Patent application number | Description | Published |
20110110486 | APPARATUS AND METHODS FOR COMPUTED TOMOGRAPHY IMAGING - Apparatus and methods for computed tomography (CT) imaging are provided. One method includes providing a patient table to move along an examination axis of a rotating gantry of a CT imaging system having at least one imaging detector. The imaging detector includes a pixelated detector array. The method further includes configuring the CT imaging system to perform an overlapping helical CT scan by controlling a speed of the moving patient table along the examination axis through a field of view (FOV) of the at least one imaging detector of the rotating gantry. | 05-12-2011 |
20110147574 | CALIBRATION SOURCE AND METHODS FOR CALIBRATING A NUCLEAR MEDICINE IMAGING SYSTEM - Systems and methods for calibrating a nuclear medicine (NM) imaging system are provided that include an NM calibration source. The NM calibration source includes an isotope source having an energy spectrum with at least one energy peak and a fluorescence layer adjacent the isotope source creating at least one additional energy peak in the energy spectrum. | 06-23-2011 |
20110155900 | SYSTEMS AND METHODS FOR GENERATING CALIBRATION MAPS FOR NON-PIXELATED GAMMA DETECTORS - A method for calibrating a non-pixelated gamma camera is provided, wherein the method includes determining a linearity map and a uniformity map of a reference isotope; and determining a linearity map and uniformity map of another isotope. Delta maps are calculated based on the maps of the reference isotope and the maps of the other isotope. During recalibration, new maps of the reference isotope are determined, thereby enabling new maps of the other isotope to be created based on the delta maps. | 06-30-2011 |
20110155918 | SYSTEMS AND METHODS FOR PROVIDING A SHARED CHARGE IN PIXELATED IMAGE DETECTORS - Systems and methods for providing a shared charge in pixelated image detectors are provided. One method includes providing a plurality of pixels for a pixelated solid state photon detector in a configuration such that a charge distribution is detected by at least two pixels and obtaining charge information from the at least two pixels. The method further includes determining a position of an interaction of the charge distribution with the plurality of pixels based on the obtained charge information. | 06-30-2011 |
20110268339 | SYSTEMS AND METHODS FOR DETERMINING A LOCATION OF A LESION IN A BREAST - A system and method for determining an existence, uptake, size and location of a lesion within a breast is provided. The system includes a first detector and a second detector. The breast is positioned between the first detector and the second detector. The first detector acquires a first image data set of the lesion and the second detector acquires a second image data set of the lesion. The system also includes a existence, uptake, size and location determining program that uses the first image data set and the second image data set to calculate existence, uptake, size and location information for the lesion and determines a existence, uptake, size and location of the lesion within the breast based on the calculated existence, uptake, size and location information. | 11-03-2011 |
20120108948 | SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR COLLIMATION IN DIAGNOSTIC IMAGING SYSTEMS - A system and method for collimation in diagnostic imaging systems is provided. One collimation system includes a collimator for a radiation imaging detector having a plurality of adjustable segments and a plurality of collimator holes within each of the plurality of adjustable segments. The plurality of adjustable segments are configured to move independently of a detector to adjust a field of view of the collimator holes. | 05-03-2012 |
20120305781 | SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR COLLIMATION IN DIAGNOSTIC IMAGING SYSTEMS - A system and method for collimation in diagnostic imaging systems is provided. One collimator includes a plurality of parallel hole segments and a plurality of collimator bores within each of the plurality of parallel hole segments. Additionally, all of the plurality of collimator bores in at least one of the plurality of parallel hole segments have a first pointing direction and all of the plurality of collimator bores in at least one other of the plurality of parallel hole segments have a second pointing direction, wherein the plurality of parallel hole segments are arranged in a fanbeam collimation configuration. Further, the first pointing direction is different than the second pointing direction. | 12-06-2012 |
20130126744 | IMAGING DETECTOR AND METHOD OF MANUFACTURING - Imaging detectors and methods of manufacturing are provided. One imaging detector includes a first detector layer within a detector module and a second detector layer within the detector module and spaced apart from the first detector layer, wherein the second detector layer has an opening therethrough. The imaging detector also includes a collimator mounted to the detector module, wherein the collimator is one of a single pinhole collimator or a multi-pinhole collimator. Additionally, the second detector layer is mounted within the detector module closer to an opening of the collimator than the first detector layer. | 05-23-2013 |
