1. A method for producing a nuclear medicine image of body tissue utilizing emission data comprising:
providing information relating to the internal structure of a patient;
providing nuclear emission data acquired from the patient;
determining initial values for an iterative three dimensional reconstruction process of the emission data, based on the internal structure information; and
reconstructing an image from the emission data starting from the initial values, utilizing an iterative reconstruction process,
wherein the initial values comprises more than two values; and
wherein the information relating to the internal structure is derived from at least one member of a group consisting of data from CT X-ray attenuation, Magnetic Resonance Imaging, Ultrasound imaging and nuclear transmission.
2. A method according to claim 1, wherein the initial values comprise at least two values within a volume associated with the interior of the patient.
3. A method according to claim 1, wherein the initial values comprise a continuum of values within the volume associated with the interior of the patient.
4. A method according to claim 3, wherein the iteration process is repeated until an intermediate image of a distribution of a radiopharmaceutical in the patient is determined and superimposing the intermediate image on the internal structure and displaying the superimposed image.
5. A method according to claim 1 wherein the initial values comprise a single value for a reconstructed volume outside the body.
6. A method according to claim 1 wherein the information relating to the internal structure is derived from CT X-ray attenuation data.
7. A method according to claim 6 wherein the initial values are based directly on image intensity values.
8. A method according to claim 1 wherein the information relating to the internal structure is derived from Magnetic Resonance Imaging data.
9. A method according to claim 1 wherein the information relating to the internal structure is derived from Ultrasound imaging.
10. A method according to claim 1 wherein the information relating to the internal structure is derived from nuclear transmission data.
11. A method according to claim 1 wherein the initial values are based on identification of different tissue regions within body tissue.
12. A method according to claim 11, wherein the initial values are based on different tissue densities within body tissue.
13. A method according to claim 1, wherein the initial values are based on chemical content within body tissue.
14. A method according to claim 1, wherein the initial values are based on tissue functionality.
15. A method for producing a nuclear medicine image of body tissue utilizing emission data comprising:
providing information relating to the internal structure of a patient;
providing nuclear emission data acquired from the patient;
determining initial values for an iterative three dimensional reconstruction process for the emission data, based on the internal structure information, the internal structure information being other than the emission data used to reconstruct the nuclear image;
repeating an iterative reconstruction process for reconstructing an image from the emission data starting from the initial values, until an intermediate image of a distribution of radiopharmaceutical superimposed on an image of structure is produced; and
displaying the intermediate image.
16. A method according to claim 15 wherein the initial values comprise a continuum of values within a volume associated with the interior of the patient.
17. A method according to claim 15 wherein the information relating to the internal structure is derived from CT X-ray attenuation data.
18. A method according to claim 15 wherein the information relating to the internal structure is derived from Magnetic Resonance Imaging data.
19. A method according to claim 15 wherein the information relating to the internal structure is derived from Ultrasound imaging.
20. A method according to claim 15 wherein the information relating to the internal structure is derived from nuclear transmission data.
21. A method according to claim 15 wherein the initial values are based directly on image intensity values.
22. A method according to claim 21 wherein the initial values are based on different tissue densities within body tissue.
23. A method for producing a nuclear medicine image of body tissue utilizing emission data comprising:
providing information relating to the internal structure of a patient;
providing nuclear emission data acquired from the patient;
determining initial values for an iterative three dimensional reconstruction process of the emission data, based on the internal structure information; and
reconstructing an image from the emission data staffing from the initial values, utilizing an iterative reconstruction process in which the emission data is isotropic,
wherein the initial values comprises more than two values.
The claims below are in addition to those above.
All refrences to claim(s) which appear below refer to the numbering after this setence.
1. A method for monitoring a seed application rate of a seed planter planting seeds from a seed meter, comprising:
measuring a rotation of a seed disc of the seed meter;
measuring a performance value corresponding to the seed meter, wherein said measured performance value is related to a consistency of seed, deposited by the seed meter; and
calculating a population value based on said measured rotation and said measured performance value, wherein said population value is determined by calculating a nominal population value and applying said measured performance value to said nominal population.
2. The method of claim 1, wherein said measured performance value is determined over a period in which the seed meter deposits a plurality of seeds.
3. The method of claim 2, wherein said period is greater than the time required for said seed disc to make a full rotation.
4. The method of claim 1, wherein said measured performance value is determined based on a time between seeds deposited.
5. The method of claim 1, wherein said measured performance value is determined based on an expected time between seeds deposited and an actual time between seeds deposited.
6. The method of claim 1, wherein said measured performance value is determined based on a ratio between an expected time between seeds deposited by the seed meter and an actual time between seeds deposited by the seed meter.
7. The method of claim 2, wherein said performance value is determined based on a number of metering errors during said period.
8. (canceled)
9. A method for monitoring a seed application rate of a seed planter planting seeds from a seed meter, comprising:
measuring a rotation of a seed disc of the seed meter;
measuring a time between sequential seeds deposited by the seed meter;
determining a meter performance value based on said measured time between sequential seeds; and
calculating a population value based on said measured rotation of said seed disc and said meter performance value.
10. The method of claim 9, further including:
calculating a nominal population based on said measured rotation.
11. The method of claim 9, further including:
correcting said nominal population based on said measured time between sequential seeds.
12. The method of claim 11, farther including:
displaying said population value.
13. The method of claim 11, further including:
spatially mapping said population value to create a population map; and
displaying said population map.
14. A method for monitoring performance of a seed planter planting seeds using a metering system including a seed meter and a seed meter drive, comprising:
generating metering system motion signals upon movement of a component of the seed metering system;
measuring a rotational metric of a seed disc of the seed meter during an averaging period by counting a first set of said motion signals over said averaging period;
measuring said rotational metric during a measuring period by counting a second set of said motion signals over said measuring period;
calculating a stability metric based on said rotation, wherein said stability metric is based on a statistical deviation between the value of said rotational metric during said measuring period and the value of said rotational metric during said averaging period.
15. The method of claim 14, wherein said stability metric is a measure of the performance of the seed meter in driving a seed disc of the seed meter.
16. The method of claim 14, wherein said stability metric is based on at least one of a commanded meter speed, a commanded meter drive speed, a commanded meter rotation angle, and a measured meter rotation angle.
17. The method of claim 14, wherein said stability metric is based on a rotation of a drive driving said seed disc.
18. The method of claim 14, wherein said stability metric is based on a rotation of a current value of said rotation of said seed disc and an averaged value of said rotation of said seed disc.
19. (canceled)
20. The method of claim 14, wherein said stability metric is based on a deviation between a current nominal population and an averaged nominal population, wherein said nominal population is calculated based on said rotation of said seed disc.