Siemens Medical Systems, Inc.

Siemens Gammasonics, Inc.

Mosaic Imaging Technology, Inc.

Raymond P DeVito

Jianzhong Qian

Dennis E Persyk

Everett W Stoub

Anthony P Del Medico

James R Domnanovich

James J Hamill

Edward J Haines

A tomographic imaging system which images ionizing radiation such as gamma rays or x rays and which: 1) can produce tomographic images without requiring an orbiting motion of the detector(s) or collimator(s) around the object of interest, 2) produces smaller tomographic systems with enhanced system mobility, and 3) is capable of observing the object of interest from sufficiently many directions to allow multiple time-sequenced tomographic images to be produced. The system consists of a plurality of detector modules which are distributed about or around the object of interest and which fully or partially encircle it. The detector modules are positioned close to the object of interest thereby improving spatial resolution and image quality. The plurality of detectors view a portion of the patient or object of interest simultaneously from a plurality of positions. These attributes are achieved by configuring small modular radiation detector with high-resolution collimators in a combination of application-specific acquisition geometries and non-orbital detector module motion sequences composed of tilting, swiveling and translating motions, and combinations of such motions. Various kinds of module geometry and module or collimator motion sequences are possible, and several combinations of such geometry and motion are shown. The geometric configurations may be fixed or variable during the acquisition or between acquisition intervals. Clinical applications of various embodiments of the tomography invention include imaging of the human heart, breast, brain or limbs, or small animals. Methods of using the non-orbiting tomographic imaging system are also included.

Non-orbiting tomographic imaging system

An articulating detector array for gamma cameras is disclosed which is adaptable to perform different imaging techniques in a single apparatus. The articulating detector array is adapted to detect incident gamma radiation from diverse directions as well as Compton scattering thereof without the need of a collimator, as so has improved gamma ray detection efficiency. The detector array includes radiation detectors in an array and movable to a plurality of positions, in which each radiation detector is responsive to gamma radiation from a target for generating detection signals for use in tomographic imaging of the source. The detector array includes articulating support structures for mounting the detectors to the base and for moving the detectors from a first position to a second position. In one embodiment, the articulating support structures includes a first portion connected to a detector; and a second portion connected to the base, in which the first portion is adapted to extend from the second portion from the first position to the second position. In another embodiment, the articulating support structures include a pivot for pivotably mounting the detectors and for rotating the detectors from a first position to a second position.

Articulating detector array for a gamma camera

The long axis of the left ventricle is automatically identified by identifying, and correlating, local minima and maxima in images of slices of the left ventricle. Initially, the left ventricle is identified within a representative transverse slice of the left ventricle. The centerline of this slice is automatically computed and used as a reorientation axis, along which another (sagittal) slice of the left ventricle is reconstructed. The centerline of this sagittal slice is automatically computed, and is the long axis of the left ventricle. The accuracy of this identification is confirmed by reconstructing oblique transverse slices of the left ventricle and verifying that their centers are coincident.

Automatic identification of the long axis of the left ventricle from

Light emitting diodes (LEDs) at fixed locations are placed at the entrance face of the scintillator within the detector head of a scintillation camera system. By energizing the LEDs, surrogate scintillation events may be generated and processed by the scintillation camera system. Information thus acquired can be used to maintain the photodetectors in a well-tuned state, to identify baseline shifts in the preamplifier channels and to determine system deadtime.

Method and apparatus for producing and utilizing flashes of light which

A multi-isotope study is carried out using a plurality of imaging agents which are imaged simultaneously. The information obtained is weighted using as many energy weighting functions as there are isotopes. The weighting reduces 'crosstalk' between each of the single-isotope images which are produced as a result of the study. This produces improved results in, for example, dual-isotope (Tc-99m and Tl-201) myocardial perfusion studies.

Multi-isotope imaging using energy-weighted acquisition for, e.g.,

Upon the detection of a scintillation event at an event pixel, a plurality of associated pixels are identified. Weights are assigned to the event pixel and to all of the associated pixels in such a manner as to attribute the event over an area in a statistically accurate manner. A current sum of all weights which have been previously assigned to each pixel is stored. Unblank signals are generated, based upon this current sum, and the current sum is updated to account for the number of unblank signals so generated.

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Palatine, IL, United States of America

Raymond P DeVito