Siemens Aktiengesellschaft

Siemens Healthcare Gmbh

Bayer Intellectual Property Gmbh

Siemens Healthineers Ag

Michael Grasruck

Thomas Flohr

Karl Stierstorfer

Bernhard Schmidt

Martin Sedlmair

Bernhard Krauss

Rainer Raupach

Hanns-Joachim Weinmann

Franz Dirauf

Georg Wittmann

Thorsten Ergler

Hans-Juergen Mueller

Carsten Thierfelder

Philipp Hoelzer

Gregor Jost

Hubertus Pietsch

Otto Sembritzki

Mark-Aleksi Keller-Reichenbecher

Alexander Krämer

Peter Kaemmerer

Florian Kiessling

Andreas Schaller

Raimund Martin

Barbara Hintz

Marcus Wagner

Robert Heiter

Nicole Haag

Matthias Berner

Riccardo Kunze

Stefan Gleissmann

Johan Sunnegårdh

Johan Sunnegárdh

In one embodiment, a method is for calculating an examination parameter for a computed tomography examination of an area of interest of a patient. The method includes receiving a topogram of the area of interest of the patient; determining fat distribution information by applying a trained machine learning algorithm onto the topogram; and calculating the examination parameter for the computed tomography examination of the area of interest of the patient based on the fat distribution information.

Topogram-based fat quantification for a computed tomography examination

A method is for correcting an imbalance in a computed tomography system, in which a supporting structure includes a radiation source is fitted on a fixed mounting frame. The supporting structure rotates together with the radiation source about a measurement space, in which is fixed in place a measurement object having a known attenuation response for the radiation emitted by the radiation source. The method includes detecting first measurement data of the radiation while the supporting structure rotates about the measurement object, determining an imbalance arising during the rotation of the supporting structure on the basis of the acquired first measurement data of the radiation, and determining a position and a weight of at least one counterweight on the supporting structure in order to reduce the determined imbalance, or determining correction data, which is used to correct the imbalance in software.

Correcting an imbalance on the basis of the acquired radiation data

An X-ray imaging apparatus includes a detection unit, having an X-ray detector and a stray radiation collimator in stacked arrangement, and an X-ray source opposite the detection unit. The X-ray source is embodied, starting from a focal point, to emit X-rays towards the X-ray detector. The X-ray detector has a sensor plane and is subdivided in a first direction into a plurality of detector elements. Each detector element of the plurality of detector elements is embodied to convert the X-rays impinging on a surface region, assigned to the detector element, of the sensor plane into an electrical pixel measurement signal. The stray radiation collimator has a plurality of collimator walls. The collimator walls are arranged over the surface region of a detector element of the plurality of detector elements, such that a shadow cast by a respective collimator wall completely overlaps with the surface region of the corresponding detector element.

X-ray imaging apparatus comprising a detection unit with a stray radiation collimator

A couch panel for a patient couch for a medical imaging method is disclosed. The couch panel is of single-shell design, beads are formed in the longitudinal direction of the couch panel, wherein the number and the shape of the beads are chosen such that the couch panel has a predefinable geometric moment of inertia. The two longitudinally extending edges of the couch panel are bent upward. This is advantageous because of the cost-effective production of a couch panel and, in the case of X-ray imaging, in the low radiation absorption. A patient couch having a couch panel of this kind is likewise disclosed.

Couch panel and patient couch for medical imaging methods

A method is for recording a region of interest of an examination object with a computed tomography system including an energy-selective X-ray detector with a number of energy threshold values that can be set by way of an energy threshold values. In an embodiment, the method includes first recording of first projection scan data with a first set of energy thresholds; setting a second set of energy thresholds different from the first set of energy thresholds, based on a temporally variable parameter; and second recording of second projection scan data different from the first projection scan data with the second set of energy thresholds.

Computed tomography recording with different sets of energy thresholds

A diaphragm apparatus for the collimation of an X-ray bundle of an X-ray device is provided for scanning an examination object. An X-ray device including the diaphragm apparatus is also provided. In an embodiment, the diaphragm apparatus includes two diaphragms in the form of slotted diaphragms arranged in series in the direction of the X-rays and mounted to be positionable with respect to one another. Each of the diaphragms includes a fixed diaphragm aperture corresponding to maximum collimation of the X-ray bundle and a region that is impermeable to X-rays, which in each case includes an extension corresponding to the diaphragm aperture corresponding to the maximum collimation.

Diaphragm apparatus for the collimation of an X-ray bundle of an X-ray device

A tomographic device includes a recording unit with a central system axis, a patient couch movable along the system axis and also a radiation source and a radiation detector interacting with the radiation source. The inventors have recognized that a rapid, precise and reliable positioning of a first recording area can be achieved by the positioning being based on a trained model, wherein the model has been trained with training positions. The tomographic device therefore includes a computing unit, which is designed for calibration of a first position of the first recording area relative to the recording unit based on the trained model. Furthermore the tomographic device includes a control unit for positioning the first recording area in the first position by moving the patient couch relative to the recording unit. The tomographic device is designed for a first tomographic recording of the first recording area in the first position.

