General Electric Company

Ge Precision Healthcare LLC

Roussy, Gustave

Serge Louis Wilfrid Muller

Razvan Iordache

Sylvain Bernard

Ann-Katherine Carton

Jeffrey Wayne Eberhard

Bernhard Erich Hermann Claus

Aurelie Boudier

Reinhold Franz Wirth

Giovanni John Jacques Palma

Cynthia Elizabeth Landberg

James George Morrow

Yann Delmas

Laurence Vancamberg

Pablo Milioni De Carvalho

Gero L Peters

Sylvie Puong

Xavier Bouchevreau

Virginie Alexandra Corre

Remy Klausz

Susanne Madeline Lee

Vincent Stanley Polkus

Guillaume Morel

Giovanni Palma

Paul Markwardt

Dinko Eduardo Gonzalez Trotter

Marie-Aude Vitrani

Bruno Le Corgne

Aurëlie Boudier

Anja Marx

Pablo Milioni DeCarvalho

Razvan Gabriel Iordache

Jeffery Wayne Eberhard

Bruno Kristiann Bernard De Man

Sylvie Saab-Puong

Clarisse Dromain

Bernard Erich Hermann Claus

Methods and systems are provided for cross calibration between two or more dual energy x-ray absorptiometry (DXA) systems. In one example, a calibration phantom is scanned along with a patient during a scanning sequence, with a first system, to obtain one or more coefficients that map pixel values retrieved from a phantom image from the phantom scan to image pixel values in the reconstructed patient image from the patient scan. The one or more coefficients may be utilized to adjust and/or compare BMD values of the patient obtained when the patient is scanned with a different system utilizing a phantom with similar composition and parameters as the calibration phantom.

Systems and methods for cross calibration in dual energy x-ray absorptiometry

A system for imaging an object via pre-shot processing is provided. The system includes an imaging device operative to image the object, and a controller in electronic communication with the imaging device. The controller is operative to acquire at least one pre-shot image of the object via the imaging device; and to generate, based at least in part on the at least one pre-shot image, an indicator that corresponds to a likelihood that one or more diagnostic images of the object acquired via the imaging device will be medically deficient.

System and method for imaging an object via pre-shot processing

An imaging system and related method are provided. The imaging system comprises a surface configured to support a portion of a patient's body, compression paddle configured to compress the portion of a patient's body against the surface, the compression paddle movable between an upper position and a lower position; and a compression control in direct or indirect communication with the compression paddle and configured to effectuate displacement of the compression paddle to any position between and including the upper position and the lower position upon receiving a patient input or command. The system may further comprise a feedback device configured to provide, to the patient, information indicative of the quality of the image that would be achieved at a corresponding compression paddle position to assist the patient in selecting a desirable compression paddle position.

Breast imaging system giving feedback information to the patient and method using thereof

A method of obtaining x-ray images includes controlling operation of an automatic injector to inject a contrast agent into a patient at a predetermined time, synchronizing operations of an x-ray imaging system with the operation of the automatic injector, and obtaining images of a region of interest of the patient during arterial and diffusion phases of the contrast agent.

Method and apparatus for contrast-enhanced spectral mammography programmed sequences

In the present invention, an imaging system and method for providing contrast-enhanced X-ray images of tissue includes an energy source in communication with a detector operable to generate radiological images of the tissue injected with the contrast agent, a display and a computer connected to the display and to receive the acquired images from the detector. The system is operable to acquire a number of first images of the contrast agent in the tissue, wherein the number of first images are single energy images, and a number of second images corresponding to the number of first images, wherein the second images are each a single energy image with an energy level opposite that for the first images. The first and second images are combined to generate a contrast-enhanced image with reduced exposure of the tissue and reduced time for completion of the procedure.

Contrast-enhanced X-ray image guided biopsy system and method

A method of optimizing images of a patient utilizing a medical imaging device includes the steps of providing a medical imaging device having an x-ray source, an x-ray detector, a controller for adjusting the positions of the x-ray source and detector, an image reconstructor/generator connected to the x-ray detector to receive x-ray data and reconstruct an x-ray image, and a processor connected to the image reconstructor/generator and the controller to perform analyses on the x-ray image, acquiring a first data set Sof images, processing the first data set Sto reconstruct a first computerized data set D, analyzing the first computerized data set D, acquiring at least one additional data set Sin response to the analysis of the first computerized data set Dand processing the at least one additional data set Sin combination with the first data set Sto reconstruct an optimized computerized data set D.

