System and method for smart inspection of computed tomography systems integrated with smart sensors

Abstract

To provide smart sensor-integrated computed tomography imaging systems.SOLUTION: A computed tomography (CT) imaging system includes a gantry 80, which has a bore 78 and is rotatable about an axis of rotation. The CT imaging system also includes a table 76 configured to move a subject to be imaged, and a radiation source 86 mounted on the gantry and configured to emit an X-ray beam. The CT imaging system further includes one or more smart sensors integrated with one or more components of the CT imaging system, where the smart sensors are configured to monitor one or more conditions related to the CT imaging system. The CT imaging system still further includes a controller configured to receive feedback from the one or more smart sensors and to adjust scheduling of service on the CT imaging system based on the feedback from the one or more smart sensors.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 6

Description

[Technical Field]

[0001] The subject matter disclosed herein relates to imaging systems, and more particularly to a system and method for smart inspection of computed tomography systems integrated with smart sensors. [Background technology]

[0002] In computed tomography (CT), x-ray radiation is directed at an object or subject being imaged (e.g., a human patient, baggage, or other object), and a portion of the radiation strikes a detector, from which image data is collected. In digital x-ray systems, a photodetector generates signals representing the amount or intensity of radiation incident on discrete pixel areas on the detector surface. These signals are then processed to generate an image, which can be displayed for viewing. The images generated by such systems can identify and examine internal structures and organs within the subject's body. In CT imaging systems, the detector array includes a series of detector elements or sensors that generate similar signals from various positions as the gantry moves around the subject or object being imaged, allowing for the reconstruction of a volumetric image.

[0003] Inspections of CT imaging systems are very important to keep them operating as expected. Typically, CT system inspections are scheduled every three or four months. However, this scheduled inspection does not take into account the possibility that a particular CT imaging system may require maintenance sooner or that a particular CT imaging system may be able to operate for a long period of time without inspection (i.e., in this case, inspection is deemed unnecessary). Some CT imaging systems are used more frequently than others. Additionally, there may be issues that an inspection may not reveal. Summary of the Invention

[0004] Certain embodiments commensurate in scope with the originally claimed subject matter are summarized below. These embodiments are not intended to limit the scope of the claimed subject matter; rather, these embodiments are intended only to provide a brief summary of possible forms of the subject matter. Indeed, the subject matter may encompass a variety of forms that may be similar to or different from the embodiments set forth below.

[0005] In one embodiment, a computed tomography (CT) imaging system is provided. The CT imaging system includes a gantry having a bore and rotatable about a rotation axis. The CT imaging system also includes a table for moving an object to be imaged into and out of the gantry bore. The CT imaging system further includes a radiation source mounted to the gantry and configured to emit an x-ray beam. The CT imaging system further includes one or more smart sensors integrated into one or more components of the CT imaging system, the one or more smart sensors configured to monitor one or more conditions associated with the CT imaging system. The CT imaging system further includes a controller configured to receive feedback from the one or more smart sensors and to schedule or adjust inspections of the CT imaging system based on the feedback from the one or more smart sensors.

[0006] In another embodiment, a system for monitoring and servicing a plurality of medical imaging systems is provided. The system includes a controller configured to communicate with the plurality of medical imaging systems, wherein one or more smart sensors are integrated with one or more components of each medical imaging system of the plurality of medical imaging systems, the one or more smart sensors configured to monitor one or more conditions associated with the respective medical imaging systems. The controller includes a memory encoding processor-executable routines. The controller also includes a processor configured to access the memory and execute the processor-executable routines, which, when executed by the processor, cause the processor to perform a plurality of operations. The operations include receiving feedback from the one or more smart sensors of each medical imaging system. The operations also include scheduling or adjusting servicing of each medical imaging system based on the respective feedback received from the one or more smart sensors of each medical imaging system.

[0007] In a further embodiment, a method for monitoring and servicing a plurality of medical imaging systems is provided, the method including receiving, by a processor, feedback from one or more smart sensors of each of the plurality of medical imaging systems, the one or more smart sensors of each of the medical imaging systems being integrated with one or more components of the respective medical imaging systems, the one or more smart sensors being configured to monitor one or more conditions associated with the respective medical imaging systems, and scheduling or adjusting, by the processor, servicing of each of the medical imaging systems based on the respective feedback received from the one or more smart sensors of each of the medical imaging systems. [Brief explanation of the drawings]

[0008] These and other features, aspects, and advantages of the disclosed subject matter will become better understood from the following detailed description when read in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, in which like reference numerals represent like elements throughout. [Figure 1] 1 is a combined pictorial and block diagram of a computed tomography (CT) imaging system described herein. [Figure 2] 1 is a schematic diagram of a medical imaging system with an integrated smart sensor, according to an aspect of the present disclosure. [Figure 3] 1 is a schematic diagram of a type of smart sensor integrated into a medical imaging system, according to aspects of the present disclosure. [Figure 4] 1 is a schematic diagram of an animal presence sensor coupled to a deterrent system (e.g., an ultrasonic sensor) according to an embodiment of the present disclosure. [Figure 5] 1 is a schematic diagram of an animal presence sensor coupled to a deterrent system (e.g., a light source) according to an embodiment of the present disclosure. [Figure 6] 1 is a schematic diagram of imaging a patient with components of a medical imaging system properly leveled (eg, by a digital inclinometer) in accordance with aspects of the present disclosure. [Figure 7] 1 is a schematic diagram of imaging a patient with components of a medical imaging system improperly leveled (e.g., due to the absence of a digital inclinometer) in accordance with aspects of the present disclosure. [Figure 8] 1 is a schematic diagram of a system for monitoring and inspecting multiple medical imaging systems, according to an aspect of the present disclosure; [Figure 9] 1 is a method for monitoring and inspecting multiple medical imaging systems according to an aspect of the present disclosure. [Figure 10] 1 is a schematic diagram of a magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) system suitable for use with the disclosed techniques; [Figure 11]1 is a schematic diagram of a nuclear medicine imaging system suitable for use with the disclosed techniques; DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0009] One or more specific embodiments are described below. These embodiments are an attempt to be concise, and not all features of an actual implementation may be described herein. It should be understood that the development of any actual implementation, like any engineering or design project, requires numerous implementation-specific decisions to be made to achieve the developer's particular goals (such as compliance with system-related and business-related constraints that may vary from implementation to implementation). Moreover, it should be understood that such a development effort might be complex and time-consuming, but would be a routine undertaking of design, fabrication, and manufacture for those of ordinary skill in the art having the benefit of this disclosure.

[0010] When introducing elements of various embodiments of the present subject matter, the articles "a," "an," "the," and "said" are intended to mean that there are one or more of the element. The terms "comprising," "including," and "having" are intended to be inclusive and mean that there may be additional elements other than the listed elements. Additionally, the numerical examples in the following description are intended to be non-limiting, and therefore, additional numbers, ranges, and percentages are within the scope of the disclosed embodiments.

[0011] Although aspects of the following description are described in the context of medical or healthcare imaging, it should be understood that the present technology is not limited to such medical contexts. Indeed, providing and describing examples in such medical contexts is merely to facilitate explanation by providing a realistic example and application. However, the present approach can also be utilized in other contexts, such as tomographic image reconstruction in industrial CT used for non-destructive testing of manufactured parts or goods (i.e., quality control or quality inspection applications) and / or non-invasive inspection of packages, boxes, luggage, etc. (i.e., security or screening applications). In general, the present approach is beneficial in any imaging or screening context utilizing a CT imaging system.

[0012] Currently, CT systems (and other medical imaging systems) are routinely inspected at set intervals without much prior knowledge of the system's condition. In this scenario, a medical imaging system that has not been used much since the last scheduled maintenance and is still operating normally will be inspected by a field engineer as planned, even if it does not require an inspection. This results in overhead costs for the customer and unnecessary downtime for the imaging system due to scheduled maintenance at a time when the customer has a busy schedule using the imaging system. It is also ineffective for a service provider to use available resources for unnecessary scheduled maintenance. In another scenario, a potential problem may begin to occur with a medical imaging system prior to scheduled preventive maintenance, which could be avoided with proactive (and earlier than planned) maintenance or inspection.

