General Electric Company

Ge Medical Systems Global Technology Company, LLC

Rowland F Saunders

Thomas L Toth

James Zhengshe Liu

John Michael Sabol

Scott William Petrick

Kadri Nizar Jabri

Habib Vafi

Baojun Li

Steven Gerard Ross

John M Sandrik

Gopal Biligeri Avinash

Robert F Kwasnick

Kenneth Scott Kump

Michael J Washburn

Yun Zou

Jon Charles Omernick

David Conrad Neumann

Vivek Walimbe

Matthew E Ellis

Xianfeng Ni

James A Smith

Wei Zhao

George E Possin

Douglas Albagli

Paul Richard Granfors

Anne Lindsay Hall

Gireesha Chinthamani Rao

Uwe Wiedmann

David Allen Langan

Floribertus P M Heukensfeldt Jansen

Jeffrey Alan Kautzer

Mark Alan Frontera

Renuka Uppaluri

Stephen Wayne Metz

John Moore Boudry

Donald Fayette Langler

Gary McBroom

Hao Lai

Scott Stephen Zelakiewicz

Richard Gordon Cronce

Lawrence Elwood Murphy

Yaxi Shen

James S Lehouillier

Carson Hale Thomas

Christopher J Gilling

Romain Areste

Tammy Michael Merisotis

Thomas L Deitrich

Roy Allan Schley

Huayi Wang

Jean-Claude Morvan

Nicholas Louis Marinelli

Peijun Chen

Yongtao Tan

Jerry A Thomas

Mark H Wheeler

Patrick Noret

Christopher Aaron Paulik

François Hensen

Bruce Alan Bergendahl

Rajendra Shirish Jadhav

Atul Tandon

Gerald Paul Schulte

Guillermo Sander

Kadri Nazar Jabri

Francisco Ruiz Gomez

Barry Fredric Belanger

The present invention provides an X-ray detection device and an apparatus and method for calibrating an X-ray detector, the method for calibrating an X-ray detector comprising: retrieving a calibration parameter stored in the X-ray detector relative to the X-ray detector; and calibrating the X-ray detector according to the calibration parameter.

Method and apparatus for x-ray imaging and gain calibration of detector and detector bracket

In accordance with one aspect of the present system, an X-ray detector of an X-ray imaging system includes a communication module configured to receive a pre-shot image from a detection circuitry and receive one or more pre-shot parameters from a source controller of the X-ray imaging system. The X-ray detector further includes an analysis module configured to determine one or more image characteristics of the pre-shot image. The X-ray detector further includes a determination module configured to calculate one or more main-shot parameters based on the one or more pre-shot parameters and the one or more image characteristics. The determination module is further configured to send the one or more main-shot parameters to the source controller of the X-ray imaging system.

System and method for determining X-ray exposure parameters

In accordance with one aspect of the present system, a dual energy X-ray imaging system includes a communication module configured to receive a pre-shot image from a detection circuitry and receive one or more pre-shot parameters from a source controller of the dual energy X-ray imaging system. The dual energy X-ray imaging system further includes an analysis module configured to determine one or more image characteristics of the pre-shot image. The dual energy X-ray imaging system further includes a determination module configured to calculate a first and a second set of main-shot parameters based on the one or more pre-shot parameters and the one or more image characteristics of the pre-shot image. The determination module is further configured to send the one or more main-shot parameters to the source controller of the dual energy X-ray imaging system.

A portable detector for use with an imaging system is disclosed. The portable detector automatically sets one or more operational states based on at least a determination as to whether the portable detector is connected to external power. An imaging system is also disclosed that ascertains whether the portable detector is connected via a tether. The imaging system may perform a compatibility check when connected to the portable detector to assess compatibility between the imaging system and the portable detector.

Portable radiation detector and system

A radiography system allow for user determination of a region of interest on a subject prior to X-ray exposure. The region of interest is defined by user interaction with an image, a pointer system, or the like. The region of interest is then translated to the imaging coordinate system, such as in the plane of a digital detector. The region is then used for exposure control during an imaging sequence, either in an open or closed-loop manner.

Region of interest determination for X-ray imaging

A method of fabricating a portable x-ray detector includes coupling a gravity sensor to the portable x-ray detector and coupling a processor to the gravity sensor. The processor is programmed to receive an input from the gravity sensor, determine a physical orientation of the portable x-ray detector based on the received input, and generate an indication to reposition the portable x-ray detector. A portable detector and an imaging system including the portable detector are also provided.

