The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document.
The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge covers the following: Patent number, Date patent was issued, Date patent was filed, Title of the patent, Applicant, Inventor, Assignee, Attorney firm, Primary examiner, Assistant examiner, CPCs, and Abstract. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document (in Adobe Acrobat format, aka pdf). To download or print any patent click here.
Patent No.:
Date of Patent:
Feb. 23, 2010
Filed:
Dec. 22, 2006
Anton M. Linz, Mukwonago, WI (US);
Chang L. Kim, Waukesha, WI (US);
Jim L. Malaney, Pewaukee, WI (US);
David L. Mcdaniel, Dousman, WI (US);
Robert S. Stormont, Hartland, WI (US);
Ricardo Becerra, Waukesha, WI (US);
Anton M. Linz, Mukwonago, WI (US);
Chang L. Kim, Waukesha, WI (US);
Jim L. Malaney, Pewaukee, WI (US);
David L. McDaniel, Dousman, WI (US);
Robert S. Stormont, Hartland, WI (US);
Ricardo Becerra, Waukesha, WI (US);
General Electric Co., Schenectady, NY (US);
Abstract
A gamma ray detector ring for a combined positron emission tomography (PET) and magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) system is integrated into a radio frequency (RF) coil assembly such that the detector ring is integrated with a RF shield. Each gamma ray detector in the detector ring includes a scintillator component that emits light when a gamma ray is detected and a photodetector component designed to be sensitive to the frequency of light produced by the scintillator. A RF shield may be integrated into a detector ring such that the RF shield is positioned between the scintillator and photodetector components of each detector, thereby saving valuable radial space within the imaging system. Multiple such detector rings may be located adjacent to one another to increase axial coverage and enable three-dimensional PET imaging techniques.