, changing a position between the detector and the subject, obtaining a second image, and pasting the first and images to obtain a composite image. The first image and the second image may have an amount of overlap equal to no more than about 30 percent of a field of view of the detector in a direction of movement between the first image and the second image, and, according to some embodiments, may have an overlap of about 4 percent to about 16 percent. This may, in some embodiments, amount to an amount of overlap of about 1.5 cm to about 6.5 or 12 cm. In some embodiments, the span of overlap of the images is at least about 30 cm. The geometry of the images may be used to help paste the images together appropriately.

Image pasting system using a digital detector

An x-ray system is controlled to obtain a view of an area of a patient that is larger than a field of view of an x-ray detector. Individual images are obtained of portions of the area of the subject that, when combined, can be used to get a view of the area of the subject. Positions of individual images are determined. The positions are preferably calculated to avoid placing structures that tend to move or that are dose sensitive in an area of overlap of the individual images. Also, the positions are preferably calculated to reduce overall exposure to a subject, especially by reducing unnecessary double exposure.

Methods and apparatus for multiple image acquisition on a digital detector

A flexible detector array transmission circuit () for an x-ray imaging system () may include an electrically conductive substrate layer () that is electrically coupled to a detector (). A mono-directional conductive layer () is also electrically coupled to the substrate layer (). One or more flexible circuit layers () are electrically coupled to the mono-directional conductive layer (). The circuit layers () direct x-ray signals, generated from the detector (), to a data acquisition system ().

Multi-slice CT multi-layer flexible signal transmission detector circuit

A device for use in image pasting is described. The device includes a digital x-ray detector capable of automatic digital imaging without the use of an image intensifier; the detector preferably being a flat-panel detector. Additionally, an image pasting system using a solid-state detector is described. The system can connect the detected images to a display via a network (such as a WAN, a LAN, or the internet). Further, an image geometry measurement device for use in pasting x-ray images is disclosed. The geometry measurement device helps determine the relative position of two images to be used in image pasting. This information can be used alone, or in connection with an image pasting algorithm. Still further, methods of forming composite images are disclosed using a flat-panel detector and using the geometry of the images. The disclosed devices and systems can be integrated with other digital image pasting technology.

Image pasting using geometry measurement and a flat-panel detector

A method for producing an image in a x-ray imaging system is provided. The x-ray imaging system includes an x-ray source which projects an x-ray beam collimated by a collimation assembly to pass through an object and impinge on an x-ray receptor to produce the image. The method includes rotating the collimation assembly about a focal point while the x-ray source is substantially fixed and producing x-rays. The method further includes adjusting the position of the x-ray receptor during rotation of the collimation assembly to receive the x-ray beam.

Methods and apparatus for x-ray images

Static and/or dynamic balancing of a CT gantry is provided by electronically positionable masses incorporated into the gantry structure that may be moved to nullify gantry imbalances caused by variation in components specifications or replacement of components on a balanced gantry.

Growing community of inventors

Waukesha, WI, United States of America

Matthew Aaron Halsmer