Position sensing device for a portable detection device

Providing an operator with information concerning radiation dose associated with an imaging operation is disclosed. In certain embodiments, the dose information may be provided in conjunction with indicators related to reference dose levels to facilitate evaluation of the dose in the context of the reference levels. The dose information may be based on real-time assessment of dose or may be an expected dose based on a proposed or planned sequence of exposure events. Further the indication may be prospective, providing an indication to the operator of when certain dose thresholds may be crossed.

Dose level indication

An x-ray grid alignment circuit for coupling an x-ray grid to a detector includes a marker configured to be mounted to the x-ray grid, a sensor configured to be mounted to the detector, the sensor generating an alignment signal based on a position of the marker, and an alignment module configured to receive the alignment signal from the sensor and utilize the alignment signal to determine if the x-ray grid is coupled to a detecting face of the detector. A detector assembly including the x-ray grid alignment circuit and a method of coupling an x-ray grid to a detector are also provided.

Grid assembly positioning circuit and detector assembly including the same

A technique for establishing texture metrics and bone mineral density (BMD) within an anatomical region of interest. A digital imaging system is used to acquire a standard digital X-ray image with a wide field of view. The standard digital X-ray image is used to guide the imaging system to obtain an image of a region of interest. The standard digital X-ray image is used to calculate various texture metrics, such as a length of a fracture. A dual-energy digital X-ray image of the region of interest is acquired. The dual-energy digital X-ray image is corrected for scatter. The BMD of the region of interest may be established from the scatter-corrected dual-energy digital X-ray image. The BMD, the texture metrics, and/or the scatter-corrected dual-energy X-ray image may be displayed on the standard digital X-ray image.

Image guided acquisition of quantitative dual energy data

A patient barrier is described. The patient barrier includes a footstep configured to support a patient and placed on a floor, a frame attached to the footstep and configured to separate the patient from an energy receptor The patient barrier includes at least one of a first pivot configured to pivot the patient barrier with respect to the floor, and a support bar coupled to the frame, configured to support an arm of the patient, and pivot with respect to the frame.

Patient barrier for an imaging application

A method of manufacturing a collimator mandrel having variable attenuation characteristics is presented. The manufacturing process includes the placement of a layer of attenuating material on a core of base material. The layer of attenuating material is relatively thin and varies in thickness circumferentially around the core. The collimator mandrel may be manufactured by placing a cast about a core of non-attenuating material, filling a void between the cast and the core with an attenuating material, allowing the material to cure, and removing the cast from the assembly.

Method of manufacturing, and a collimator mandrel having variable attenuation characteristics for a CT system

The presently described technology provides a tomosynthesis imaging system that comprises an x-ray tube and an anti-scatter grid. The x-ray tube is configured to emit x-rays from a plurality of positions during movement of the x-ray tube along a long axis of a mobile patient surface. The anti-scatter grid is configured to filter out scattered x-rays and includes a grid line parallel to the long axis of the mobile patient surface. The x-rays emitted from the plurality of positions are reconstructed into at least one image of at least one plane of a patient anatomy. The described technology is useful in emergency or trauma applications where a patient may be quickly and easily moved on a mobile patient surface to a position near an x-ray detector used in combination with the x-ray tube and anti-scatter grid.

System and method for cross table tomosynthesis imaging for trauma applications

Systems and methods for providing independent exposure detection, X-ray spectrum and timing compensation, and providing an exposure termination signal to an X-ray system. The system incorporates an interface for receiving exposure characteristic data such as kVp, spectral filter, and focal spot. The system through a programmed controller determines one or more control parameters based on the received exposure characteristic data and generates a control signal for controlling an X-ray source.

Wireless integrated automatic exposure control module

A method of providing an automatic protocol assistance includes determining a number of exposures for a scan of an object, acquiring a low dose AEC exposure of the object or acquiring at least one of a PA and an AP view, calculating an initial technique, and automatically determining whether to use the initial technique to perform the scan or to not perform the scan.

Automatic protocol assistance methods and apparatus

A method and apparatus for tomosynthesis image quality control for a tomosynthesis imaging system. The method and apparatus including: positioning a phantom having an edge of predetermined sharpness at a predetermined angle relative to an imaging plane of an x-ray detector; performing tomosynthesis acquisition and generating one or more slice images using one or more three-dimensional reconstruction algorithms; selecting a slice image to be measured from the one or more slice images; identifying a sharpest edge in the slice image to be measured, wherein the sharpest edge in the slice image to be measured includes the in-focus portion of the phantom; inputting the slice image to be measured and coordinates of the sharpest edge in the slice image to be measured into a modulation transfer function (MTF) algorithm; and, using the MTF algorithm, calculating the in-plane resolution and slice thickness of the slice image to be measured.

Method and apparatus for tomosynthesis image quality control

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Hartland, WI, United States of America

Rowland F Saunders