Patent application number | Description | Published |
20080240335 | Iterative reconstruction of tomographic image data method and system - Methods for performing image reconstruction that include deriving background projection data for an area outside a targeted field of view of a tomographic image, and reconstructing the tomographic image of the targeted field of view, wherein the background projection data is used in the reconstruction. Methods for selecting a reconstruction methodology that include determining a number of pixels in a reconstructed image for a first reconstruction methodology, determining a number of pixels in a reconstructed image for a second reconstruction methodology, comparing the number of pixels for the first reconstruction methodology and the number of pixels for the second reconstruction methodology, and selecting the reconstruction methodology for image reconstruction based on the comparison of the number of pixels. Imaging systems implementing these methods are also provided. | 10-02-2008 |
20090110256 | SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR IMAGE-BASED ATTENUATION CORRECTION OF PET/SPECT IMAGES - A system and method for image-based correction including a receiver to acquire an image from one or more data storage systems, one or more processors to determine an attenuation mismatch estimate and calculate a correction for the image based on the attenuation mismatch estimate and the image, and an output to generate an attenuation mismatch corrected image based on the correction. | 04-30-2009 |
20100046821 | MOTION CORRECTION IN TOMOGRAPHIC IMAGES - An imaging method comprises reconstructing gated emission tomography images for a region of interest, adjusting a mismatch between the gated emission tomography images and a computed tomography image of the region of interest, registering the gated emission tomography images, and combining the registered gated emission tomography images to generate motion corrected images. | 02-25-2010 |
20100193697 | APPARATUS AND METHODS FOR EVALUATING OPERATION OF PIXELATED DETECTORS - An apparatus and methods for evaluating the operation of pixelated detectors are provided. The method includes obtaining data values for each of a plurality of pixels of a pixelated detector and determining a data consistency metric for each of the plurality of detector pixels. The method further includes identifying, using the determined data consistency metric, any detector pixels that exceed an acceptance criterion as noisy pixels. | 08-05-2010 |
20100220909 | METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR REDUCING IMAGE ARTIFACTS - A method and apparatus are provided for reducing motion related imaging artifacts. The method includes determining an internal motion for of two regions of the object, each region having a different level of motion, scanning the first region using a first scan protocol based on the motion, scanning a second region using a second different scan protocol based on the motion, and generating an image of the object based on the first and second regions. | 09-02-2010 |
20110148928 | SYSTEM AND METHOD TO CORRECT MOTION IN GATED-PET IMAGES USING NON-RIGID REGISTRATION - A method of imaging is presented. The method includes reconstructing image data acquired at a plurality of time intervals to obtain a plurality of images. Further, the method includes generating a mean image using the plurality of images. The method also includes correcting motion in the mean image or the plurality of images or both the mean image and the plurality of images by iteratively determining convergence of the mean image or the plurality of images or both the mean image and the plurality of images to generate a converged mean image, a converged plurality of images, or both a converged mean image and a converged plurality of images. | 06-23-2011 |
20110150306 | APPARATUS AND METHODS FOR DETERMINING A BOUNDARY OF AN OBJECT FOR POSITRON EMISSION TOMOGRAPHY SCATTER CORRECTION - Apparatus and methods for determining a boundary of an object for positron emission tomography (PET) scatter correction are provided. One method includes obtaining positron emission tomography (PET) data and computed tomography (CT) data for an object. The PET data and CT data is acquired from an imaging system. The method further includes determining a PET data boundary of the object based on the PET data and determining a CT data boundary of the object based on the CT data. The method further includes determining a combined boundary for PET scatter correction. The combined boundary encompasses the PET data boundary and the CT data boundary. | 06-23-2011 |
20110158494 | SYSTEMS AND METHODS FOR IDENTIFYING BONE MARROW IN MEDICAL IMAGES - Systems and method for identifying bone marrow in medical images are provided. A method includes obtaining a three-dimensional (3D) computed tomography (CT) volume data set corresponding to an imaged volume and identifying voxels in the 3D CT volume data set having a Hounsfield Unit (HU) value below a bone threshold. The voxels are identified without using image continuity. The method further includes marking the identified voxels as non-bone voxels, determining definite tissue voxels based on the identified non-bone voxels and expanding a region defined by the definite tissue voxels. The method also includes segmenting the expanded region to identify bone voxels and bone marrow voxels and identifying bone marrow as voxels that are not the bone voxels. | 06-30-2011 |
20130006091 | SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR A COMBINED MRI-PET IMAGER - A combined magnetic resonance imager (MRI) and positron emission tomography (PET) imager and a method of performing combined MRI-PET imaging of an object is disclosed herein. The combined MRI-PET imager includes an MRI bore configured to perform MR imaging of the object. The MRI bore is sized so as to provide clearance between the MRI bore and the object within the MRI bore. The dedicated MRI-PET imager further includes a PET detector system is disposed outside the MRI bore to detect PET emissions from the object. The PET detector system includes at least one detector element retractably arranged exterior to the MRI bore. During the PET acquisition, the PET detector elements contract to a size so as to provide optimal clearance between the PET detectors and the object. During MRI acquisition, the PET detectors retract to allow the object to traverse into the MRI field of view | 01-03-2013 |