Iterative X-ray imaging optimization method and system

A device and a related mammography method employing the device are described. The device comprises an x-ray source, an x-ray detector placed under a support plate for supporting an object and arranged to detect the x-rays coming from the x-ray source after they have passed through the object, and a positioning assembly with an arm having multiple degrees of freedom which is a collaborative robot for positioning the x-ray source with respect to the support plate. A method for performing an imaging procedure, which includes placing an object of interest on the support plate; moving the x-ray source relative to the object of interest along a non-planar trajectory to avoid collision with the object; and activating the x-ray source and the x-ray detector so as to detect the x-rays coming from the x-ray source after they have passed through the object, thus obtaining a set of x-ray images.

X-ray imaging method and apparatus using positioning assemblies having multiple degrees of freedom

Method and system for obtaining tomosynthesis and material decomposition images of an object of interest using a system comprising an x-ray source facing a detector. The method comprises generating a 2D material decomposition image of an object of interest from at least two sets of acquisitions. Each set is performed at a different energy spectrum and comprises at least one projection image or a plurality of projection images acquired at different x-ray source angulation positions, and the 2D material decomposition image can be generated for a predetermined orientation selected from one of said different x-ray source angulation positions or from a virtual orientation. At least one of the plurality of 3D volume portion images and/or the 2D contrast enhanced material decomposition image are displayed for review by a health care professional.

Method and system for obtaining low dose tomosynthesis and material decomposition images

A breast imaging system comprising an imaging apparatus with an illumination source, a detector, a breast support, a compression paddle slidable between an upper position and an lower position relatively to the detector, a compression command displacing the compression paddle upon actuation, wherein the compression command is placed at a reachable distance from the patient, wherein the breast imaging system further comprises a feedback device giving feedback information perceivable by the patient, the feedback information varying according to the position of the compression paddle.

A device for assisting with the handling of an instrument or tool, the device comprising a jointed mechanical structure on a support, wherein an instrument or tool may be attached, motor drives configured to actuate the jointed mechanical structure, according to a number of degrees of freedom of less than that which the structure provides to the instrument or tool, and an automatic control, wherein the automatic control drives the motor drives in order to facilitate the meeting of a constraint on position and/or velocity parameters of the instrument or tool, which constraint the motor drives by themselves, independently of handling by an operator, cannot entirely meet.

Device for assisting with the handling of an instrument or tool

Methods and systems provide an integrated display, on a single screen, of images obtained from multiple modalities used in screening a subject. The methods and systems are usable with 2D, 3D, and 4D imaging, by which a single screen displays a screen image from a first modality. A window delineating an area of interest is placed on a first modality image from the first modality, and this area of interest is then displayed on a second modality image from a second modality, thereby providing a combined image representing the area of interest through both modalities. Preferably, the first modality image corresponds and/or is correlated with the second modality image.

Single screen multi-modality imaging displays

A mammograph is provided. The mammograph includes a source of X-rays; a detector of X-rays, the source being configured to emit at least one beam of X-rays to the detector; and an optic control device configured to control the direction of X-rays emitted by the source such that the X-rays emitted by the source are substantially parallel to one another.

Compact mammograph and associated mammography process

A method for correcting at least one image of an object obtained with a mammography system is provided. The method comprises: acquiring a pre-exposure image of an object to determine the acquisition conditions for main images, the pre-exposure image comprising regions corresponding to the projection of radio-opaque elements, wherein a mask comprising radio-opaque elements is in an acquisition position; acquiring the main images resulting from the passing through the object of X-rays at higher doses than the dose used for acquisition of the pre-exposure image, wherein the mask comprising radio-opaque elements is in a retracted position; extracting regions from the pre-exposure image which correspond to the projection of radio-opaque elements; and determining the contribution of X-ray scatter at every point of the at least one image of the object, on the basis of the regions extracted from the pre-exposure image.

Method for estimating and correcting scattering in mammography

A system and method for breast imaging using x-ray computed tomography (CT) are provided. One system includes a rotating gantry, an x-ray source coupled to the gantry for generating an x-ray beam and an x-ray detector coupled to the gantry for detecting x-rays of the x-ray beam. The system further includes an adjustable collimator coupled to the x-ray source and configured to adjust a focus of the x-ray beam generated by the x-ray source. The x system also includes a controller configured to control the collimator to adjust the focus on a region of interest (ROI) and to control a beam intensity for the x-ray beam generated by the x-ray source during a scan.

System and method for breast imaging using X-ray computed tomography

A method of processing a radiological image of an organ. The method may comprise generating a recombined image (R) from at least one previously acquired low energy image (L) and one high energy image (H) of a portion of the organ. The recombined image comprises a background and one or more areas corresponding to the presence of a contrast medium in the organ. The method may further comprise correcting the recombined image (R) by compensating (C) for the nonuniformities present in the background to obtain a compensated recombined image in which the background has a substantially uniform grey level.

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Guyancourt, France

Serge Louis Wilfrid Muller