Emission imaging data are reconstructed to generate a low dose reconstructed image. Standardized uptake value (SUV) conversion (30) is applied to convert the low dose reconstructed image to a low dose SUV image. A neural network (46, 48) is applied to the low dose SUV image to generate an estimated full dose SUV image. Prior to applying the neural network the low dose reconstructed image or the low dose SUV image is filtered using a low pass filter (32). The neural network is trained on a set of training low dose SUV images and corresponding training full dose SUV images to transform the training low dose SUV images to match the corresponding training full dose SUV images, using a loss function having a mean square error loss component (34) and a loss component (36) that penalizes loss of image texture and/or a loss component (38) that promotes edge preservation.

Provided herein is technology relating to radiology and radiotherapy and particularly, but not exclusively, to apparatuses, methods, and systems for multi-axis medical imaging of patients in vertical and horizontal positions with single or dual energy acquisition.

A 3D X-ray device including an X-ray detector, an X-ray source and a computer. The X-ray detector and the X-ray source are moved about an object volume to be recorded on movement paths with a rotation of at least 185°. A number of X-ray projection images are recorded from different directions. X-rays irradiate the object volume in one of the irradiation directions and are captured by the detector. A 3D X-ray image of the object volume is calculated from the recorded X-ray projection images by a reconstruction method. The X-ray detector is arranged asymmetrically relative to a central axis through a center of rotation of the 3D X-ray device. A first fan beam and an opposite second fan beam rotated 180° form an overlap region. At least one X-ray filter is placed between the X-ray source and the object volume for attenuating an X-ray dose inside the overlap region.

An X-ray diagnosis apparatus according to an embodiment includes an X-ray limiter having four diaphragm blades; and a console on which four physical operating units that correspond to the four diaphragm blades are placed at four positions. When viewed from the side of the operator of the console, the four operating units are placed on the far side, the near side, the left side, and the right side. The far-side operating unit, the near-side operating unit, the left-side operating unit, and the right-side operating unit correspond to the upper diaphragm blade, the lower diaphragm blade, the left-side diaphragm blade, and the right-side diaphragm blade, respectively, with reference to an X-ray image displayed in a display. An operation of moving the far-side operating unit in the far-side direction results in the movement of the upper diaphragm blade in the upward direction of the X-ray image displayed in the display, and an operation of moving the far-side operating unit in the near-side direction results in the movement of the upper diaphragm blade in the downward direction of the X-ray image displayed in the display. An operation of moving the near-side operating unit in the far-side direction results in the movement of the lower diaphragm blade in the upward direction of the X-ray image displayed in the display, and an operation of moving the near-side operating unit in the near-side direction results in the movement of the lower diaphragm blade in the downward direction of the X-ray image displayed in the display. An operation of moving the left-side operating unit in the leftward direction results in the movement of the left-side diaphragm blade in the leftward direction of the X-ray image displayed in the display, and an operation of moving the left-side operating unit in the rightward direction results in the movement of the left-side diaphragm blade in the rightward direction of the X-ray image displayed in the display. An operation of moving the right-side operating unit in the leftward direction results in the movement of the right-side diaphragm blade in the leftward direction of the X-ray image displayed in the display, and an operation of moving the right-side operating unit in the rightward direction results in the movement of the right-side diaphragm blade in the rightward direction of the X-ray image displayed in the display.

In order to reduce a radiation dose delivered to an object or an observer, a facility for monitoring handling of the object has an optical unit configured to direct ionizing radiation onto the object and also a filter element in order to attenuate a part of the ionizing radiation. An imaging unit may detect portions of the ionizing radiation passing through the object in order to create an image of the object. A view acquisition system may acquire a viewing movement, and a control unit is configured, during a first operating mode, to control a position of the filter element as a function of the viewing movement. The control unit is configured to identify a predefined sequence of viewing movements and, as a function thereof, to switch into a second operating mode. The position of the filter element is controlled during the second operating mode as a function of an image analysis.

Various methods and systems are provided for x-ray tube conditioning for a computed tomography imaging method. In one embodiment, x-ray may be generated in an x-ray tube of a radiation source prior to a diagnostic scan to warmup the x-ray tube to a desired temperature for the diagnostic scan. The power delivered to the x-ray tube during warmup may be adjusted in a closed loop system based on an initial temperature of the x-ray tube and the desired temperature for the diagnostic scan. During tube warmup, by placing a blocking plate coupled to a collimator blade in a path of the x-ray beam, the x-ray beam may be blocked from exiting a collimator.

According to one embodiment, a medical image processing apparatus includes processing circuitry. The processing circuitry designates a region of interest in a first tomogram among multiple tomograms which are based on tomosynthesis imaging performed with a subject compressed in a first direction. The processing circuitry specifies a second tomogram corresponding to the region of interest from among multiple tomograms which are based on tomosynthesis imaging performed with the subject compressed in a second direction different from the first direction.

A portable computed tomography (CT) system includes an O-shaped gantry defining an opening, an x-ray source operably coupled to the O-shaped gantry, and a flat panel detector (FPD) coupled to the O-shaped gantry and having a two-dimensional anti-scatter grid (2D ASG) coupled to a side of the FPD facing the opening. With the O-shaped gantry having the FPD, the object may be imaged in a first field of view (FOV) with the detector arranged in a centered geometry. Then, the detector may be arranged in an offset geometry, through-holes of the ASG may be aligned with x-ray emission paths of the x-ray source, and the object may be imaged in a second FOV with the detector arranged in the offset geometry.

Systems and method for performing X-ray computed tomography (CT) that can improve spectral separation and decrease motion artifacts without increasing radiation dose are provided. The systems and method can be used with either a kVp-switching source or a single-kVp source. When used with a kVp-switching source, an absorption grating and a filter grating can be disposed between the X-ray source and the sample to be imaged. Relative motion of the filter and absorption gratings can by synchronized to the kVp switching frequency of the X-ray source. When used with a single-kVp source, a combination of absorption and filter gratings can be used and can be driven in an oscillation movement that is optimized for a single-kVp X-ray source. With a single-kVp source, the absorption grating can also be omitted and the filter grating can remain stationary.

Phase contrast and dark-field X-ray imaging enable imaging of objects that absorb or reflect very little X-ray light. Disclosed is a method and systems for performing coded-mask-based multi-contrast imaging (CMMI). The method includes providing radiation to a coded mask that has a known phase and absorption profile according to a pre-determined pattern. The radiation is then impingent upon a sample, and the radiation is detected to perform phase-reconstruction and image processing. The method and associated systems allow for the use of maximum-likelihood and machine learning methods for reconstruction images of the sample from the detected radiation.