Stephen Wayne Metz

US Patent:

6490334, Dec 3, 2002

Filed:

Jun 29, 2001

Appl. No.:

09/896957

Inventors:

Sharon X. Wang - Brookfield WI
Thomas L. Toth - Brookfield WI
Piero U. Simoni - New Berlin WI
Stephen W. Metz - Greenfield WI
Jiang Hsieh - Brookfield WI

Assignee:

GE Medical Systems Global Technology Company, LLC - Waukesha WI

International Classification:

A61B 603

US Classification:

378 15, 378 19, 378901

Abstract:

There is therefore provided, in one aspect, a method for imaging an object utilizing a computed tomographic (CT) imaging system having a rotating gantry, a multislice detector array on the rotating gantry and using at least n 1 rows of detector channels, and a radiation source on the rotating gantry configured to project a beam of radiation towards the multislice detector array through an object to be imaged. The method includes helically scanning the object with the CT imaging system at a pitch p n to acquire projection data from the n rows of detector channels; applying a combined helical weight and conjugate weight to at least a portion of the acquired projection data to produce virtual projection data compensating for incomplete helical row data of the acquired projection data; and reconstructing an image of the object utilizing the acquired projection data and the virtual projection data.

US Patent:

6522714, Feb 18, 2003

Filed:

Nov 9, 2001

Appl. No.:

10/037032

Inventors:

Sharon Wang - Brookfield WI
Stephen Metz - Greenfield WI
Thomas Toth - Brookfield WI
Piero U. Simoni - New Berlin WI
Jianying Li - New Berlin WI

Assignee:

GE Medical Systems Global Technologies Company LLC - Waukesha WI

International Classification:

A61B 603

US Classification:

378 15, 378 19, 378901

Abstract:

A method and apparatus for performing image reconstruction using data obtained by an N beam helical scan, the method including generating projection data arrays for each of the N row in a CT detector, weighting the data arrays using a unique weighting function that is applicable to detectors having many different numbers of rows N to generate helical weighted arrays for each row, weighting the helical weighted arrays by applying a conjugate weighting function to generate conjugate arrays for each detector row and then combining the conjugate weighted arrays, filtering and back-projecting to generate a slice image.

US Patent:

6885724, Apr 26, 2005

Filed:

Aug 22, 2003

Appl. No.:

10/646023

Inventors:

Baojun Li - Waukesha WI, US
Abdulrahman Al-Khalidy - Clifton Park NY, US
Jeffrey W. Eberhard - Albany NY, US
Stephen W. Metz - Greenfield WI, US
Bernhard Erich Hermann Claus - Niskayuna NY, US
Vianney Pierre Battle - Milwaukee WI, US

Assignee:

GE Medical Systems Global Technology Company, LLC - Waukesha WI

International Classification:

G01N023/00

US Classification:

378 2

Abstract:

Systems and methods that utilize asymmetric geometry to acquire radiographic tomosynthesis images are described. Embodiments comprise tomosynthesis systems and methods for creating a reconstructed image of an object from a plurality of two-dimensional x-ray projection images. These systems comprise: an x-ray detector; and an x-ray source capable of emitting x-rays directed at the x-ray detector; wherein the tomosynthesis system utilizes asymmetric image acquisition geometry, where θ≠θ, during image acquisition, wherein θis a sweep angle on one side of a center line of the x-ray detector, and θis a sweep angle on an opposite side of the center line of the x-ray detector, and wherein the total sweep angle, θ, is θ=θ+θ. Reconstruction algorithms may be utilized to produce reconstructed images of the object from the plurality of two-dimensional x-ray projection images.

US Patent:

6885764, Apr 26, 2005

Filed:

Nov 21, 2001

Appl. No.:

09/990979

Inventors:

Sharon X. Wang - Brookfield WI, US
Piero U. Simoni - New Berlin WI, US
Thomas Toth - Brookfield WI, US
Stephen Metz - Greenfield WI, US

Assignee:

GE Medical Systems Global Technology Company, LLC - Waukesha WI

International Classification:

G06K009/00

US Classification:

382131, 382173, 378 4, 25037009

Abstract:

A method and apparatus for quickly rendering thick CT slice images wherein the data corresponding to an optimal number of slice images to be combined to generate a thick image and the data set required to generate the thick image are determined as a function of an optimal Z-smoothing factor and wherein Z-smoothing is implemented in software that performs quickly and is useable with any helical weighting algorithm and Z-smoothing function.