[0013] The present disclosure provides embodiments of systems and methods for smart inspection of CT imaging systems (or other medical imaging systems) with integrated smart sensors. In particular, multiple CT imaging systems are coupled to a controller (e.g., a centralized controller located remotely from each CT imaging system of the multiple CT imaging systems). Each CT imaging system includes one or more smart sensors (i.e., devices that take inputs from the physical environment, use built-in computational resources to perform predefined functions upon detecting certain inputs, and then process and transmit the data) integrated into one or more components of the CT imaging system. The one or more smart sensors are configured to monitor one or more conditions associated with the CT imaging system. In certain embodiments, each CT imaging system includes multiple smart sensors of different types configured to measure different conditions. For example, smart sensors may include dust accumulation sensors for measuring dust accumulation, smoke sensors for detecting the presence of smoke, fire sensors for detecting the presence of flames, animal presence sensors for detecting the presence of animals, oil leak sensors for detecting the presence of oil leaks, digital inclinometers for determining whether the gantry housing and / or table are level with respect to the surface on which the CT imaging system is placed, and vibration sensors (e.g., accelerometers) for detecting excessive vibration of components of the CT imaging system (e.g., the gantry). Smart sensors may be located on or within various components of the CT imaging system (e.g., the gantry, the gantry housing, the table, etc.). The smart sensors may provide one or more status feedback (e.g., signals) directly to the controller or indirectly to the controller (e.g., through the respective operator consoles of the CT imaging systems). The controller may use this feedback to schedule or adjust inspections (e.g., maintenance) of each CT imaging system based on the respective feedback received from each CT imaging system.In certain embodiments, inspection or maintenance can be scheduled as needed rather than at fixed intervals. In certain embodiments, the controller can predict possible failure of certain components of a particular CT imaging system based on respective feedback from smart sensors integrated into the CT imaging system and schedule inspection or maintenance to replace the certain components before failure occurs.

[0014] The disclosed embodiments can provide smart maintenance instead of scheduled maintenance. The disclosed embodiments also reduce inspection costs and downtime for each CT imaging system. The disclosed embodiments further include monitoring and scheduling inspections (or maintenance) at a centralized location. The centralized monitoring location can access the system using data and component failure data, allowing for better troubleshooting if any component or additional components fail. The disclosed embodiments also allow service providers to more effectively manage resources for inspecting multiple CT imaging systems.

[0015] Although the disclosed embodiments are described below with respect to a CT imaging system, the techniques described herein can also be applied to other types of imaging systems. For example, the disclosed techniques can be applied to a magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) system or a nuclear medicine imaging system (such as a positron emission tomography (PET) imaging system or a single photon emission computed tomography (SPECT) system). The disclosed techniques can also be applied to medical imaging systems having a combination of the above medical imaging modalities. For example, one or more smart sensors can also be integrated into one or more components (e.g., a gantry, a gantry housing, a table, etc.) of these medical imaging systems.

[0016] With the foregoing in mind, and referring to FIG. 1 , an example computed tomography (CT) imaging system 10 is shown. As described in more detail below, one or more smart sensors may be integrated into one or more components of the CT imaging system 10 to monitor one or more conditions associated with the CT imaging system. Feedback from these smart sensors is provided to a controller (e.g., a centralized controller or a remote controller), which schedules or coordinates inspections or maintenance to be performed on the CT imaging system 10. The CT imaging system 10 includes a gantry 12 having an x-ray source 14 that projects an x-ray beam 16 toward a detector assembly 15 on the opposite side of the gantry 12. The x-ray source 14 projects the x-ray beam 16, which passes through a pre-collimator assembly 13, which determines the size and shape of the x-ray beam 16. The detector assembly 15 includes a collimator assembly 18 (post-collimator assembly), multiple detector modules 20 (e.g., multiple detector elements or sensors), and a data acquisition system (DAS) 32. The multiple detector modules 20 detect the emitted x-rays that pass through a subject or object 22 being imaged, and the DAS 32 converts the data into digital signals for post-processing. In conventional systems, each detector module 20 generates an analog electrical signal that represents the intensity of the incident x-ray beam and, therefore, the beam attenuated as it passes through the subject or object 22. During a scan to acquire x-ray projection data, the gantry 12 and the components mounted on the gantry 12 rotate about a center of rotation 25 (e.g., an isocenter) to collect attenuation data from multiple view angles relative to the imaging volume.

[0017] Rotation of gantry 12 and operation of x-ray source 14 are governed by a control system 26 of CT imaging system 10. Control system 26 includes an x-ray controller 28, which provides power and timing signals to x-ray source 14; a collimator controller 29, which controls the length and width of the aperture of pre-collimator 13 (and therefore the size and shape of x-ray beam 16); and a gantry motor controller 30, which controls the rotational speed and position of gantry 12. An image reconstructor 34 receives sampled and digitized x-ray data from DAS 32 and performs high-speed image reconstruction. The reconstructed image serves as input to computer 36, which stores the image in storage device 38. Computer 36 also receives commands and scanning parameters from an operator via console 40. An associated display 42 allows the operator to observe the reconstructed image and other data from computer 36. The commands and parameters supplied by the operator are used by computer 36 to provide control signals and information to DAS 32, x-ray controller 28, collimator controller 29, and gantry motor controller 30. Computer 36 also operates table motor controller 44, which controls a motorized table 46 to position subject 22 and gantry 12. In particular, table 46 moves subject 22 through a gantry opening or bore 48.

[0018] FIG. 2 is a schematic diagram of a medical imaging system 50 having an integrated smart sensor 52. The medical imaging system 50 may be a CT imaging system (e.g., the CT imaging system 10 of FIG. 1), an MRI imaging system (e.g., the MRI imaging system 200 of FIG. 10), or a nuclear medicine imaging system (e.g., the nuclear medicine imaging system 1000 of FIG. 11). In certain embodiments, the medical imaging system 50 may be a combination of these types of imaging modalities. As shown, the medical imaging system 50 includes one or more components 54 with integrated smart sensors 52. In certain embodiments, the smart sensors 52 are coupled to the components 54. In certain embodiments, the smart sensors 52 are disposed within the components 54. In certain embodiments, a single smart sensor 52 may be integrated with a particular component 54. In certain embodiments, multiple smart sensors 52 of the same type or different types (i.e., for measuring or detecting different conditions) may be integrated with a particular component 54. In certain embodiments, a single component 54 of the medical imaging system 50 may integrate one or more smart sensors 52 (of the same type and / or different types). In certain embodiments, multiple components 54 of the medical imaging system 50 may integrate one or more smart sensors 52 (of the same type and / or different types). Examples of components 54 of the medical imaging system 50 that integrate one or more smart sensors 52 include a gantry, a gantry housing, an x-ray source (e.g., an x-ray tube), a power distribution unit, a table, or any other component 54. A component 54 may be part of a subsystem of the medical imaging system 50.

[0019] FIG. 3 is a schematic diagram of a type of smart sensor 52 integrated within the medical imaging system (e.g., medical imaging system 50) of FIG. 2. Smart sensor 52 includes a dust accumulation sensor 56. Excessive dust within a medical imaging system can cause premature component failure (e.g., conductive dust can reduce the clearance between two high-voltage points, resulting in a short circuit failure of a printed circuit board). Dust within a medical imaging system can result from external and / or internal reasons or sources. Examples of external reasons include a dusty scan room (where the medical imaging system is located) that is not regularly cleaned, patients wearing shoes when entering the scan room, and / or no curtains on the patient entrance door. Examples of internal reasons include high system usage, which can cause the carbon brush tips on the slip rings to rub against each other, resulting in carbon buildup on the slip rings and their surroundings.

