Shimadzu Corporation

Hamamatsu-Photonics K.k.

National Institute of Radiological Sciences

National Institute of Radiological Services

National Institutes for Quantum and Radiological Science and Technology

Mikio Suga

Taiga Yamaya

Takayuki Obata

Mitsuo Watanabe

Eiichi Tanaka

Yoshiyuki Yamakawa

Fumihiko Nishikido

Hiroshi Kawaguchi

Kazuyuki Saito

In the integrated PET/MRI scanner provided with an RF coil for MRI and a plurality of PET detectors in the measuring port of the MRI scanner, the PET detectors are disposed with spaces therebetween and at least the transmitting coil elements of the RF coil for MRI are disposed between adjacent PET detectors. Here, the PET detectors are disposed in the circumferential direction of the measuring port with spaces therebetween and the transmitting coil elements are disposed in the axial direction of the measuring port. Alternatively, at least some of the PET detectors are disposed in the axial direction of the measuring port with spaces therebetween and the transmitting coil elements are disposed between adjacent PET detectors. The PET detectors can be DOI-type detectors capable of detecting position in the depth direction.

Integrated PET/MRI scanner

When an image for PET attenuation correction is generated from an MR image, the MR image captured by MRI is segmented into regions according to pixel values. In a region in which a radiation attenuation coefficient is considered to be uniform, a radiation attenuation correction value is determined by referring to an existing radiation attenuation correction value table. In a region including multiple tissues having different radiation attenuation coefficients, a radiation attenuation correction value is determined by referring to a standard image. In such a manner, an image for PET attenuation correction in which tissues having similar pixel values in the MR image but different attenuation coefficients for radiation can be distinguished and that can accommodate individual differences and an affected area such as a space occupying lesion (for example, a cancer, abscess, or the like) and an organic defect is generated.

Method for generating image for PET attenuation correction from MR image and computer program

Growing community of inventors

Chiba, Japan

Mikio Suga