Abstract: An imaging system and method acquires non-contrast images of a region of interest in a body and determines an entrance criterion based on the non-contrast images. The entrance criterion dictates conditions in which to begin acquiring contrast imaging exposures of the region of interest. An amount of a contrast agent is measured in one or more locations in the imaged body subsequent to acquiring the non-contrast images. The system and method determine that the one or more conditions of the entrance criterion are met based on the amount of the contrast agent that is measured in the imaged body, and acquire one or more contrast images of the region of interest in the imaged body responsive to determining that the one or more conditions of the entrance criterion are met.

Abstract: Methods and systems are provided for adjusting medical imaging parameters based on imaging parameters used during a previous imaging session. In one embodiment, a method for a computed tomography (CT) system includes reducing a radiation level of at least one CT scan of one or more successive CT scans performed on a patient based on CT scan information obtained from a previous CT scan performed on the patient, the radiation level reduced relative to a radiation level of the previous CT scan.

Abstract: An imaging system and method acquires non-contrast images of a region of interest in a body and determines an entrance criterion based on the non-contrast images. The entrance criterion dictates conditions in which to begin acquiring contrast imaging exposures of the region of interest. An amount of a contrast agent is measured in one or more locations in the imaged body subsequent to acquiring the non-contrast images. The system and method determine that the one or more conditions of the entrance criterion are met based on the amount of the contrast agent that is measured in the imaged body, and acquire one or more contrast images of the region of interest in the imaged body responsive to determining that the one or more conditions of the entrance criterion are met.

Abstract: Methods and systems are provided for generating a diagnostic cardiac image using a CT system without ECG gating techniques. In one example, a method for an imaging system includes determining a scanning duration for scanning a heart of a patient with the imaging system based on a heart rate of the patient, scanning the patient with the imaging system for the scanning duration, the scanning commenced independent of a current phase of a cardiac cycle of the heart of the patient, and reconstructing an image from data acquired during the scanning.

Abstract: Methods and systems are provided for generating a diagnostic cardiac image using a CT system without ECG gating techniques. In one example, a method for an imaging system includes determining a scanning duration for scanning a heart of a patient with the imaging system based on a heart rate of the patient, scanning the patient with the imaging system for the scanning duration, the scanning commenced independent of a current phase of a cardiac cycle of the heart of the patient, and reconstructing an image from data acquired during the scanning.

Abstract: An imaging system and method acquires non-contrast images of a region of interest in a body and determines an entrance criterion based on the non-contrast images. The entrance criterion dictates conditions in which to begin acquiring contrast imaging exposures of the region of interest. An amount of a contrast agent is measured in one or more locations in the imaged body subsequent to acquiring the non-contrast images. The system and method determine that the one or more conditions of the entrance criterion are met based on the amount of the contrast agent that is measured in the imaged body, and acquire one or more contrast images of the region of interest in the imaged body responsive to determining that the one or more conditions of the entrance criterion are met.

Abstract: An imaging system determines a heart rate of a patient, a cardiac disease state, and/or a target cardiac anatomy of the patient. The system calculates an image acquisition time range from a patient population model using the heart rate, the cardiac disease state, and/or the target anatomy. The model represents relationships between cardiac motion of other patients and time or cardiac phases of the other patients. The system also determines imaging settings to acquire image data of the target anatomy during the image acquisition time range that is calculated. Imaging the target anatomy of the patient according to the imaging settings generates image data of the target anatomy having less cardiac motion and/or a reduced image acquisition time range relative to determining the imaging settings without using the patient population model.

Abstract: An imaging system determines a heart rate of a patient, a cardiac disease state, and/or a target cardiac anatomy of the patient. The system calculates an image acquisition time range from a patient population model using the heart rate, the cardiac disease state, and/or the target anatomy. The model represents relationships between cardiac motion of other patients and time or cardiac phases of the other patients. The system also determines imaging settings to acquire image data of the target anatomy during the image acquisition time range that is calculated. Imaging the target anatomy of the patient according to the imaging settings generates image data of the target anatomy having less cardiac motion and/or a reduced image acquisition time range relative to determining the imaging settings without using the patient population model.

Abstract: Methods and systems are provided for adjusting medical imaging parameters based on imaging parameters used during a previous imaging session. In one embodiment, a method for a computed tomography (CT) system includes reducing a radiation level of at least one CT scan of one or more successive CT scans performed on a patient based on CT scan information obtained from a previous CT scan performed on the patient, the radiation level reduced relative to a radiation level of the previous CT scan.