Tomographic device and also method and computer program for model-based positioning

A method is disclosed for displaying a selected acquisition field of view of a medical tomography apparatus in the region of a patient table of the tomography apparatus with the aid of an illumination device including at least one light source. In this regard, the illumination device includes at least one setting device for revealing and/or masking boundary areas of a field of illumination of the illumination device which are revealed or masked as a function of the selected acquisition field of view. An illumination device is also disclosed for this purpose.

Displaying an acquisition field of view

A method is disclosed for generating at least one x-ray image of a patient having incorporated contrast medium, using x-rays having an energy spectrum and an x-ray detector. The energy spectrum is modified by at least one first filter arranged in the beam path in front of the patient, the patient absorbing a dose in order to generate detector data for the x-ray image and the x-ray image having a CNR value which represents the ratio of the maximum contrast in the image to the noise. The energy spectrum and contrast medium are matched to each other, taking into account the thickness of the patient to be x-rayed, in such a way that an optimization criterion which is taken from an x-ray image that is generated or simulated by way of trials is maximized. Furthermore, an x-ray system is also disclosed.

Method for generating a contrast medium-assisted X-ray image and X-ray system

A method for imaging with a radiotherapy device is provided. The radiotherapy device includes a movably mounted imaging apparatus with an X-ray source and an oppositely disposed X-ray detector. The method includes preparing a first image with the imaging apparatus from a first imaging direction. The imaging apparatus is moved to a position that permits the preparation of a second image from a second imaging direction extending at an angle to the first imaging direction. The method also includes preparing the second image with the imaging apparatus from the second imaging direction, and verifying the position of an object to be irradiated using the first image and the second image.

Imaging method with a radiotherapy device and radiotherapy device

For improved sampling, an x-ray detector system for a computed tomography scanner is provided. In an embodiment, the x-ray detector system includes at least one detector row which includes a plurality of detector modules each having a plurality of detector elements. Along the at least one detector row, a first portion of the detector elements is arranged in a grid at a first grid spacing in relation to its respective neighboring detector elements, and a second portion of the detector elements is arranged in a grid at a second grid spacing in relation to its respective neighboring detector elements.

X-ray detector system for a computed tomography scanner and computed tomography device

A method is disclosed for imaging within the scope of a radiation therapy. In at least one embodiment, the method includes preparing one or more contrast agent-enhanced x-ray image data records; and using the contrast agent-enhanced x-ray image data record during an irradiation planning and/or during an irradiation session.

Contrast agent-enhanced imaging during radiation therapy

In a method for operating an imaging apparatus, and an imaging apparatus that has an x-ray source with a focus and a measurement volume with a central axis around which measurement volume the focus can be moved, acquisition of x-ray projections of a measurement subject that is arranged eccentrically relative to the central axis in the measurement volume are produced. The segment of the measurement volume in which the measurement subject is arranged is established based on an overview image and the projection angle range &#x394;&#x3b1; in which x-ray projections should only be acquired in order to be able to reconstruct at least one image of the measurement subject is determined based on the establishment of the segment of the measurement volume.

X-ray imaging method and apparatus to reduce X-ray exposure of subject regions other than the diagnostically relevant subject region

A method and a computed tomography scanner are disclosed for carrying out an angiographic examination of a patient, wherein the utilized computed tomography scanner includes at least one recording system mounted on a gantry such that it can rotate about a z-axis. Projection data is acquired from at least one prescribed angular position of the gantry for at least two different energies of X-ray radiation. The projection data is subsequently combined to form a resulting projection image by evaluating the projection data corresponding to the respective angular position, in which projection image at least one substance, which should be displayed selectively, is imaged with a high image contrast compared to the respective individual projection data. This procedure extends the field of application of the computed tomography scanner to projection-based angiography examinations, which were previously restricted to C-arm systems. 3D image reconstruction methods and projection methods can be carried out on opposite sides and with great flexibility during an examination, without the need for an additional modality. By using a multispectral technique, it is possible to contrast agent. The projection data at dispense with recording a native projection data record without the different energies are moreover acquired with no or little time offset, and so a computationally expensive and error-prone registration of the data records can be dispensed with.

Method and computed tomography scanner for carrying out an angiographic examination

A device to control an electron beam for the generation of x-ray radiation, has an electron emitter to generate an electron beam, to which emitter an emitter voltage can be applied, a diaphragm, at least two control elements associated with the diaphragm to affect the electron beam, and switching arrangement with which at least two different electrical voltages can be applied to the at least two control elements. The same electrical voltage is applied to each of the at least two control elements. Upon switching the voltage, an electrical circuit that delays the setting of the respective voltage at the one control element is associated with the connection line of the one control element with the switching arrangement to switch over the voltage. The invention moreover concerns an operating method for the device and an x-ray tube provided with the device.

Growing community of inventors

Erlangen, Germany

Michael Grasruck