[0020] The dust accumulation sensor 56 is configured to measure dust accumulation. In certain embodiments, the dust accumulation sensor 56 is configured to compare the measurement to a predefined dust accumulation threshold and provide an alert signal to the centralized controller (e.g., indirectly through an operator console of the medical imaging system in communication with the centralized controller, or directly) and / or to an operator console coupled to the medical imaging system if the dust accumulation exceeds the predefined dust accumulation threshold. In certain embodiments, the dust accumulation sensor 56 measures the dust accumulation, and the centralized controller (or respective operator console) performs the comparison with the dust accumulation threshold and generates an alert (if the dust accumulation exceeds the predefined dust accumulation threshold). The dust accumulation sensor mitigates potential risks that dust may pose to the medical imaging system or a subsystem of the medical imaging system. Tracking and understanding dust accumulation patterns in real time allows for preventative inspections (or maintenance) and efficient resource utilization. The dust accumulation sensor 56 may be located in the gantry housing, patient table, and / or power distribution unit of the medical imaging system so that dust on components and surfaces thereof is detected.

[0021] The dust accumulation sensor 56 can be any type of dust accumulation sensor. In certain embodiments, the dust accumulation sensor 56 can be an optically sensitive sensor that detects dust accumulation. For example, the dust accumulation sensor 56 can be an optical sensor and an infrared light emitting diode (IR LED) optically disposed within a dust sensor module. The optical sensor detects IR LED light reflected off dust particles in the air.

[0022] The smart sensors 52 also include a smoke sensor 58 and a fire sensor 60. In certain embodiments, the medical imaging system includes both the smoke sensor 58 and the fire sensor 60. The smoke sensor 58 and / or the fire sensor 60 may be located within the gantry housing of the medical imaging system. Certain fault conditions may cause fire or smoke to occur within the medical imaging system. The smoke sensor 58 is configured to detect the presence of smoke. The fire sensor 60 is configured to detect the presence of flame (indicative of a fire). The smoke sensor 58 is configured to provide an alert signal to the centralized controller (e.g., directly or indirectly through an operator console of the medical imaging system in communication with the centralized controller) and / or an operator console coupled to the medical imaging system when the presence of smoke is detected. The fire sensor 60 is also configured to provide an alert signal to the centralized controller (e.g., directly or indirectly through an operator console of the medical imaging system in communication with the centralized controller) and / or an operator console coupled to the medical imaging system when the presence of flame is detected. In certain embodiments, the centralized controller is configured to provide a signal (e.g., to an operator console of the medical imaging system) to turn off the medical imaging system in response to an alert signal from the smoke sensor 58 and / or the fire sensor 60. In certain embodiments, the operator console of the medical imaging system (before communicating with the centralized controller) can turn off the medical imaging system in response to an alert signal from the smoke sensor 58 and / or the fire sensor 60. Early detection of fire and smoke can cause the medical imaging system to shut down immediately (through communication with the centralized controller) to avoid catastrophic failure and therefore ensure safety.

[0023] In certain embodiments, the smoke sensor 58 may be a gas sensor. For example, the smoke sensor may be an MQ2 gas sensor module configured to sense the concentration of liquefied petroleum gas, smoke, alcohol, propane, hydrogen, methane, and carbon monoxide in the air. The MQ2 gas sensor module is a type of gas sensor known as a chemiresistor, which detects gases based on a change in resistance of the sensing material when the gas comes into contact with the sensing material. A simple voltage divider network may be used to detect the concentration of the gas.

[0024] In certain embodiments, the fire sensor 60 is a small electronic device capable of detecting a fire or any other bright light source. The fire sensor 60 is configured to detect infrared wavelengths between 760 nanometers (nm) and 1100 nm emitted by a flame of the fire or light source.

[0025] The smart sensor 52 further includes an animal presence sensor 62. It has been observed that rodents sometimes infiltrate medical imaging systems and cause short circuits in subsystems (e.g., slip ring brush blocks), resulting in failure of the medical system. To avoid this, it is important to provide an animal presence sensor 62 within the medical imaging system so that the intrusion of a rodent (or other animal, such as an insect) into the medical imaging system (e.g., the gantry housing) can be detected and necessary measures can be taken. In certain embodiments, the animal presence sensor 62 is located inside the gantry housing of the medical imaging system. The animal presence sensor 62 is configured to detect the presence of an animal (e.g., a rodent, insect, etc.) within a component of the medical imaging system and activate a trigger (e.g., an alert signal or a deterrent). In certain embodiments, the animal presence sensor 62 is configured to provide an alert signal to a centralized controller (e.g., indirectly through an operator console of the medical imaging system in communication with the centralized controller, or directly) and / or an operator console coupled to the medical imaging system when the presence of an animal is detected.

[0026] In certain embodiments, the animal presence sensor 62 is a motion sensor. For example, the animal presence sensor 62 can be a passive infrared motion sensor configured to detect animal movement within a component of a medical imaging system and activate a trigger. The passive infrared motion sensor can be configured to detect infrared radiation through two slots. When an animal passes in front of the motion sensor, one of the two slots detects the movement first, creating a detectable difference. Humans, animals, and even inanimate objects emit a certain amount of infrared radiation. The amount of infrared radiation emitted by humans, animals, and inanimate objects is related to the warmth and material composition of the body or object. By placing the passive infrared sensor within a component of a medical imaging system, the passive infrared sensor can detect the presence of an animal and activate an alarm signal or deterrent.

[0027] In certain embodiments, the animal presence sensor 62 is disposed within the component 54 (e.g., the gantry housing) and can be coupled to and / or in communication with (e.g., indirectly through an operator console or directly) the deterrent system 64, as shown in FIGS. 4 and 5 . The deterrent system 64 is configured to provide a deterrent for keeping animals away from the imaging system component 54. In certain embodiments, the deterrent system 64 includes an ultrasonic transducer 66 (shown in FIG. 4 ) configured to emit ultrasonic waves capable of repelling animals (e.g., rodents). Rodents dislike noises greater than 20 kilohertz (kHz). Rodents have sensitive ears and are stimulated by these powerful waves. Sounds with frequencies above 20 kHz are called ultrasonic waves. These frequencies are too high for humans to hear. Humans can detect sounds in the frequency range of approximately 20 Hz to 20 kHz. In certain embodiments, the deterrent system 64 is configured to emit light from a light source 68 (shown in FIG. 5 ) that repels animals.

[0028] Returning to FIG. 3 , the smart sensor 52 further includes an oil leak sensor 70. The oil leak sensor 70 is configured to detect the presence of an oil leak in a component of the medical imaging system. In certain embodiments, the oil leak sensor 70 is located within the gantry housing (e.g., on the front cover and / or bottom). In certain embodiments, the oil leak sensor 70 may be located around the radiation source (e.g., an X-ray tube). In certain embodiments, the oil leak sensor 70 is configured to provide an alert signal to the centralized controller (e.g., indirectly through an operator console of the medical imaging system in communication with the centralized controller, or directly) and / or to an operator console coupled to the medical imaging system when the presence of an oil leak is detected.

[0029] In certain embodiments, the oil leak sensor 70 is an optical sensor. For example, the oil leak sensor 70 has an operating mode based on the principle of total internal reflection. For example, the oil leak sensor 70 includes a light-emitting diode (LED) and a phototransistor housed within a plastic (e.g., polysulfone) dome. When no liquid is present, light from the LED is internally reflected from the dome to the phototransistor. When liquid covers the dome, the effective refractive index at the dome-oil interface changes, causing some light from the LED to leak through. This reduces the amount of light received by the phototransistor, indicating the presence of liquid (e.g., oil).

