Method and system for performing a scan of an object

1. A method for generating an image of an object using a scanning system, said method comprising:

performing a first portion of a scan in a first scanning mode to acquire a first dataset using a scan controller;

receiving a halt command for a conveyor within the scanning system at at least a conveyor controller;

decelerating the conveyor to a halt based on the halt command using the conveyor controller;

when the object is present within an examination region after the conveyor has halted, performing a second portion of the scan in a second scanning mode to acquire a second dataset using the scan controller, the second scanning mode different than the first scanning mode;

reconstructing the first dataset using a first reconstruction algorithm within a control system;

reconstructing the second dataset using a second reconstruction algorithm within the control system, the second reconstruction algorithm different than the first reconstruction algorithm; and

generating the image using the first reconstructed dataset and the second reconstructed dataset using the control system.

2. A method in accordance with claim 1 , wherein performing a first portion of a scan in a first scanning mode to acquire a first dataset comprises:

performing the first portion of the scan in a helical mode to acquire the first dataset; and

recording first motion trajectory data of the conveyor within the control system as the conveyor decelerates to the halt.

3. A method in accordance with claim 2 , wherein reconstructing the first dataset using a first reconstruction algorithm comprises reconstructing the first dataset using a variable pitch helical reconstruction algorithm that accounts for the recorded first motion trajectory data.

4. A method in accordance with claim 2 , wherein performing a second portion of the scan in a second scanning mode to acquire a second dataset comprises:

performing the second portion of the scan in a helical mode to acquire the second dataset; and

recording second motion trajectory data of the conveyor within the control system as the conveyor accelerates.

5. A method in accordance with claim 4 , wherein reconstructing the second dataset using a second reconstruction algorithm comprises reconstructing the second dataset using a variable pitch helical reconstruction algorithm that accounts for the recorded second motion trajectory data.

6. A method in accordance with claim 1 , wherein performing a first portion of a scan in a first scanning mode to acquire a first dataset comprises performing the first portion of the scan in a first helical mode.

7. A method in accordance with claim 6 , wherein reconstructing the first dataset using a first reconstruction algorithm comprises reconstructing the first dataset using a three-dimensional helical reconstruction algorithm.

8. A method in accordance with claim 6 , wherein performing a second portion of the scan in a second scanning mode to acquire a second dataset comprises performing the second portion of the scan in a step-and-shoot mode.

9. A method in accordance with claim 8 , wherein reconstructing the second dataset using a second reconstruction algorithm comprises reconstructing the second dataset using an axial reconstruction algorithm.

10. A method in accordance with claim 6 , wherein performing a second portion of the scan in a second scanning mode to acquire a second dataset comprises:

performing the second portion of the scan in second helical mode, the second helical mode performed at a speed slower than a speed at which the first helical mode is performed; and

recording motion data of the conveyor during the second helical mode within the control system.

11. A method in accordance with claim 10 , wherein reconstructing the second dataset using a second reconstruction algorithm comprises reconstructing the second dataset using a two-dimensional variable pitch helical reconstruction algorithm.

12. A method in accordance with claim 10 , further comprising accelerating the conveyor to the speed at which the first helical mode is performed using the conveyor controller when the object has exited the examination region.

13. A method in accordance with claim 1 , further comprising:

after receiving the halt command, determining if the object is present within the examination region using the control system;

when the object is present within the examination region, receiving a resume command at at least one of the conveyor controller and the scan controller, the resume command instructing the scanning system to perform the second portion of the scan in the second scanning mode; and

when the object is not present within the examination region, resuming a motion of the conveyor for performing the first portion of the scan in the first scanning mode using the conveyor controller.

14. A scanning system, comprising:

a conveyor configured to convey a stream of objects through said scanning system;

a conveyor controller in operative control communication with said conveyor;

a computer tomography (CT) system;

a scan controller in operative control communication with said CT system; and

a control system in communication with said conveyor controller and said scan controller, said control system configured to:

perform a first portion of a scan in a first scanning mode to acquire a first dataset using said scan controller;

issue a halt command to at least said conveyor controller;

decelerate said conveyor to a halt based on the halt command using said conveyor controller;

when an object is present within an examination region after said conveyor has halted, perform a second portion of the scan in a second scanning mode to acquire a second dataset using said scan controller, the second scanning mode different than the first scanning mode;

reconstruct the first dataset using a first reconstruction algorithm;

reconstruct the second dataset using a second reconstruction algorithm, the second reconstruction algorithm different than the first reconstruction algorithm; and

generate an image using the first reconstructed dataset and the second reconstructed dataset.

15. A scanning system in accordance with claim 14 , wherein at least one of said conveyor controller and said scan controller is configured to:

perform the first portion of the scan in a first helical mode;

record first trajectory data during the first portion of the scan in the first helical mode;

receive the halt command;

perform the second portion of the scan in a second helical mode; and

record second trajectory data during the second portion of the scan in the second helical mode.

16. A scanning system in accordance with claim 15 , wherein said control system is configured to:

reconstruct data acquired during the first portion of the scan using a variable pitch helical reconstruction algorithm that accounts for the recorded first motion trajectory data; and

reconstruct data acquired during the second portion of the scan using a variable pitch helical reconstruction algorithm that accounts for the recorded second motion trajectory data.

17. A scanning system in accordance with claim 14 , wherein at least one of said conveyor controller and said scan controller is configured to:

perform the first portion of the scan in a helical scan mode;

receive the halt command; and

perform the second portion of the scan in a step-and-shoot scan mode.

18. A scanning system in accordance with claim 17 , wherein said control system is configured to:

reconstruct data acquired during the first portion of the scan in the helical scan mode using a helical reconstruction algorithm; and

reconstruct data acquired during the second portion of the scan in the step-and-shoot scan mode using an axial reconstruction algorithm.

19. A scanning system in accordance with claim 14 , wherein at least one of said conveyor controller and said scan controller is configured to:

perform the first portion of the scan in a helical scan mode at a first speed;

receive the halt command; and

perform the second portion of the scan in a helical scan mode at a second speed.

20. A scanning system in accordance with claim 19 , wherein said control system is configured to:

reconstruct data acquired during the first portion of the scan in the helical scan mode at the first speed using a helical reconstruction algorithm; and

reconstruct data acquired during the second portion of the scan in the helical scan mode at the second speed using a two-dimensional variable pitch helical reconstruction algorithm.