20130131509 | SYSTEMS AND METHODS FOR BREAST IMAGING - Systems and methods for breast imaging are provided. One includes a gantry, a first nuclear medicine detector mounted to the gantry and having a multi-bore collimator coupled thereto, and a second nuclear medicine detector mounted to the gantry and having a multi-bore collimator coupled thereto. The first and second nuclear medicine detectors are configured to be independently titled with respect to a breast therebetween. | 05-23-2013 |
20130163728 | PROXIMITY DETECTION SYSTEM FOR IMAGING SYSTEMS AND METHOD FOR SENSING PROXIMITY - A proximity sensor array for a medical imaging system includes a flexible substrate configured to be mounted to a detector, and a plurality of sensors disposed on the substrate, the flexible substrate being deformable to contact a sensing surface of the detector. A method of fabricating a proximity sensor array and a medical imaging system are also described herein. | 06-27-2013 |
20130190833 | Use of Electric Fields for Reducing Patient Discomfort During Defibrillation - Devices, systems and methods for reducing patent discomfort during defibrillation by delivering pulses to electrode configurations that create electric fields confined to and/or concentrated in an area of fibrillation are described. Embodiments provide for an implantable defibrillator having an electrode lead system having at least one electrode lead and at least one three electrodes, a controller for determining whether fibrillation exists and a voltage generator for discharging one or more defibrillation pulses to the at least three electrodes to create electric fields having different directions and high electric field concentrations in areas of the heart needing defibrillation and low electric field concentrations outside those areas. | 07-25-2013 |
20130193337 | SYSTEMS AND METHODS FOR PROVIDING A SHARED CHARGE IN PIXELATED IMAGE DETECTORS - Systems and methods for providing a shared charge in pixelated image detectors are provided. One method includes providing a plurality of pixels for a pixelated solid state photon detector in a configuration such that a charge distribution is detected by at least two pixels and obtaining charge information from the at least two pixels. The method further includes determining a position of an interaction of the charge distribution with the plurality of pixels based on the obtained charge information. | 08-01-2013 |
20130248719 | SYSTEMS AND METHODS FOR ATTENUATION COMPENSATION IN NUCLEAR MEDICINE IMAGING BASED ON EMISSION DATA - Systems and methods for attenuation compensation in nuclear medicine imaging based on emission data are provided. One method includes acquiring emission data at a plurality of energy windows for a person having administered thereto a radiopharmaceutical comprising at least one radioactive isotope. The method also includes performing a preliminary reconstruction of the acquired emission data to create one or more preliminary images of a peak energy window and a scatter energy window and determining a body outline of the person from at least one of the reconstructed preliminary image of the peak energy window or of the scatter energy window. The method further includes identifying a heart contour and segmenting at least the left lung. The method additionally includes defining an attenuation map based on the body outline and segmented left lung and reconstructing an image of a region of interest of the person using an iterative joint estimation reconstruction. | 09-26-2013 |
20130310655 | SYSTEMS AND METHODS FOR MOTION DETECTING FOR MEDICAL IMAGING - Systems and methods for medical imaging are provided. One method includes obtaining image information including timing information and obtaining motion information corresponding to an external movement by a patient being imaged. Obtaining the motion information includes detecting motion of the patient with a sensing device that does not engage the patient. The motion information includes motion timing information. The method further includes associating the motion information with the image information using the image timing information and the motion timing information. The method further includes forming an image representative of a portion of the patient using the associated image and motion information. | 11-21-2013 |
20130324843 | METHOD AND SYSTEM FOR PERFORMING AN IMAGING SCAN OF A SUBJECT - A method for performing an imaging scan of a subject includes positioning a narrow field-of-view camera at a first imaging position to acquire a first set of imaging information of a first object of interest, positioning the narrow field-of-view camera at a second imaging position to acquire a second set of imaging information of a second object of interest, determining emission counts for the first and second sets of imaging information, and utilizing the determined emission counts to generate a value that indicates a probability of a successful medical procedure being performed on the subject. | 12-05-2013 |