[0030] In a specific embodiment, the oil leak sensor 70 is an oil leak detection cable. The oil leak detection cable is configured to detect liquefied hydrocarbon leaks along the entire length of the cable. The cable's core is composed of a bundle of wires formed into a helical structure. Hydrocarbons are detected by a sensing element, which is, for example, a coaxially extruded silicone-jacketed element containing carbon black. The black wire quickly absorbs and swells with liquefied hydrocarbons (lubricating oils or petroleum products). The outer layer of the black sensor wire is a waterproof electrical insulator that is only permeable to liquefied hydrocarbons. As the conductor expands, an internal microprocessor monitors its resistance. When the resistance reaches a threshold, a leak response is sent to the controller. This process is reversible, allowing the cable to be reused after cleaning. Because silicone polymers, unlike other forms of polymer, are highly resistant to hydrocarbons, the cable returns to its original state after cleaning without affecting the reliability of the sensor.

[0031] The smart sensor 52 further includes a digital inclinometer sensor 72. Currently, horizontal leveling of the gantry (e.g., gantry housing) and table is performed by manual adjustment using a spirit bubble leveler. This is a tedious task that relies on the operator's skill. Often, leveling is not performed properly because there is no perfect indication, such as that available with a spirit bubble level, to confirm accurate leveling of the gantry housing and table. For CT-guided biopsies, perfect examination planning (fiducial markings) on the patient's body is critical. Misalignment due to improper leveling can result in an inaccurate examination plan relative to the patient's anatomy, resulting in repeated medical imaging. FIGS. 6 and 7 illustrate a patient 74 positioned on a table 76 and within a bore 78 of a gantry 80 (located within a gantry housing 82) undergoing an imaging scan of an intended region 84 of the patient's anatomy (e.g., positioned between a radiation source 86 and a detector 88) by a medical imaging system 50 (e.g., a CT imaging system). In Figure 6, due to the presence of the digital inclinometer 72, both the table 76 and the gantry 80 (and gantry housing 82) are level with respect to the plane 90 on which the medical imaging system 50 is located. Thus, the x-ray beam 92 is properly aligned with the intended area to be examined 84. In Figure 7, the table 76 and / or the gantry 80 (and gantry housing 82) are not properly level with respect to the plane 90. Thus, the x-ray beam is misaligned with respect to the intended area to be examined, which means that the patient 74 needs to be re-examined with the medical imaging system 50.

[0032] As shown in FIG. 6 , integrating a digital inclinometer sensor 72 allows a user or operator to ensure accurate leveling of the gantry table through an intuitive display via a calibrated system interface. In certain embodiments, the one or more digital inclinometer sensors 72 are configured to determine whether the gantry 80 (and gantry housing 82) and / or table 76 are level with respect to a surface 90 on which the medical imaging system 50 is located. In certain embodiments, the one or more digital inclinometer sensors 72 are coupled to (e.g., integrated into) and / or located within the gantry 80 and / or gantry housing 82, as shown in FIG. 6 . In certain embodiments, the one or more digital inclinometer sensors 72 are coupled to (e.g., integrated into) and / or located within the table 76, as shown in FIG. 6 . In certain embodiments, one or more digital inclinometer sensors 72 are coupled to (e.g., integrated into) and / or within the gantry 80 and / or gantry housing 82 and table 76. In response to determining that the gantry housing 82 (and thus the gantry 80) and / or table 76 are not level with respect to the surface 90, the digital inclinometer sensors 72 are configured to send an alert signal to the centralized controller (e.g., directly or indirectly through an operator console of the medical imaging system 50 in communication with the centralized controller) and / or to an operator console coupled to the medical imaging system 50. In certain embodiments, if the alert signal is sent before an imaging scan, the controller (or operator console) may provide a signal to stop or pause the scan and / or provide an indication (e.g., on the operator console of the medical imaging system 50) that one or more components (e.g., the gantry housing 82 or the table 76) are not level with respect to the plane 90.

[0033] Returning to FIG. 3 , the smart sensor 52 further includes a vibration sensor 94. In certain embodiments, the vibration sensor 94 includes an acceleration sensor. One or more vibration sensors 94 can be coupled to one or more components of the medical imaging system (e.g., the gantry, the gantry housing, or parts within the gantry or gantry housing). The vibration sensor 94 can be utilized at specific locations in the medical imaging system for different use-case scenarios. For example, the vibration sensor 94 can be utilized to verify the dynamic and static balance of the rotating gantry after replacing any part of the gantry during maintenance. In another scenario, the vibration sensor 94 can provide data to a machine learning module for predictive maintenance (e.g., foreseeable component failures due to system or subsystem abuse, malfunction, and / or misuse). In a further scenario, the vibration sensor 94 can provide data for diagnosing faults through signal processing algorithms and component-level root cause identification (e.g., whether the failure is due to bearings, tubing, pulley drive system, etc.). In a further scenario, the vibration sensor 94 may send an alert signal to the centralized controller (e.g., indirectly through an operator console of the medical imaging system in communication with the centralized controller, or directly) and / or to an operator console coupled to the medical imaging system in response to detecting excessive vibrations transmitted to the gantry from its surroundings (which may degrade image quality due to vibration-induced artifacts or may result in the need to perform an imaging scan again).

[0034] The smart sensor 52 may also include other sensors 96. For example, the smart sensor 52 may include a temperature sensor, a humidity sensor, or other types of sensors to provide data related to a medical imaging system.

[0035] FIG. 8 is a schematic diagram of a system 98 for monitoring and inspecting multiple medical imaging systems (MIS) 50. The system 98 includes a remote computing device or centralized controller 100 in communication with the multiple medical imaging systems 50. The centralized controller 100 is located remotely from each of the multiple medical imaging systems 50. In certain embodiments, the medical imaging systems 50 communicatively coupled to the centralized controller 100 are of the same imaging modality. In certain embodiments, the medical imaging systems 50 communicatively coupled to the centralized controller 100 are of different imaging modalities. The smart sensors 52 of each medical imaging system 50 are configured to communicate with the centralized controller 100 (e.g., directly or indirectly through an operator console of the medical imaging system 50 in communication with the centralized controller 100). In certain embodiments, another computing device may act as an intermediary for communications between the centralized controller 100 and each medical imaging system 50.

[0036] The centralized controller 100 may include a memory 102 and a processor 104. In some embodiments, the processor 104 may include one or more general-purpose processors, one or more application-specific integrated circuits, one or more field-programmable gate arrays, etc. Furthermore, the memory 102 may be any tangible, non-transitory, computer-readable medium capable of storing instructions executable by the processor 104 (e.g., instructions related to near-plug monitoring, product metering, fan control, etc.) and / or data that can be processed by the processor 104. In other words, the memory 102 may be a volatile memory (e.g., random access memory) or a non-volatile memory (e.g., hard disk drive, read-only memory, optical disk, flash memory, etc.). The memory 102 may store data collected from the smart sensors 52 of the multiple medical imaging systems 50. The memory 102 may also store various thresholds associated with particular parameters or conditions measured by the smart sensors 52. The memory 102 may further store machine learning modules utilized in predicting failure of parts or components within the medical imaging systems 50. The memory 102 also stores a schedule for inspection or maintenance of the medical imaging system 50 .

[0037] The centralized controller 100 is configured to receive feedback from the smart sensors 52 of each medical imaging system 50. In certain embodiments, the centralized controller 100 is configured to receive alert signals from the smart sensors 52. In certain embodiments, the centralized controller 100 is configured to generate alert signals based on the feedback received from each smart sensor 52 of each medical imaging system 50 and display the alert signals on an operator console of each medical imaging system 50 or another computing device (e.g., a computing device at a facility having each medical imaging system 50). In certain embodiments, the centralized controller 100 is configured to provide a signal to shut down each imaging system based on the feedback received from each smart sensor 52 of each medical imaging system 50. The centralized controller 100 is also configured to schedule or adjust inspection or maintenance of each medical imaging system 50 based on the respective feedback received from the smart sensors 52 associated with each medical imaging system 50. In certain embodiments, the centralized controller 100 is configured to predict failure of specific components or parts of each medical imaging system 50 based on feedback received from each smart sensor 52 of each medical imaging system 50 and to schedule inspection or maintenance to replace the specific components or parts before they fail.

