Adac Laboratories, Inc.

Storage Technology Partners

Koninklijke Philips Corporation N.v.

Cygnet Systems LLC

Paul M Hug

Horace H Hines

Mark L Lamp

Paul A Yesnosky

David A Chan

Rizwan Syed Hassan

Bill Umeda

Marc A Huber

Robert L Kay

Michael J Petrillo

Mahmoud Janbakhsh

Steven M Jones

John Vesel

Matthew J Murphy

Moataz Karmalawy

Horace N Kemp

Dale C Frese

Timothy T Buskard

Ian Farmer

Ottavio T Rotondale

Antonio Tavares

Joseph J Stefan

Gary Ricco

Gary E McCabe

Frank R Suchomel

William H Umeda

Graham Slater

Kenneth G Bayer

Bart Raudebaugh

Mark S Fasnacht

Douglas C Watson

Chinh Quang Le

Tam Huynh

Raymond E Paul

William Umeda

Caleb J Zhang

Paul Chapdelaine

When performing nuclear (e.g., SPECT or PET) and CT scans on a patient, a volume cone-beam CT scan is performed using a cone-beam CT X-ray source () and an offset flat panel X-ray detector (). A field of view of the X-ray source overlaps a field of view of two nuclear detector heads (), and the offset of the X-ray detector () minimizes interference with nuclear detector head movement about a rotatable gantry (). Additionally, a locking mechanism () provides automatically locking of the X-ray detector () in each of a stowed and operation position, improving safety and CT image quality.

Nuclear medicine SPECT-CT machine with integrated asymmetric flat panel cone-beam CT and SPECT system

A telescopic table system () is used for imaging a subject in at least a first modality () and a second modality (). The first modality is disposed adjacent to the second modality to align a subject receiving bore () of the first modality with a subject receiving bore () of the second modality. The telescoping table system () includes a base (), an intermediate pallet () and a subject pallet () on which a subject is loaded prior to imaging. The subject pallet () is mounted and supported to retain a constant cantilevering with respect to the intermediate pallet () at all longitude positions to prevent deflection changes while extending into any of the imaging modalities. The subject pallet () is moved through the first modality subject receiving bore () for imaging in the first modality. The subject pallet () is withdrawn from the first modality () and aligned with the intermediate pallet (). The intermediate pallet () is extended through the first modality subject receiving bore () to the intermediate support () which is disposed between the first and second modalities. The subject pallet () is moved along the intermediate pallet () through the second modality subject receiving bore () for imaging, while the intermediate pallet is supported by the intermediate support ().

Telescoping table

An improved image acquisition system allows the angular displacement between two detectors to be adjusted between 90&deg; and 180&deg; to reduce the imaging time for both 360&deg; and 180&deg; scans. A patient table is displaced vertically and horizontally from a lateral axis to allow the body of a patient to be positioned next to the detectors and to improve resolution.

Adjustable dual-detector image data acquisition system

A system for exchanging and storing collimators for medical imaging devices includes a first frame having a first receptacle and a second frame having a first docking member. A collimator can be attached to and removed from the first receptacle. The first docking member can be positioned adjacent to the first receptacle such that the first docking member can contact the collimator to remove the collimator from the first receptacle. The collimator is coupled to the first docking member while the collimator is removed from the first receptacle.

System for exchanging and storing collimators for medical imaging devices

The imaging system has two detectors which can be rotated in a circular path about an object with the angular displacement between the detectors and their radial position with respect to the axis being adjustable. Preferably, the distance of the detectors from the lateral axis is adjustable to increase resolution of the system. A gantry has supports for drive gear rings for the detectors with radial motion mechanisms connecting one detector to the interior surface of a drive gear ring and the other to the exterior of its drive gear ring via a support arm. A drive gear and idler gear move one detector along the circular path and a radial drive motor moves the detectors radially with respect to the axis.

A nuclear medicine imaging system provides three-axis linear and rotary detector motion. The imaging system includes an overhead gantry, which includes a carriage supported above the object and movable in translation along a first horizontal axis. Support arms are suspended downward from the carriage and are movable along a second horizontal axis perpendicular to the first horizontal axis. A detector is coupled to a lower end of each support arm. Each support arm is retractably extendible along a substantially vertical axis, and each detector is pivotable about a horizontal axis parallel to the first horizontal axis. Each support arm cooperates with the carriage to enable the corresponding detector to be positioned at multiple angular positions about a longitudinal axis corresponding to multiple projection angles by using combinations of independent linear movements of the detectors along any of three perpendicular axes.

