A61B6/483

METHODS AND SYSTEMS FOR SCATTER CORRECTION
20210279917 · 2021-09-09 ·

Various methods and systems are provided for scatter correction in nuclear medicine imaging systems. In one embodiment, a method for NM imaging comprises acquiring, with a plurality of detectors, imaging data separated into a high energy window and a low energy window, removing photopeak photons from the imaging data in the low energy window to obtain a corrected scatter distribution, correcting the imaging data based on the corrected scatter distribution, and outputting a scatter-corrected image reconstructed from the corrected imaging data. In this way, fast and accurate scatter correction for CZT-based gamma cameras may be performed, and image quality as well as quantitative accuracy may be increased.

MONITORING MEDICAL PROCEDURES BY ESTIMATED RADIATION EXPOSURE
20210259786 · 2021-08-26 ·

Systems and methods monitoring progress of a medical procedure by radiation exposure are provided. Locations of radiation producing and scattering items of medical equipment are received at a controller. Locations of individuals assisting with the medical procedure are received at the controller by way of tracking devices worn by the individuals during the medical procedure. The controller receives indication of when the radiation producing item(s) are activated and develops a radiation scatter intensity field. An analytical subsystem determines an estimated exposure level for each individual based on their position within the radiation scatter intensity field at each instance the radiation producing device is activated, which are compared to a benchmark. Where the estimated exposure level exceeds the benchmark, an intervention subsystem provides an intervention.

Apparatus and method of processing data acquired in x-ray examination, and x-ray examination system equipped with the apparatus

In a data processing apparatus, image data are calculated based on photon counts of an X-ray beam transmitted through an object. Based on the image data, X-ray attenuation information is calculated. The attenuation information includes i) inherent information inherently depending on a type or a property of the object, the inherent information being indicated by a quantity of a vector in an n-dimensional coordinate whose dimension is equal in number to the n-piece energy ranges; and ii) associated information being associated with the inherent information and depending on a length of a path along which the X-ray beam passes though the object. From the attenuation information, only the inherent information is produced which is independent of the associated information. Scattering points corresponding to the inherent information are calculated to be mapped in the n-dimensional coordinate or in a coordinate whose dimension is less than the n-dimensional coordinate.

SYSTEMS AND METHODS FOR COHERENT SCATTER IMAGING USING A SEGMENTED PHOTON-COUNTING DETECTOR FOR COMPUTED TOMOGRAPHY
20210145373 · 2021-05-20 ·

Methods and systems are provided for coherent scattered imaging using a computed tomography system with segmented detector arrays. In one embodiment, a method includes imaging a region of interest with an x-ray source and a segmented photon-counting detector array, detecting a position of an object of interest in the region of interest, selectively scanning, via the x-ray source and the segmented photon-counting detector array, the object of interest, detecting a coherent scatter signal from the object of interest with the segmented photon-counting detector array, and determining a material of the object of interest based on the detected coherent scatter signal. In this way, the coherent scatter signal may be used to identify and investigate lesions or other objects of interest within an imaged volume.

Outside-FOV activity estimation using surview and prior patient data in positron emission tomography

A radioemission scanner (12) is operated to acquire tomographic radioemission data of a radiopharmaceutical in a subject in an imaging field of view (FOV). An imaging system is operated to acquire extension imaging data of the subject in an extended FOV disposed outside of and adjacent the imaging FOV along an axial direction (18). A distribution of the radiopharmaceutical in the subject in the extended FOV is estimated based on the extension imaging data, and further based on a database (32) of reference subjects. The tomographic radioemission data are reconstructed to generate a reconstructed image (26) of the subject in the imaging FOV. The reconstruction includes correcting the reconstructed image for scatter from the extended FOV into the imaging FOV based on the estimated distribution of the radiopharmaceutical in the subject in the extended FOV.

SPECTRAL IMAGING WITH A NON-SPECTRAL IMAGING SYSTEM
20210065410 · 2021-03-04 ·

An imaging system (102) includes a radiation source (112) configured to emit X-ray radiation, a detector array (114) configured to detect X-ray radiation and generate a signal indicative thereof, an a reconstructor (116) configured to reconstruct the signal and generate non-spectral image data. The imaging system further includes a processor (124) configured to process the non-spectral image data using a deep learning regression algorithm to estimate spectral data from a group consisting of spectral basis components and a spectral image.

CORRECTING STANDARDIZED UPTAKE VALUES IN PRE-TREATMENT AND POST-TREATMENT POSITRON EMISSION TOMOGRAPHY STUDIES
20210049793 · 2021-02-18 ·

A non-transitory computer-readable medium stores instructions readable and executable by a workstation including at least one electronic processor to perform an image interpretation method. The method includes: spatially registering first and second images of a target portion of a patient in a common image space (102), the first and second images being obtained from different image sessions and having pixel values in standardized uptake value (SUV) units; determining SUV pairs for corresponding pixels of the spatially registered first and second images (104); and controlling a display device to display a two-dimensional (2D) scatter plot of the determined SUV pairs wherein the 2D scatter plot has a first SUV axis for the first image and a second SUV axis for the second image (106).

NON-SPECTRAL COMPUTED TOMOGRAPHY (CT) SCANNER CONFIGURED TO GENERATE SPECTRAL VOLUMETRIC IMAGE DATA

A non-spectral computed tomography scanner (102) includes a radiation source (112) configured to emit x-ray radiation, a detector array (114) configured to detect x-ray radiation and generate non-spectral data, and a memory (134) configured to store a spectral image module (130) that includes computer executable instructions including a neural network trained to produce spectral volumetric image data. The neural network is trained with training spectral volumetric image data and training non-spectral data. The non-spectral computed tomography scanner further includes a processor (126) configured to process the non-spectral data with the trained neural network to produce spectral volumetric image data.

X-RAY IMAGING APPARATUS

This X-ray imaging apparatus (100) includes a rotation mechanism (8) for relatively rotating an imaging system (200) constituted by an X-ray source (1), a detector (5), a first grating (2) and a second grating (3), and an image processing unit (6) for generating a dark-field image based on an X-ray intensity distribution at each of a plurality of rotation angles. The image processing unit (6) is configured to perform a scattering correction for reducing a dark-field signal of a pixel whose dark-field signal is larger than a threshold value (V1) among a plurality of pieces of pixels in the dark-field image to a set value (V2).

METHOD FOR PRODUCING A BEAM GUIDE GRID AND A BEAM GUIDE GRID PRODUCED IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE METHOD
20210078219 · 2021-03-18 ·

The invention relates to a process for producing a beam guiding grid (4), comprising a molding having a grid of passageways (40) and wall areas surrounding them, from radiation-absorbing metal powder and binder, especially tungsten powder and binder. Advantageous production is achieved in that the molding is produced by injection molding, wherein the homogenized mixture, as a prepared flowable injection compound, is injected using an injection molding machine into a molding tool (7) that produces the molding, into which movable mold cores (72) were introduced prior to filing with the molding composition.