[0038] 9 illustrates a method 106 for monitoring and inspecting multiple medical imaging systems (e.g., medical imaging system 50 of FIG. 2). Method 106 may be performed by a remote computing device or centralized controller (e.g., centralized controller 100 of FIG. 8) that is separate from or remote from the medical imaging systems. One or more steps of method 106 may be performed simultaneously and / or in a different order than that shown in FIG. 9.

[0039] The method 106 includes monitoring a plurality of medical imaging systems (block 108). The plurality of medical imaging systems are communicatively coupled to a remote computing device or a centralized controller. As described above, one or more smart sensors are integrated within one or more components of each medical imaging system of the plurality of medical imaging systems. The one or more smart sensors are configured to monitor one or more conditions or parameters of or associated with each medical imaging system (e.g., dust accumulation, smoke, fire, oil leak, vibration, gantry table leveling, animal presence, etc.).

[0040] The method 106 also includes receiving feedback from one or more respective smart sensors of each medical imaging system (block 110). In certain embodiments, the feedback from the smart sensors is transmitted indirectly through an operator console of the medical imaging system 50, which communicates with the centralized controller or a remote computing device. In certain embodiments, the feedback from the smart sensors is transmitted directly to the centralized controller or a remote computing device. In certain embodiments, the feedback is a measurement of a parameter or condition or data related to the parameter or condition. In certain embodiments, the feedback is an alarm signal indicating a condition or parameter exceeding a respective threshold. The method 106 includes utilizing the received feedback in monitoring the medical imaging systems (block 108).

[0041] The method 106 further includes scheduling or adjusting inspections or maintenance of each medical imaging system based on the feedback received from the one or more smart sensors of each respective medical imaging system (block 112). In certain embodiments, the method 106 includes predicting failure of a particular component or part of each medical imaging system 50 based on the feedback received from each smart sensor 52 of each respective medical imaging system 50 (block 114). In certain embodiments, the received feedback can be utilized for predictive maintenance by a machine learning module. The method 106 also includes scheduling inspections to replace a particular component or part of each medical imaging system 50 before the particular component or part fails (block 122).

[0042] The method 106 further includes issuing an alert or notification based on the received feedback (block 116). The alert or notification may be sent to an operator console of each medical imaging system to which the alert or notification pertains or to a separate computing device (e.g., a computing device at the facility where each medical imaging system is located). In certain embodiments, the centralized controller is configured to compare the received measured parameters or conditions with corresponding thresholds and generate an alarm based on a threshold being exceeded. In certain embodiments, a shutdown signal may be sent to power down the imaging system (e.g., in response to smoke or fire). In certain embodiments, a notification may be provided indicating a condition (e.g., an animal detected, an oil leak, vibration, the gantry table is not properly leveled, etc.).

[0043] 10 and 11 illustrate other types of medical imaging systems that may be utilized with the techniques described in this disclosure. In FIG. 10, a magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) system 200 is illustrated generally as including a scanner 202, a scanner control circuit 204, and a system control circuit 206. According to embodiments described herein, the MRI system 200 is generally configured to perform MR imaging.

[0044] System 200 may further include a remote access and storage system or device, such as a picture archiving and communication system (PACS) 208, or other device, such as a teleradiology device, to allow on-site or off-site access to data acquired by system 200. In this manner, MR data may be acquired and processed and evaluated on-site or off-site. While MRI system 200 may include any suitable scanner or detector, in the illustrated embodiment, system 200 includes a whole-body scanner 202 having a housing 220 defining a bore 222. A patient 226 (e.g., a subject) may be positioned within bore 222, and a table 224 may be movable within bore 222 so that selected anatomical structures within the patient may be imaged.

[0045] The scanner 202 includes a series of associated coils that generate controlled magnetic fields for exciting gyromagnetic material within the patient's anatomy being imaged. Specifically, a main magnet coil 228 is provided to generate a main magnetic field B0 that is generally parallel to the bore 222. A series of gradient coils 230, 232, 234 generate controlled gradient magnetic fields for position encoding of specific gyromagnetic nuclei within the patient 226 during an examination sequence. A radio frequency (RF) coil 236 (e.g., an RF transmit coil) is configured to generate radio frequency pulses for exciting the gyromagnetic nuclei within the patient. In addition to the coils provided in the scanner 202, the system 200 also includes a receive coil or set of RF receive coils 238 (e.g., a coil array) configured to be positioned near (e.g., adjacent to) the patient 226. By way of example, the receive coils 238 may include a cervical / thoracic / lumbar (CTL) coil, a head coil, a unilateral spine coil, or the like. Typically, the receive coil 238 is positioned near or on top of the patient 226 so as to receive weak RF signals (weak compared to the transmit pulses generated by the scanner coils) generated when certain gyromagnetic nuclei within the patient 226 return to a relaxed state.

[0046] The various coils of system 200 are controlled by external circuitry to generate the desired magnetic fields and pulses and to read the electromagnetic waves from the gyromagnetic material in a controlled manner. In the illustrated embodiment, a main power supply 240 provides power to main field coil 228 to generate the main magnetic field Bo. A power input (e.g., power from a utility or grid), a power distribution unit (PDU), a power supply (PS), and driver circuitry 250 can cooperate to provide pulsed power to gradient coils 230, 232, and 234. Driver circuitry 250 can include amplifier and control circuitry for supplying current to the coils as defined by the digitized pulse sequence output by scanner control circuitry 204.

[0047] Another control circuit 252 is provided for regulating the operation of the RF coil 236. The circuit 252 includes a switching device for alternately switching between an active mode in which the RF coil 236 transmits signals and an inactive mode in which the RF coil 236 does not transmit signals. The circuit 252 also includes an amplifier circuit configured to generate RF pulses. Similarly, the receive coil 238 is connected to a switch 254, which can switch the receive coil 238 between a receive mode and a non-receive mode. Thus, during the receive mode, the receive coil 238 resonates with RF signals generated by relaxing gyromagnetic nuclei in the patient 226, and during the non-receive mode, the receive coil 238 does not resonate with RF energy from the transmit coil (i.e., coil 236) to prevent undesired operation. Furthermore, the receive circuit 256 is configured to receive data detected by the receive coil 238 and can include one or more multiplexing and / or amplifier circuits.

[0048] It should be noted that while the scanner 202 and control / amplification circuitry described above are shown coupled by a single line, in an actual implementation, there may be many such lines. For example, separate lines may be used for control, data communication, power transmission, etc. Furthermore, appropriate hardware may be placed along each type of line to properly process the data and current / voltage. Indeed, various filters, digitizers, and processors may be placed between the scanner and the control circuitry of one or both of the scanner control circuitry 204 and the system control circuitry 206.

[0049] As shown, the scanner control circuitry 204 includes an interface circuitry 258 that outputs signals to drive the gradient coils and RF coils and receives data representing the magnetic resonance signals generated in the examination sequence. The interface circuitry 258 is coupled to a control and analysis circuitry 260 that executes instructions to drive circuits 250 and 252 based on a defined protocol selected by the system control circuitry 206.

[0050] The control and analysis circuitry 260 also serves to receive the magnetic resonance signals and performs post-processing before transmitting the data to the system control circuitry 206. The scanner control circuitry 204 also includes one or more memory circuits 262 that, during operation, store configuration parameters, pulse sequence descriptions, examination results, and the like.

[0051] An interface circuit 264 is coupled to the control and analysis circuit 260 to exchange data between the scanner control circuit 204 and the system control circuit 206. In certain embodiments, the control and analysis circuit 260, although illustrated as a single unit, may include one or more hardware devices. The system control circuit 206 includes an interface circuit 266. The interface circuit 266 receives data from the scanner control circuit 204 and sends data and instructions back to the scanner control circuit 204. The control and analysis circuit 268 may include a CPU in a general-purpose or special-purpose computer or workstation. The control and analysis circuit 268 is coupled to a memory circuit 270, which stores programming code for operation of the MRI system 200 and stores processed image data for later reconstruction, display, and transmission. The programming code executes one or more algorithms that, when executed by a processor, perform reconstruction of acquired data, as described below. In certain embodiments, image reconstruction may be performed in a separate computing device having processing and memory circuits.