Abstract: A system includes an imaging acquisition unit, a reconstruction unit, and a determination system. The imaging acquisition unit is configured to perform a scan to acquire imaging information of a patient. The reconstruction unit is configured to reconstruct an image using the imaging information. The determination system is communicatively coupled to the imaging acquisition unit and the reconstruction unit. The determination system includes at least one processor configured to: acquire performance information corresponding to the scan; determine a scan quality for the scan based on the performance information; determine an update to a protocol used to at least one of acquire the imaging information or reconstruct the image; and provide control information to at least one of the imaging acquisition unit or the reconstruction unit to implement the determined update for at least one of performing a subsequent scan or reconstructing a subsequent image.

Abstract: A system includes an imaging acquisition unit, a reconstruction unit, and a determination system. The imaging acquisition unit is configured to perform a scan to acquire imaging information of a patient. The reconstruction unit is configured to reconstruct an image using the imaging information. The determination system is communicatively coupled to the imaging acquisition unit and the reconstruction unit. The determination system includes at least one processor configured to: acquire performance information corresponding to the scan; determine a scan quality for the scan based on the performance information; determine an update to a protocol used to at least one of acquire the imaging information or reconstruct the image; and provide control information to at least one of the imaging acquisition unit or the reconstruction unit to implement the determined update for at least one of performing a subsequent scan or reconstructing a subsequent image.

Abstract: A system and method for an image reconstruction user interface is provided. An imaging system may be used to scan a subject and provide reconstructed images of the subject. Reconstructed images may be output to a display, printer, network, and/or memory storage device. To view information and select options for image reconstruction, a visualization system and method is utilized.

Abstract: A system and method for an image reconstruction user interface is provided. An imaging system may be used to scan a subject and provide reconstructed images of the subject. Reconstructed images may be output to a display, printer, network, and/or memory storage device. To view information and select options for image reconstruction, a visualization system and method is utilized.

Abstract: A CT imaging system includes a gantry and a table in a movable relationship with the gantry. The CT imaging system also includes a controller configured to control relative movement between a subject disposed on the table and the gantry from a first data acquisition position to a second data acquisition position. The controller is also configured to determine a total scan time based on a first time for acquiring imaging data at the first data acquisition position and a second time for transitioning from the first data acquisition position to the second data acquisition position. The controller is also configured to disable data acquisition in an immediately subsequent cardiac cycle and re-enable data acquisition in the cardiac cycle following the immediately subsequent cardiac cycle if the total scan time exceeds one cardiac cycle of the subject. A method of CT imaging is also disclosed.

Abstract: The present invention is directed to a method and system of controlling rotation of a gantry to rotate at a rotational speed such that a desired relationship between center projection angles of neighboring partial scans is maintained.

Abstract: A method for combining images acquired using helical half-scan imaging comprises identifying an image plane within an overlap region comprising data from first and second view streams representative of first and second cycles of acquired image data. The image plane comprises the same anatomical structure. First and second weighting functions are calculated for first and second images based on first and second tube positions of an x-ray tube. The first and second images correspond to the image plane and are from the first and second view streams, respectively. The first and second tube positions also correspond to the image plane. A weighted image is then formed based on the first and second weighting functions and the first and second images.

Abstract: Methods and systems for generating computed tomographic (CT) images from image data acquired during different biological cycles are provided. A computer is programmed to receive a plurality of scan data acquired during a gated acquisition window of each of a plurality of biological cycles, blend the scan data acquired during a first of the plurality of biological cycles with the scan data acquired during a second of the plurality of biological cycles, and construct a final image from the blended data.

Abstract: The present invention is directed to a method and system of controlling rotation of a gantry to rotate at a rotational speed such that a desired relationship between center projection angles of neighboring partial scans is maintained.

Abstract: A method for operating a plurality of user interfaces coupled to a plurality of medical devices through a communication network is provided. The method includes performing medical diagnostics on a patient using at least two of the plurality of medical devices, wherein the user interface is configured to control the at least two of the plurality of medical devices, and displaying a result of the medical diagnostics on at least one of the plurality of user interfaces.

Abstract: A method for image reconstruction and reducing patient dose, and an imaging system for accomplishing these methods, includes selecting a primary phase of a cardiac cycle and calculating compromised phase regions based on a selected compromised phase value. If the image position is located within the primary phase, then an image is generated at the primary phase. If the image position is not located within the primary phase, but is located within a compromised phase region, then an image is generated at the compromised phase region.