Structured detectors and detector systems for radiation imaging

• US 10,509,135 B2
• Filed: 02/01/2018
• Issued: 12/17/2019
• Est. Priority Date: 09/09/2016
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Minnesota Imaging and Engineering LLC
• Original Assignee: Minnesota Imaging and Engineering LLC
• Inventors: Nelson, Robert Sigurd, Nelson, William Bert
• Primary Examiner(s): Porta, David P
• Assistant Examiner(s): Gutierrez, Gisselle M
• Application Number:
  US15/886,371
• Publication Number:
  US 20180172847A1
• Time in Patent Office: 684 Days
• Field of Search: 378 19, 25039303
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 6/025 Tomosynthesis
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 6/032 Transmission computed tomography [CT]
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 6/035 Mechanical aspects of CT
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 6/037 Emission tomography
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 6/0492 using markers or indicia for aiding patient positioning
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 6/4085 Cone-beams
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 6/4208 characterised by using a particular type of detector
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 6/4258 for detecting non x-ray radiation, e.g. gamma radiation A61B6/037 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 6/4417 related to combined acquisition of different diagnostic modalities
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 6/4435 the source unit and the detector unit being coupled by a rigid structure
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 2223/108 positrons; electron-positron annihilation
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 2223/419 computed tomograph
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 2223/505 scintillation
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 23/046 using tomography, e.g. computed tomography [CT]
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 23/2255 using incident ion beams, e.g. proton beams
• CPC Class Codes: G01T 1/20181 Stacked detectors, e.g. for measuring energy and positional information using a combination of different types of scintillation detectors, e.g. phoswich detectors, G01T1/2008
• CPC Class Codes: G01T 1/20182 Modular detectors, e.g. tiled scintillators or tiled photodiodes stacked detectors G01T1/20181
• CPC Class Codes: G01T 1/20183 Arrangements for preventing or correcting crosstalk, e.g. optical or electrical arrangements for correcting crosstalk
• CPC Class Codes: G01T 1/20184 Detector read-out circuitry, e.g. for clearing of traps, compensating for traps or compensating for direct hits
• CPC Class Codes: G01T 1/20185 Coupling means between the photodiode and the scintillator, e.g. optical couplings using adhesives with wavelength-shifting fibres
• CPC Class Codes: G01T 1/2019 : Shielding against direct hits
• CPC Class Codes: G01T 1/22 : with Cerenkov detectors

Abstract

Detector module designs for radiographic imaging include first and second layers of scintillator rods or pixel arrays oriented in first and second directions. The first and second directions are transversely oriented to define a light sharing region between the first and second layers. Encoding features may be disposed in, on or between the first and second layers, and configured to modulate propagation of optical signals therealong or therebetween.

Claims

1. A PET detector system comprising:

a first detector subsystem comprising a first plurality of detector modules configured in a ring, the first subsystem of detector modules adapted to generate first output characterizing radiation incident thereon;

a second detector subsystem comprising a second plurality of detector modules, the second subsystem of detector modules adapted to generate second output characterizing radiation incident thereon; and

imaging electronics configured to convert the first and second output into PET images of first and second regions of a body, respectively;

wherein each of the detector subsystems comprises a first layer of scintillator elements extending in a first direction, a second layer of scintillator elements extending in a second direction, and an intermediate layer defined between the first and second layers, the intermediate layer configured to modulate light sharing between the first layer of scintillator elements and the second layer of scintillator elements.

2. The PET detector system of claim 1, wherein the second subsystem of detector modules is configured in a second ring.

3. The PET detector system of claim 1, wherein the second subsystem of detector modules is configured in a non-ring geometry.

4. The PET detector system of claim 1, further comprising at least a third detector subsystem comprising a third plurality of detector modules, the third subsystem of detector modules adapted to generate third output characterizing radiation incident thereon and the imaging electronics further configured to convert the third output into PET images of a third region of the body.

5. The PET detector system of claim 4, wherein the third subsystem of detector modules is configured in a third ring.

6. The PET detector system of claim 4, wherein the third subsystem of detector modules is configured in a non-ring geometry.

7. The PET detector system of claim 1, wherein at least some of the detector modules are curved or arcuate to provide a focused geometry with respect to the respective incident radiation.

8. The PET detector system of claim 1, wherein the body is a patient.

9. The PET detector system of claim 8, wherein the first subsystem of detector modules is disposed to generate the PET images of a head region of the patient and the second subsystem of detector modules is disposed to generate the PET images of a chest region of the patient.

10. The PET detector system of claim 8, wherein one or more of the subsystems of detector modules are disposed to generate whole body PET images of the patient.

11. The PET detector system of claim 1, wherein each subsystem of detector modules is adapted to generate the respective output independently, the imaging electronics being configured to generate the respective images for each subsystem absent the output from any other of the subsystems.

12. The PET detector system of claim 1, wherein the subsystems of detector modules are adapted to generate the respective output in cooperation, the imaging electronics being configured to generate the respective images for at least one of the subsystems based at least in part on the output from at least one other of the subsystems.

13. The PET detector system of claim 1, further comprising shielding configured to at least partially block the radiation incident from propagating between the subsystems.

14. The PET detector system of claims 1, wherein the imaging electronics are further configured to convert one or more of the outputs into SPECT images of the respective region of the body.

15. A method of operating a PET detector system, the method comprising:

generating first output with a first detector subsystem comprising a first plurality of detector modules configured in a ring, the first subsystem of detector modules adapted to generate the first output characterizing radiation incident thereon;

generating second output with a second detector subsystem comprising a second plurality of detector modules, the second subsystem of detector modules adapted to generate the second output characterizing radiation incident thereon; and

generating PET images of a body with imaging electronics configured to convert the first and second output into the PET images of first and second regions of the body, respectively;

wherein each of the detector subsystems comprises a first layer of scintillator elements extending in a first direction, a second layer of scintillator elements extending in a second direction, and an intermediate layer defined between the first and second layers, the intermediate layer configured to modulate light sharing between the first layer of scintillator elements and the second layer of scintillator elements.

16. The method of claim 15, wherein the body is a patient.

17. The method of claim 16, further comprising:

generating the PET images of a head region and a chest region of the patient;

wherein the first subsystem of detector modules is disposed to generate the PET images of the head region of the patient; and

wherein the second subsystem of detector modules is disposed to generate the PET images of the chest region of the patient.

18. The method of claim 17, further comprising:

generating whole body PET images of the patient;

wherein one or more of the subsystems of detector modules are disposed to generate the whole body PET images of the patient.

19. The method of claim 15, further comprising:

each of the first and second subsystems of detector modules generating the respective first and second output independently;

wherein the imaging electronics is configured to generate the respective images of the first and second regions of the patient for each subsystem absent the output from the other of the subsystems.

20. The method of claim 15, further comprising:

the first and second subsystems of detector modules generating the first and second output in cooperation;

wherein the imaging electronics is configured to generate the respective image of at least one of the first and second region of the patient for the respective subsystem based at least in part on the output from the other of the subsystems.