[0052] Additional interface circuitry 272 may be provided for communicating image data, configuration parameters, etc., with external system components (such as remote access and storage 208). Finally, system control and analysis circuitry 268 may be communicatively coupled to various peripheral devices for supporting an operator interface and generating hard copies of reconstructed images. In the illustrated embodiment, these peripherals include a printer 274, a monitor 276, and a user interface 278 including devices such as a keyboard, a mouse, and a touchscreen (e.g., integrated with monitor 276).

[0053] FIG. 11 is a schematic diagram of an NM imaging system 1000 having multiple imaging detector head assemblies (which may be mounted, for example, in multiple rows, in an iris configuration, or in other configurations, such as a configuration in which a movable detector carrier 1016 is aligned radially toward a patient's body 1010) mounted to a gantry. It should be noted that the configuration of FIG. 11 is shown for illustrative purposes, and other configurations (e.g., detector configurations) may be employed in various embodiments. In the illustrated example, multiple imaging detectors 1002 are mounted to a gantry 1004. In the illustrated embodiment, the imaging detectors 1002 are configured as two separate detector arrays 1006 and 1008 coupled to the gantry 1004 above and below the object 1010 (e.g., a patient), as seen in FIG. 11 . The detector arrays 1006 and 1008 may be coupled to the gantry 1004 directly or via support members 1012 that allow the entire arrays 1006 and / or 1008 to move relative to the gantry 1004 (e.g., lateral translation to the left or right as indicated by arrow T in FIG. 11 ). Furthermore, each imaging detector of the plurality of imaging detectors 1002 includes a detector unit 1014, at least some of which are mounted on a movable detector carrier 1016 (e.g., a support arm or actuator driven by a motor to move the support arm or actuator) that extends from the gantry 1004. In some embodiments, the detector carrier 1016 allows the detector unit 1014 to move (e.g., linearly) toward and away from the subject 1010. Thus, in the illustrated embodiment, detector arrays 1006 and 1008 are mounted parallel above and below the subject 1010, with detector unit 1014 capable of linear movement in one direction (indicated by arrow L), which is illustrated as being perpendicular to support member 1012 (which is coupled to gantry 1004 generally horizontally), however, other configurations and orientations are possible as described herein.It should be noted that the movable detector carrier 1016 can be any type of support that allows the detector unit 1014 to move relative to the support member 1012 and / or the gantry 1004, and in various embodiments, the support can move the detector unit 1014 linearly toward and away from the support member 1012.

[0054] In various embodiments, each imaging detector of the plurality of imaging detectors 1002 is smaller than a conventional whole-body or general-purpose imaging detector. Conventional imaging detectors are large enough to image most or all of the width of a patient's body at once, having a large diameter of approximately 50 cm or more. In contrast, each imaging detector of the plurality of imaging detectors 1002 may include one or more detector units 1014 coupled to a respective detector carrier 1016, e.g., one or more detector units 1014 having dimensions ranging from 4 cm to 20 cm, and may be formed from cadmium zinc telluride (CZT) tiles or modules. For example, each detector unit of the plurality of detector units 1014 may be 8 x 8 cm in size and comprise multiple CZT pixelated modules (not shown). For example, each module may be 4 x 4 cm in size and have 16 x 16 = 256 pixels (pixelated anodes). In some embodiments, each detector unit 1014 includes multiple modules (e.g., an array of 1 x 7 modules). However, different configurations and array sizes are contemplated (eg, a detector unit 1014 having multiple rows of modules).

[0055] It should be understood that the multiple imaging detectors 1002 may be different sizes and / or shapes (such as square, rectangular, circular, or other shapes) from one another, and the actual field of view (FOV) of each imaging detector of the multiple imaging detectors 1002 may be directly proportional to the size and shape of the respective imaging detector.

[0056] The gantry 1004 may have an opening 1018 (e.g., an aperture or bore) formed therethrough, as shown. A patient table 1020 (such as a patient bed) is configured with a support mechanism (not shown) for supporting and moving the subject 1010 within the opening 1018 to one or more of a plurality of viewing positions relative to the imaging detector 1002. Alternatively, the gantry 1004 may include multiple gantry segments (not shown), each capable of independently moving the support member 1012 or one or more of the plurality of imaging detectors 1002.

[0057] The gantry 1004 may be configured in other shapes (e.g., "C," "H," and "L") and may be rotatable around the subject 1010. For example, the gantry 1004 may be formed as a closed ring or circle, or as an open arc or arch, which may allow easier access to the subject 1010 during imaging, facilitate easier loading and unloading of the subject 1010, and reduce claustrophobia for some subjects 1010.

[0058] Additional imaging detectors (not shown) may be positioned to form a row or an arc or ring of detector arrays around the subject 1010. By positioning multiple imaging detectors 1002 at multiple positions relative to the subject 1010, for example, along an imaging axis (e.g., a head-to-toe direction of the subject 1010), image data specific to a large FOV can be rapidly acquired. Each imaging detector of the multiple imaging detectors 1002 has a radiation detection surface that is directed toward the subject 1010 or a region of interest within the subject.

[0059] The controller unit 1030 can control the movement and positioning of the patient table 1020, the imaging detector 1002 (which can be configured as one or more arms), and / or the gantry 1004. The range of movement before or during a data acquisition, or between different image acquisitions, is set to maintain the actual FOV of each imaging detector of the multiple imaging detectors 1002, for example, directed at a particular area or region of the subject 1010 or directed across the entire subject 1010. The movement can be a compound or complex movement occurring in multiple directions simultaneously or sequentially.

[0060] The controller unit 1030 can include a gantry motor controller 1032, a table controller 1034, a detector controller 1036, a pivot controller 1038, and a collimator controller 1040. The controllers 1030, 1032, 1034, 1036, 1038, and 1040 can be automatically commanded by a processing unit 1050, manually controlled by an operator, or a combination thereof. The gantry motor controller 1032 can move the imaging detectors 1002 relative to the subject 1010, for example, individually, in segments or subsets, or simultaneously while their relationship to each other remains constant. For example, in some embodiments, the gantry controller 1032 can cause the imaging detectors 1002 and / or the support member 1012 to move relative to or rotate around the subject 1010, including through an angle of less than or equal to 180 degrees (or greater than 180 degrees).

[0061] The table controller 1034 can move the patient table 1020 so that the subject 1010 is positioned relative to the imaging detectors 1002. The patient table 1020 can move, for example, up and down, in and out, and left and right. The detector controller 1036 can control the movement of each imaging detector of the multiple imaging detectors 1002 so that the multiple imaging detectors 1002 move together as a group or move individually. In addition, the detector controller 1036 can control the movement of the imaging detectors 1002, in some embodiments, towards and away from the surface of the subject 1010, for example, by controlling the translational movement (e.g., sliding or telescoping movement) of the detector carrier 1016 linearly towards or away from the subject 1010. Optionally, the detector controller 1036 can control the movement of the detector carrier 1016 so that the detector array 1006 or 1008 can move. For example, the detector controller 1036 can control the lateral movement of the detector carrier 1016, as indicated by arrow T. In various embodiments, the detector controller 1036 can control the detector carrier 1016 or the support member 1012 to move in different lateral directions. The detector controller 1036 can control the pivotal movement of the detector 1002. In some embodiments, the detector 1002 can pivot or rotate about an axis.

