# US 12,601,694 B2 · System and method for improved data handling in a computed tomography imaging system > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 12,601,694 B2 - Document ID: US12601694B2 - Status: Granted - Kind: B2 - Application number: 18/447,115 - Filed: 2023-08-09 - Published: 2025-02-13 - Granted: 2026-04-14 - Earliest claimed: 2023-08-09 - Assignees: GE Precision Healthcare LLC - Applicants: GE Precision Healthcare LLC - Inventors: Norbert J. Pelc; Bruno De Man; Jiahua Fan; Lusik Cherkezyan; Moa Yveborg Tamm; Jonathan Maltz - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US12601694B2 ## CPC - G01N 23/046: using tomography, e.g. computed tomography [CT] - A61B 6/032: {Transmission computed tomography [CT]} - G01N 23/083: the radiation being X-rays - G06T 12/10: Image preprocessing, e.g. calibration, positioning of sources or scatter correction - A61B 6/035: {Mechanical aspects of CT} - G01N 2223/3303: object fixed; source and detector move - G01N: INVESTIGATING OR ANALYSING MATERIALS BY DETERMINING THEIR CHEMICAL OR PHYSICAL PROPERTIES (measuring or testing apparatus or processes other than immunoassay, involving enzymes or microorganisms C12M, C12Q) - A61B: DIAGNOSIS; SURGERY; IDENTIFICATION (usefulness limited to only animals A61D) - G06T: IMAGE DATA PROCESSING OR GENERATION, IN GENERAL ## Abstract Various systems and methods are provided for processing computed tomography (CT) data in a CT imaging system. The CT imaging system comprising an X-ray source configured to emit X-rays, an X-ray detector configured to generate sampled digital detector data and a digital processor configured to process the sampled digital detector data. The method comprises filtering, in the digital processor, the sampled digital detector data to generate filtered detector data and resampling, in the digital processor, the filtered detector data to generate resampled detector data. The resampling comprises a reduction in data size of the filtered detector data. The filtering is performed on at least part of the sampled digital detector data according to a filtering setting and the resampling is performed on at least part of the filtered digital detector data according to a resampling setting, wherein the filtering setting and resampling setting are decoupled. ## Claims ### Claim 1 A method for processing computed tomography (CT) data in a CT imaging system, the CT imaging system comprising: an X-ray source configured to emit X-rays; an X-ray detector configured to generate sampled digital detector data; a digital processor configured to process the sampled digital detector data; the method comprising: filtering, in the digital processor, the sampled digital detector data to generate filtered detector data, wherein the filtering is performed in the spatial domain; resampling, in the digital processor, the filtered detector data to generate resampled detector data, wherein the resampling comprises a reduction in data size of the filtered detector data and is performed using an interlaced resampling pattern; and wherein the filtering setting and resampling setting are decoupled and independently selected based on an operating mode that balances image quality, radiation dose, and data handling efficiency. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The method according to claim 1, wherein the reduction in data size reduces the data size with a reduction factor, and wherein at least one of the filtering setting and resampling setting is associated with the reduction factor. ### Claim 3 (depends on 1) The method according to claim 1, wherein the filtering setting and resampled setting are set to achieve a predetermined image quality. ### Claim 4 (depends on 3) The method according to claim 3, wherein the image quality comprises at least one of spatial resolution, noise level and aliasing level. ### Claim 5 (depends on 1) The method according to claim 1, wherein the filtering is performed in at least one of the spatial and frequency domain. ### Claim 6 (depends on 1) The method according to claim 1, wherein the resampling is performed in at least one of the spatial and frequency domain. ### Claim 7 (depends on 1) The method according to claim 1, wherein the resampling comprises a first resampling according to a first resampling setting and a second resampling according to a second resampling setting. ### Claim 8 (depends on 1) The method according to claim 1, wherein the filtering setting comprises at least one of a bandwidth, an amplitude and a set of detector elements. ### Claim 9 (depends on 1) The method according to claim 1, wherein the resampling setting comprises at least one of a resampling frequency and a phase shift setting. ### Claim 10 (depends on 9) The method according to claim 9, wherein the resampling frequency comprises at least one of a non-integer resampling frequency and a non-integer phase shift. ### Claim 11 (depends on 9) The method according to claim 9, wherein the phase shift setting is associated with a resampling pattern. ### Claim 12 (depends on 1) The method according to claim 1, wherein the CT imaging system comprises a gantry including a rotating member of the gantry on a rotating side of the gantry and a stationary member of the gantry on a stationary side of the gantry, the rotating member and the stationary member being communicatively coupled via a data communication system, wherein the rotating member includes the X-ray source, the X-ray detector and the digital processor. ### Claim 13 A CT imaging system comprising: an X-ray source configured to emit X-rays; an X-ray detector configured to generate sampled digital detector data; and a digital processor configured to process the sampled digital detector data, wherein the digital processor is configured to: filter the sampled digital detector data according to a filtering setting to generate filtered detector data, wherein the filtering is performed in the spatial domain; and resample the filtered detector data according to a resampling setting to generate resampled detector data and is performed using an interlaced resampling pattern; and wherein the filtering setting and the resampling setting are decoupled and independently selected based on an operating mode that balances image quality, radiation dose, and data handling efficiency. ### Claim 14 (depends on 13) The CT imaging system according to claim 13, further comprising a gantry including a rotating member of the gantry on a rotating side of the gantry and a stationary member of the gantry on a stationary side of the gantry, the rotating member and the stationary member being communicatively coupled via a data communication system, wherein the rotating member includes the X-ray source, the X-ray detector and the digital processor. ### Claim 15 (depends on 14) The CT imaging system according to claim 14, wherein the digital processor comprises a first digital processor arranged on the rotating member and a second digital processor arranged on the stationary member, wherein at least one of the first and second digital processor is configured to perform at least part of the filtering and/or the resampling. ### Claim 16 (depends on 13) The CT imaging system according to claim 13, wherein the CT imaging system comprises a data storage unit configured to store at least part of the sampled digital detector data, the filtered detector data and/or the resampled detector data. ### Claim 17 (depends on 13) The CT imaging system according to claim 13, wherein the digital processor is configured to operate in one or more operating modes, wherein an operating mode is associated with at least one of an image quality, a radiation dose, a DQE metric and a data handling scheme. ### Claim 18 (depends on 13) The CT imaging system according to claim 13, wherein the resampling setting comprises at least one of a non-integer resampling frequency and a non-integer phase-shift setting. ### Claim 19 (depends on 13) The CT imaging system according to claim 13, wherein the digital processor is configured to resample the generated resampled detector data according to a second resampling setting to generate second resampled detector data. ### Claim 20 (depends on 13) The CT imaging system according to claim 13, wherein the resampling setting comprises a phase-shift setting associated with a resampling pattern. ### Claim 21 (depends on 20) The CT imaging system according to claim 20, wherein the resampling pattern comprises at least one of: a radial quarter offset resampling pattern, in at least one of a radial direction r1 and a longitudinal direction, l1; an equidistant resampling pattern, in at least one of a radial direction r2 and a longitudinal direction, l2; and an interlaced resampling pattern, in at least one of a radial direction r3 and a longitudinal direction, l3.