Gantry for medical imaging system

A dual-head gamma camera imaging system comprises a master ring gear and a slave ring rotatable about a longitudinal axis. The master ring gear is rotatably supported by a gantry. The slave ring is rotatably supported by the master ring gear and concentric with the master ring gear, such that the master ring gear and the slave ring can be rotated independently about s longitudinal axis. A first detector is supported by a first cantilever support member mounted to the master ring gear. A second detector head is supported by a second cantilever support member mounted to the slave ring. The angular displacement between the detector heads can be varied by providing relative rotation between the master ring gear and the slave ring. The rotation can be accomplished by using the weight of one of the detector heads to hold that detector head stationary while rotating the other detector head using a motor. The imaging system also includes a mechanism for rotating a detector head about an axis perpendicular to its imaging surface to increase the field of view along the longitudinal axis. The detector is mounted to an inner support ring which is rotatably coupled to and concentric with an outer support ring. The outer support ring is mounted to at least one ring gear.

Dual-head medicine imaging system with cantilevered detector heads

An automatic collimator exchanger for a gamma camera system for simultaneous exchange of pairs of collimators (or a single collimator) for a dual detector head system. The present invention includes an exchange assembly having an elevator, a carriage and a bridge. The elevator includes a rack of multiple parallel and stacked trays for holding various pairs of collimators. A draw bridge unit is attached to one side of the elevator (which side faces a gantry structure) and may extend into the gantry structure. The carriage is able to support two collimators and moves from within the elevator unit onto the bridge and into the gantry structure, when the bridge is lowered, to position between two aligned detector heads of the dual head gamma camera system. When the detector heads are positioned near the aligned carriage, latch pins are released and collimators may be transferred to the carriage, if empty, or hastened to the detector heads from the carriage when installing a pair of collimators. Sliding lock plates (each having hooks and a safety latch pin) are mounted on both sides of each of the detector heads and are used to transfer the collimators between the carriage and the detector heads during the exchange (for removal and installation) and are used to secure the collimators to the detector heads during an imaging session. One collimator or a pair may be simultaneously exchanged using the present invention without operator intervention.

Apparatus and method for automated collimator exchange

An improved image acquisition system allows the angular displacement between two detectors to be adjusted between 90.degree. and 180.degree. to reduce the imaging time for both 360.degree. and 180.degree. scans. A patient table is displaced vertically and horizontally from a lateral axis to allow the body of a patient to be positioned next to the detectors and to improve resolution.

A direct measurement system for proximity detection of a body profile for use within nuclear medicine. The measurement system includes two or three proximity detector units mounted on a gantry structure of a nuclear medicine camera which each emit an energy beam which is swept across a portion of a target body. Each detector is capable of directly measuring the distance from the proximity detector unit to the target body with a beam sample. The detectors then create a body profile of the target body which is used to minimize the distance between the collimator of a scanning camera and the target body surface thus improving image quality of the scanning camera. There is relative motion between the object and the gantry along a cranial-caudal axis of a target body for scanning successive body profiles. Successive body profiles are combined together to achieve a complete body contour of the target body. The proximity detector units are stationary with respect to movement of the scanning camera toward said target body. Body contour data is also used for attentuation correction.

Proximity detector for body contouring system of a medical camera

An image data acquisition system for performing SPECT imaging and other types of imaging used in nuclear medicine includes an assembly of three detectors and a mechanical system for adjusting the relative angles of the detector image direction arrows, displacing the individual detectors along the image direction arrows, and rotating and displacing the detector assembly.

Adjustable triple-detector image data acquisition system

A technique for storing and retrieving information-containing discs using two independently operated disc transferring carriages is disclosed herein. The two carraiges are used to transfer discs between storage compartments forming part of an overall disc and drive library and one or more disc drives disposed within their own drive compartments also forming part of the disc and drive library. In one specific embodiment, the two carriages are moved vertically and horizontally on separate tracks between two confronting library arrangements.

Apparatus including dual carriages for storing and retrieving

A technique for storing and retrieving information containing discs utilizing a movable disc storage magazine is disclosed herein. The disc storage magazine, which is designed to store a plurality of information containing discs in individual compartments, is movable along a predetermined path which passes through a specific disc storage station such that each of the individual compartments is positionable within that station. At the same time, a disc drive for storing information on and retrieving information from the discs is located at a disc drive station spaced from the disc storage station. Means are provided for moving the disc storage magazine in a way which places a desired magazine compartment at the disc storage station and means are provided for transferring an information containing disc between that compartment and the disc drive station.

Method of and apparatus for storing and retrieving information

Growing community of inventors

Saratoga, CA, United States of America

Paul M Hug