[0062] The pivot controller 1038 can control the pivoting or rotational movement of the detector units 1014 at the ends of the detector carrier 1016 and / or the pivoting or rotational movement of the detector carrier 1016. For example, one or more of the detector units 1014 and detector carrier 1016 can be rotated about at least one axis to image the subject 1010 from multiple angular directions to obtain 3D image data, for example, in a 3D SPECT or 3D imaging mode of operation. The collimator controller 1040 can rotate the detector column between two different collimators configured for two different energy applications (e.g., high energy vs. low energy).

[0063] It should be noted that the movement of the imaging detector(s) 1002 may be in a direction other than strictly axial or radial, and that movement in several directions of movement may be used in various embodiments. Thus, the term "motion controller" may be used to refer generically to all motion controllers. It should be noted that various controllers may be combined, for example, the detector controller 1036 and the pivot controller 1038 may be combined to achieve the different movements described herein.

[0064] Before acquiring an image of the subject 1010 or a portion of the subject 1010, the imaging detectors 1002, the gantry 1004, and / or the patient table 1020 may be adjusted to an initial or initial imaging position, subsequent imaging positions, etc. Each imaging detector 1002 may be positioned to image a portion of the subject 1010. Alternatively, for example, if the size of the subject 1010 is small, one or more of the imaging detectors 1002 (e.g., imaging detectors 1002 at the ends of the detector arrays 1006 and 1008 that are recessed from the subject 1010 as shown in FIG. 11 ) may not be available for data acquisition. Positioning may be performed manually by an operator and / or automatically, and may include, for example, using image information (e.g., other images acquired by another imaging modality (e.g., X-ray computed tomography (CT), MRI, X-ray, PET, or ultrasound) prior to the current data acquisition). In some embodiments, additional information for positioning (e.g., other images) may be acquired by the same system (e.g., a hybrid system (e.g., a SPECT / CT system)). Additionally, the detector unit 1014 may be configured to acquire non-NM data (e.g., X-ray CT data). In some embodiments, a multi-modality imaging system may be provided that can perform, for example, X-ray CT imaging as well as NM imaging or SPECT imaging, and the multi-modality imaging system may include a dual-modality or gantry design, as described in more detail herein.

[0065] After the imaging detectors 1002, the gantry 1004, and / or the patient table 1020 are positioned, one or more images (such as three-dimensional (3D) SPECT images) are acquired using one or more imaging detectors of the multiple imaging detectors 1002. Using one or more imaging detectors includes using compound motions that narrow or minimize the spacing between the detector units 1014. In various embodiments, the image data acquired by each imaging detector 1002 can be combined and reconstructed to generate a compound or 3D image.

[0066] In one embodiment, at least one of the detector arrays 1006 and / or 1008, the gantry 1004, and / or the patient table 1020 moves after being initially positioned. This movement includes a pivoting movement of the detector 1002 and an individual movement of one or more of the detector units 1014 (e.g., a combination of lateral and pivotal movements). For example, at least one of the detector arrays 1006 and / or 1008 can move laterally while pivoting. Thus, in various embodiments, multiple detectors (e.g., detector units 1014) having small sizes can be used for 3D imaging, such as when the detector units 1014 are moved or swept in combination with other movements.

[0067] In various embodiments, a data acquisition system (DAS) 1060 receives electrical signal data generated by the imaging detector 1002 and converts the data to digital signals for further processing. However, in various embodiments, the digital signals are generated by the imaging detector 1002. In addition to the processing unit 1050, an image reconstructor 1062 (which may be a processing device or processing computer) and a data storage device 1064 may be provided. It should be noted that one or more functions related to one or more of data acquisition, motion control, data processing, and image reconstruction may be realized by hardware, software, and / or shared processing resources, which may be located within, near, or remote from the imaging system 1000. Additionally, a user input device 1066 may receive user input (e.g., control commands), and a display 1068 may display images. The DAS 1060 receives the acquired images from the detector 1002, as well as the corresponding lateral, vertical, rotational, and pivotal coordinates of the gantry 1004, support member 1012, detector unit 1014, detector carrier 1016, and detector 1002, allowing accurate reconstruction of images including a 3D image and slices thereof.

[0068] A technical effect of the disclosed embodiments is to provide smart maintenance instead of scheduled maintenance. Another technical effect is to reduce the cost of servicing each medical imaging system and reduce downtime. A further technical effect is to monitor and schedule servicing (or maintenance) from a centralized location. The centralized monitoring location can access systems with data and component failure data, which allows for better troubleshooting of any component failure or additional component failures. A further technical effect is to allow service providers to more effectively manage resources for servicing multiple medical imaging systems.

[0069] The technology presented and claimed herein refers to and applies to specific examples and tangible objects that have practical properties that clearly improve the art, and as such is not abstract, intangible, or purely theoretical. Moreover, when a claim contains one or more elements designated as "means for [performing] [function]..." or "steps for [performing] [function]...," such elements are to be construed under 35 U.S.C. 112(f). However, for claims containing elements designated in other ways, such elements are not to be construed under 35 U.S.C. 112(f).

[0070] This description uses examples to disclose the present subject matter, including the best mode, and also enables any person skilled in the art to practice the subject matter, including making and using any devices or systems and performing any methods incorporated therein. The patentable scope of the present subject matter is defined in the claims, and may include other examples that occur to those skilled in the art. Such other examples are intended to be within the scope of the claims if they have structural elements that do not differ from the literal language of the claims, or if they include equivalent structural elements that do not differ in material way from the literal language of the claims. [Explanation of symbols]

[0071] 10 CT imaging systems 12 Gantry 13 Precollimator assembly 14 X-ray source 15 Detector Assembly 16 X-ray beams 18 Collimator Assembly 20 Detector Module 25 Rotation Center 26 Control System 28 X-ray controller 29 Collimator Controller 30 Gantry motor controller 32 Data Acquisition System (DAS) 34 Image Composer 36 Computer 38 Storage device 40 Console 42 Display 44 Table motor controller 46 Electric Table 48 bore 50 Medical Imaging Systems 52 Smart Sensors 54 Components 56 Dust accumulation sensor 58 Smoke sensor 60 Fire Sensor 62 Animal Presence Sensor 64 Deterrence System 66 Ultrasonic Transducer 68 Light source 70 Oil leak sensor 72 sensors 74 patients 76 tables 78 Bore 80 Gantry 82 Gantry housing 84 areas 86 Radiation source 88 detector 90 sides 92 X-ray beam 94 Vibration Sensor 96 Sensors 98 System 100 Centralized Controller 102 memory 104 processors 106 Method 108 blocks 110 blocks 112 blocks 114 blocks 116 blocks 122 blocks 202 Scanner 204 Scanner control circuit 206 System Control Circuit 208 Storage device 220 Housing 222 Bore 224 tables 226 patients 230 Gradient Coil 236 RF coil 238 RF receiving coil 240 Power supply 250 driver circuit 252 control circuit 254 Switch 256 receiving circuit 258 Interface Circuit 260 Control Analysis Circuit 262 Memory circuit 264 interface circuit 266 Interface Circuit 268 Control Analysis Circuit 270 Memory Circuit 272 Interface Circuit 274 printer 276 monitors 278 User Interface 1000 Nuclear Medicine Imaging System 1000 NM Imaging System 1002 Imaging Detector 1004 Gantry 1006 detector array 1010 Subject 1012 Support member 1014 detector unit 1016 Movable Detector Carrier 1018 Opening 1020 Patient Table 1030 Controller Unit 1032 Gantry motor controller 1034 Table Controller 1036 Detector Controller 1038 Pivot Controller 1040 Collimator Controller 1050 processing units 1060 Data Acquisition System (DAS) 1062 Image reconstruction device 1064 Data Storage Device 1066 User Input Devices 1068 display

Claims

1. 1. A computed tomography (CT) imaging system, comprising: a gantry having a bore and rotatable about an axis of rotation; a table for moving the subject to be imaged into and out of the bore of the gantry; a radiation source mounted to the gantry and configured to emit an x-ray beam; a detector configured to detect the X-ray beam emitted from the radiation source; one or more sensors integrated into one or more components of the CT imaging system, the one or more sensors configured to monitor one or more conditions associated with the CT imaging system; and a controller configured to receive feedback from the one or more sensors and schedule or adjust inspections of the CT imaging system based on the feedback from the one or more sensors. Including, The CT imaging system includes a gantry housing, and the one or more smart sensors include an animal presence sensor disposed within the gantry housing, the animal presence sensor configured to detect the presence of an animal within the gantry housing.