20130026370 | METHODS AND SYSTEMS FOR SCATTER ESTIMATION IN POSITRON EMISSION TOMOGRAPHY - Methods and systems for multiple scatter estimation in Positron Emission Tomography (PET) are provided. One method includes determining attenuation sinograms and determining a varying convolution kernel as a function of the attenuation sinograms, wherein the kernel varies in amplitude and width over a radial length of a PET imaging system. The method also includes using the varying convolution kernel to estimate multiple PET scatter. | 01-31-2013 |
20130105699 | METHODS AND SYSTEMS FOR ADAPTIVE TOMOGRAPHIC IMAGING | 05-02-2013 |
20130136328 | METHODS AND SYSTEMS FOR ENHANCED TOMOGRAPHIC IMAGING - Nuclear imaging systems, non-transitory computer readable media and methods for tomographic imaging are presented. Projection data is acquired by scanning one or more views of a subject for a designated scan interval less than a total scan interval. A first image of a target region of interest (ROI) is reconstructed using projection data acquired over a first fraction of the designated scan interval. A second target ROI image is reconstructed using at least a subset of projection data acquired over the first and/or a second fraction. A change in an image quality characteristic over the first and the second fractions is determined by determining one or more differences between the first and the second images. A value of an imaging parameter is estimated based on the change to acquire projection data for generating a target ROI image having at least a predetermined level of the image quality characteristic. | 05-30-2013 |
20130193330 | SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR PIXELATED DETECTOR CALIBRATION - Present embodiments relate to the calibration of detectors having one or more arrays of pixelated detectors. According to an embodiment, a method includes detecting optical outputs generated by a plurality of scintillation crystals of a detector with an array of pixelated detectors, generating, with the array of pixelated detectors, respective signals indicative of the optical outputs, generating, from the respective signals, a unique energy spectrum correlated to each of the plurality of scintillation crystals, grouping subsets of the plurality of scintillation crystals into macrocrystals, determining a representative energy spectrum peak for each macrocrystal based on the respective energy spectra of the scintillation crystals in the macrocrystal, comparing a value of the representative energy spectrum peak for each macrocrystal with a target peak value, and adjusting an operating parameter of at least one pixelated detector in the array of pixelated detectors as a result of the comparison. | 08-01-2013 |
20140003689 | METHODS AND SYSTEMS FOR ENHANCED TOMOGRAPHIC IMAGING | 01-02-2014 |
20140061482 | ENHANCED RESPONSE OF SOLID STATE PHOTOMULTIPLIER TO SCINTILLATOR LIGHT BY USE OF WAVELENGTH SHIFTERS - A wavelength shifting material is optically coupled to one of a scintillator and a solid-state photomultiplier and transmits photons along and about a straight linear path. The wavelength shifting material enhances photon sensing performance of the solid state photomultiplier. | 03-06-2014 |
20140064446 | X-RAY ABSORPTIOMETRY USING SOLID-STATE PHOTOMULTIPLIERS - An x-ray absorptiometry apparatus and method utilize a radiation source having a beam opening angle of less than or equal to 30 milliradians in at least one dimension, an array of scintillator units to receive radiation from the radiation source with the beam angle after the radiation has passed through a body being imaged and at least one solid-state photomultiplier to receive photons from the array of scintillator units and to produce electrical signal based on the photons. In one implementation, an optical area transmission passage modifier is employed in a dual energy x-ray absorptiometry system. In one implementation, the array of scintillator units are arranged in staggered rows. In yet another implementation, the solid-state photomultiplier includes a plurality of solid-state photomultipliers arranged in rows. In one implementation, a single solid-state photomultiplier receive photons from a plurality of scintillators of the array. | 03-06-2014 |
20140079304 | Method and System for Correction of Lung Density Variation in Positron Emission Tomography Using Magnetic Resonance Imaging - Exemplary embodiments of the present disclosure are directed to correcting lung density variations in positron emission tomography (PET) images of a subject using a magnetic resonance (MR) image. A pulmonary vasculature and an outer extent of a lung cavity can be identified in a MR image corresponding to a thoracic region of the subject in response to an intensity associated with pixels in the MR image. The pixels within the outer extent of the lung cavity are classified as corresponding to the pulmonary vasculature or the lung tissue. Exemplary embodiments of the present disclosure can apply attenuation coefficients to a reconstruction of the PET image based on the classification of the pixels within the outer extent of the lung cavity. | 03-20-2014 |
20140148684 | PET Acquisition Scheduling Based on MR SCOUT Images - Exemplary embodiments of the present disclosure are directed to scheduling positron emission tomography (PET) scans for a combined PET-MRI scanner based on an acquisition of MR scout images of a subject. An anatomy and orientation of the subject can be determined based on the MR scout images and the schedule for acquiring PET scans of the subject can be determined from the anatomy of the subject. The schedule generated using exemplary embodiments of the present disclosure can specify a sequence of bed positions, scan durations at each bed position, and whether respiratory gating will be used at one or more of the bed positions. | 05-29-2014 |
20150065854 | JOINT ESTIMATION OF ATTENUATION AND ACTIVITY INFORMATION USING EMISSION DATA - Methods, systems and non-transitory computer readable media for imaging are disclosed. Emission projection data corresponding to a target region of a subject is acquired using an emission tomography system. Additionally, one or more magnetic resonance images of the target region are generated using a magnetic resonance imaging system operatively coupled to the emission tomography system. A partially-determined attenuation map is determined by identifying one or more regions in the partially-determined attenuation map with a designated confidence level based on the magnetic resonance images. Further, a complete attenuation map and/or a complete activity map is reconstructed from the emission projection data using the partially-determined attenuation map as a constraint. One or more images corresponding to the target region are then generated based on the partially-determined attenuation map, the complete attenuation map and/or the complete activity map. | 03-05-2015 |