US Patent:

6944265, Sep 13, 2005

Filed:

Nov 25, 2002

Appl. No.:

10/303672

Inventors:

Richard J. Warp - Waukesha WI, US
Vianney P. Battle - Milwaukee WI, US
Kenneth S. Kump - Waukesha WI, US
Stephen W. Metz - Greenfield WI, US
Matthew A. Halsmer - Waukesha WI, US
Renuka Uppaluri - Pewaukee WI, US

Assignee:

GE Medical Systems Global Technology Company, LLC - Waukesha WI

International Classification:

H05G001/64

US Classification:

378 9812, 378 62, 378116

Abstract:

A device for use in image pasting is described. The device includes a digital x-ray detector capable of automatic digital imaging without the use of an image intensifier; the detector preferably being a flat-panel detector. Additionally, an image pasting system using a solid-state detector is described. The system can connect the detected images to a display via a network (such as a WAN, a LAN, or the internet). Further, an image geometry measurement device for use in pasting x-ray images is disclosed. The geometry measurement device helps determine the relative position of two images to be used in image pasting. This information can be used alone, or in connection with an image pasting algorithm. Still further, methods of forming composite images are disclosed using a flat-panel detector and using the geometry of the images. The disclosed devices and systems can be integrated with other digital image pasting technology.

US Patent:

6980624, Dec 27, 2005

Filed:

Nov 26, 2003

Appl. No.:

10/723034

Inventors:

Baojun Li - Waukesha WI, US
Bernhard Erich Hermann Claus - Niskayuna NY, US
Gopal B. Avinash - New Berlin WI, US
Stephen W. Metz - Greenfield WI, US
Jiang Hsieh - Brookfield WI, US

Assignee:

GE Medical Systems Global Technology Company, LLC - Waukesha WI

International Classification:

A61B006/03

US Classification:

378 23, 378 22

Abstract:

A technique is provided for non-uniform weighting in back-projection calculations in tomosythesis. The non-uniform weighting may include weighting based on a count map of the number of times pixels of individual slices are traversed by radiation in different projections. Weighting may also include non-uniform functions for contributions of features at different slice level to the sensed X-ray attenuation system response inconsistencies are accounted for by further weighting based upon projection maps which may be created in separate system calibration or configuration routines.

US Patent:

7013034, Mar 14, 2006

Filed:

Oct 10, 2002

Appl. No.:

10/268323

Inventors:

Sharon X. Wang - Schaumburg IL, US
Thomas L. Toth - Brookfield WI, US
Piero U. Simoni - New Berlin WI, US
Stephen W. Metz - Greenfield WI, US

Assignee:

GE Medical Systems Global Technology Company, LLC - Waukesha WI

International Classification:

G06K 9/00

US Classification:

382131, 382274, 378 4, 25037009

Abstract:

A method for reconstructing an image of an object utilizing a computed tomographic (CT) imaging system having a radiation source configured to project a beam of radiation through an object and towards a multislice detector array configured to sense attenuation of the radiation passing through the object; the method includes helically scanning an object to acquire a plurality of slices of projection data, generating a separate projection dataset for each of N separate detector rows wherein the separate projection datasets include detector row projection data and detector row conjugate projection data, combining the detector row projection data and the detector row conjugate projection data, and helically weighting the combined projection data using a combined helical weighting and conjugate data weighting algorithm such that a greater weight is applied to combined center row projection data than to at least one outermost detector row projection data.

US Patent:

7072435, Jul 4, 2006

Filed:

Jan 28, 2004

Appl. No.:

10/766362

Inventors:

Stephen W. Metz - Greenfield WI, US
Carson Hale Thomas - Brookfield WI, US
Gopal B. Avinash - New Berlin WI, US
Jiang Hsieh - Brookfield WI, US

Assignee:

GE Medical Systems Global Technology Company, LLC - Waukesha WI

International Classification:

A61B 6/03

US Classification:

378 8, 378 62, 378901

Abstract:

A method for detecting an anomaly includes performing a computed tomography (CT) scout scan to obtain data, and supplying the obtained data to a radiographic computer aided detection (CAD) algorithm.

Address:

8304 NE 187 Way, Kenmore, WA 98028

VIN:

1GNFK13007J119930

Make:

CHEVROLET

Model:

TAHOE

Year:

2007