2. 10. The CT imaging system of claim 1, wherein the one or more sensors include a plurality of sensors integrated into one or more components of the CT imaging system, the plurality of sensors configured to monitor a plurality of different conditions associated with the CT imaging system.

3. 2. The CT imaging system of claim 1, wherein the CT imaging system includes a gantry housing, and the one or more sensors include a dust accumulation sensor disposed within the gantry housing or the table, the dust accumulation sensor configured to measure dust accumulation within the gantry housing or the table and provide an alert signal to the controller when dust accumulation exceeds a predefined dust accumulation threshold.

4. The CT imaging system of claim 1 , wherein the animal presence sensor comprises a passive infrared motion sensor configured to detect movement of an animal within the gantry housing.

5. 2. The CT imaging system of claim 1, wherein the CT imaging system includes a deterrent system disposed within the gantry housing, the deterrent system configured to provide deterrent means to keep the animal away from the gantry housing, and the animal presence sensor configured to provide a signal to cause the deterrent system to provide the deterrent means in response to detecting the presence of the animal within the gantry housing.

6. The CT imaging system of claim 5 , wherein the blocking system includes an ultrasound transducer configured to emit ultrasound waves to cause the animal to move away from the gantry housing.

7. The CT imaging system of claim 5 , wherein the blocking system includes a light emitting system configured to emit light to direct the animal away from the gantry housing.

8. The CT imaging system of claim 1 , wherein the animal presence sensor is configured to provide an alert signal to the controller in response to detecting the presence of an animal within the gantry housing.

9. A computed tomography (CT) imaging system, comprising: a gantry having a bore and rotatable about an axis of rotation; a table for moving the subject to be imaged into and out of the bore of the gantry; a radiation source mounted to the gantry and configured to emit an x-ray beam; a detector configured to detect the X-ray beam emitted from the radiation source; one or more sensors integrated into one or more components of the CT imaging system, the one or more sensors configured to monitor one or more conditions associated with the CT imaging system; and a controller configured to receive feedback from the one or more sensors and schedule or adjust inspections of the CT imaging system based on the feedback from the one or more sensors. Including, the CT imaging system includes a gantry housing, the one or more sensors include both a smoke sensor and a fire sensor disposed within the gantry housing, the smoke sensor configured to detect the presence of smoke within the gantry housing and the fire sensor configured to detect the presence of flame within the gantry housing, and the CT imaging system provides an alert signal to the controller in response to detecting either smoke or flame within the gantry housing.

10. The CT imaging system of claim 9 , wherein the controller is configured to provide a signal to turn off the CT imaging system in response to the alert signal.

11. A computed tomography (CT) imaging system, comprising: a gantry having a bore and rotatable about an axis of rotation; a table for moving the subject to be imaged into and out of the bore of the gantry; a radiation source mounted to the gantry and configured to emit an x-ray beam; a detector configured to detect the X-ray beam emitted from the radiation source; one or more sensors integrated into one or more components of the CT imaging system, the one or more sensors configured to monitor one or more conditions associated with the CT imaging system; and a controller configured to receive feedback from the one or more sensors and schedule or adjust inspections of the CT imaging system based on the feedback from the one or more sensors. Including, the CT imaging system includes a gantry housing, and the one or more sensors include an oil leak sensor disposed within the gantry housing, the oil leak sensor configured to detect the presence of an oil leak within the gantry housing and to provide an alert signal to the controller in response to detecting an oil leak within the gantry housing.

12. The CT imaging system of claim 11 , wherein the oil leak sensor comprises an optical oil leak sensor or an oil leak sensing cable.

13. 2. The CT imaging system of claim 1, wherein the CT imaging system includes a gantry housing, and wherein the one or more sensors include a digital inclinometer integrated into both the gantry housing and the table, the digital inclinometer configured to determine whether both the gantry housing and the table are level with respect to a surface on which the CT imaging system is located, and the digital inclinometer configured to provide an alert signal to the controller in response to determining that either the gantry housing or the table is not level with respect to the surface.

14. 1. A system for monitoring and inspecting a plurality of medical imaging systems, each medical imaging system including a gantry housing; a controller configured to communicate with the plurality of medical imaging systems, wherein one or more sensors are integrated with one or more components of each medical imaging system of the plurality of medical imaging systems, the one or more sensors being configured to monitor one or more conditions associated with the respective medical imaging system, the controller comprising: a memory encoding processor-executable routines; and a processor configured to access the memory and execute the processor-executable routines, the routines, when executed by the processor, causing the processor to: receiving feedback from the one or more sensors of each medical imaging system; and Scheduling or adjusting inspections of each medical imaging system based on respective feedback received from one or more sensors of each medical imaging system. A processor that executes Including, the one or more smart sensors include an animal presence sensor disposed within the gantry housing, the animal presence sensor configured to detect the presence of an animal within the gantry housing. the one or more sensors include both a smoke sensor and a fire sensor disposed within the gantry housing, the smoke sensor configured to detect the presence of smoke within the gantry housing and the fire sensor configured to detect the presence of flame within the gantry housing, and providing an alert signal to the controller in response to detecting either smoke or flame within the gantry housing; and / or the one or more sensors include an oil leak sensor disposed within the gantry housing, the oil leak sensor configured to detect the presence of an oil leak within the gantry housing and to provide an alert signal to the controller in response to detecting an oil leak within the gantry housing.

15. The system of claim 14 , wherein the controller is located remotely from each medical imaging system of the plurality of medical imaging systems.

16. 15. The system of claim 14, wherein the routine, when executed by the processor, causes the processor to predict a possible failure of a particular component of a particular medical imaging system among the plurality of medical imaging systems based on the respective feedback, and to schedule an inspection to replace the particular component before a failure of the particular component occurs.

17. 1. A method for monitoring and inspecting a plurality of medical imaging systems, each medical imaging system including a gantry housing; receiving feedback from one or more sensors of each of the plurality of medical imaging systems, the one or more sensors of each of the plurality of medical imaging systems being integrated into one or more components of the respective medical imaging system, the one or more sensors being configured to monitor one or more conditions associated with the respective medical imaging system; and scheduling or adjusting, by said processor, inspections of each medical imaging system based on respective feedback received from said one or more sensors of each medical imaging system; Including, the one or more smart sensors include an animal presence sensor disposed within the gantry housing, the animal presence sensor configured to detect the presence of an animal within the gantry housing. the one or more sensors include both a smoke sensor and a fire sensor disposed within the gantry housing, the smoke sensor configured to detect the presence of smoke within the gantry housing and the fire sensor configured to detect the presence of flame within the gantry housing, and providing an alert signal to the controller in response to detecting either smoke or flame within the gantry housing; and / or the one or more sensors include an oil leak sensor disposed within the gantry housing, the oil leak sensor configured to detect the presence of an oil leak within the gantry housing and to provide an alert signal to the controller in response to detecting an oil leak within the gantry housing.

18. The method of claim 17 , wherein the processor is located in a controller located remotely from each medical imaging system of the plurality of medical imaging systems.

19. 18. The method of claim 17, further comprising: predicting, by the processor, a likely failure of a particular component of a particular medical imaging system of the plurality of medical imaging systems based on the respective feedback; and scheduling, by the processor, an inspection to replace the particular component before a failure of the particular component occurs.

20. The CT imaging system of claim 1, wherein the sensor is a device that takes in input from the physical environment and, using built-in computing resources, performs a predefined function when it detects a particular input, processes the data, and then sends it on.

Images