20130345550 | SYSTEMS AND METHODS FOR LOCALIZING AN OPAQUE MEDICAL DEVICE WITH NUCLEAR MEDICINE IMAGING - Systems and methods for localizing a medical device with nuclear medicine imaging are provided. One system includes a medical tool having a body with a length and configured to be inserted within an object. The medical tool also includes one or more radiation opaque regions along at least a portion of the length of the body, wherein the radiation opaque regions block gamma ray emission from within the object. | 12-26-2013 |
20140075734 | SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR COLLIMATION IN DIAGNOSTIC IMAGING SYSTEMS - A system and method for collimation in diagnostic imaging systems is provided. One collimator includes a plurality of parallel hole segments and a plurality of collimator bores within each of the plurality of parallel hole segments. Additionally, all of the plurality of collimator bores in at least one of the plurality of parallel hole segments have a first pointing direction and all of the plurality of collimator bores in at least one other of the plurality of parallel hole segments have a second pointing direction, wherein the plurality of parallel hole segments are arranged in a fanbeam collimation configuration. Further, the first pointing direction is different than the second pointing direction. | 03-20-2014 |
20140172422 | SECURED AUDIO CHANNEL FOR VOICE COMMUNICATION - A security device for hindering data theft and data leaks via audio channel of a computer system is based on passing the audio signals through a coding vocoder that receives input audio signal from a computer and compressing the signal to a low bit-rate digital data indicative of human speech; and a decoding vocoder that decompress the digital data back to a secure audio signal. The data transfer of the protected audio channel is intentionally limited not to exceed the bit-rate needed to carry vocoder-compressed human speech which is well below the capabilities of unprotected audio channel. Both analog and digital audio ports may be protected. Hardware bit-rate limiter protect the system from software hacking. | 06-19-2014 |
20140185747 | APPARATUS AND METHOD FOR REDUCING EXAMINATION TIME IN MOLECULAR BREAST IMAGING - A nuclear medicine mammography system and method for conducting concurrent examinations of both breasts of a patient, thereby reducing examination time in molecular breast imaging. The system comprises first and second pairs of generally opposed articulatable gamma photon detectors, wherein each pair of detectors can be arranged to image a respective breast independently from the other pair of detectors. In one or more embodiments, each pair of detectors can be arranged in at least two imaging orientations, such as cranio-caudal and mediolateral-oblique. | 07-03-2014 |
20150065782 | SYSTEMS AND METHODS FOR FORCED NON-UNIFORM RADIOPHARMACEUTICAL UPTAKE - A method is provided including identifying a target portion of a patient corresponding to a portion of interest of the patient to be scanned with a nuclear medicine scanning technique. The method also includes applying an uptake increasing technique to at least one of the target portion or an application portion of the patient other than the target portion. The uptake increasing technique is configured to increase uptake of a radiopharmaceutical to the target portion of the patient relative to portions of the patient other than the target portion. Also, the method includes administering the radiopharmaceutical to the patient temporally proximate to the applying an uptake increasing technique. | 03-05-2015 |
20150065873 | METHODS AND SYSTEMS FOR CONTROLLING MOVEMENT OF DETECTORS HAVING MULTIPLE DETECTOR HEADS - Methods and systems for controlling movement of detectors having multiple detector heads are provided. One system includes a gantry, a patient support structure supporting a patient table thereon, and a plurality of detector units. At least some of the detector units are rotatable to position the detector units at different angles relative to the patient table. The imaging system further includes a detector position controller configured to control the position of the rotatable detector units, wherein at least some of the rotatable detector units positioned adjacent to each other have an angle of rotation to allow movement of the rotatable detector units a distance greater than a gap between adjacent rotatable detector units The detector position controller is configured to calculate at least one of field of view avoidance information or collision avoidance information to determine an amount of movement for one or more of the rotatable detector units. | 03-05-2015 |
20150065874 | METHODS AND APPARATUS FOR IMAGING WITH DETECTORS HAVING MOVING DETECTOR HEADS - Methods and apparatus for imaging with detectors having moving heads are provided. One apparatus includes a gantry and a plurality of detector units mounted to the gantry. At least some of the plurality of detector units are movable relative to the gantry to position one or more of the detector units with respect to a subject. The detector units are movable along parallel axes with respect to each other. | 03-05-2015 |