Adaptive opto-emission imaging device and method thereof

• US 20040005028A1
• Filed: 07/03/2002
• Published: 01/08/2004
• Est. Priority Date: 07/03/2002
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Siemens Medical Solutions USA Incorporated (Siemens AG)
• Original Assignee: Siemens Medical Solutions USA Incorporated (Siemens AG)
• Inventors: Wagenaar, Douglas J., Burckhardt, Darrell D.
• Granted Patent: US 7,030,384 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 378/98.8
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 6/4258 for detecting non x-ray radiation, e.g. gamma radiation A61B6/037 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 6/462 characterised by constructional features of the display
• CPC Class Codes: G01T 1/161 Applications in the field of nuclear medicine, e.g. in vivo counting apparatus for radiation diagnosis A61B6/00
• CPC Class Codes: G01T 1/24 with semiconductor detectors

Abstract

An adaptive opto-emission imaging device includes a detector having a detector face and a back surface. The detector detects radiation emanating from an object positioned in the direction of the detector face, and produces a radiopharmaceutical distribution profile of the detected radiation. An image capturing device such as a video camera provided at the detector face of the detector produces a live visual image of the object. A display device provided at the back surface of the detector displays the radiopharmaceutical distribution profile and/or the live visual image of the object. The adaptive opto-emission imaging device greatly reduces the amount of computation and time to provide real time image guidance, for example to physicians using the device to perform an image-guided surgical procedure.

Claims

1. An adaptive opto-emission imaging device comprising:

a detector having a detector face and a back surface operable to detect radiation emanating from an object positioned in a direction of said detector face, and produce a radiopharmaceutical distribution profile of the detected radiation;

an image capturing device provided at said detector face of said detector operable to produce a live visual image of said object; and

a display device provided at said back surface of said detector for displaying said radiopharmaceutical distribution profile and/or said live visual image of said object.

2. The imaging device of claim 1, wherein said radiopharmaceutical distribution profile includes the shape and location of said detected radiation.

3. The imaging device of claim 1, wherein said detector includes a gamma radiation detector and a short bore collimator.

4. The imaging device of claim 1, wherein said image capturing device includes a video camera and a light source.

5. The imaging device of claim 1, wherein said display device includes a video monitor.

6. The imaging device of claim 5, wherein said video monitor is a color monitor.

7. The imaging device of claim 1, wherein said detector, said image capturing device, and said display device are contained in a housing.

8. The imaging device of claim 1, wherein the displayed image is a combined image of said radiopharmaceutical distribution profile and said live visual image of said object.

9. The imaging device of claim 1, wherein the displayed image is said radiopharmaceutical distribution profile of said object.

10. The imaging device of claim 1, wherein the displayed image is said live visual image of said object.

11. A method of providing a live image of an object obscured by a radiation detector for detecting radiation emanating from within said object, comprising the steps of:

providing a radiation detector for detecting radiation emanating from an object positioned in a direction of a face of said detector;

producing a radiopharmaceutical distribution profile of the detected radiation;

providing an image capturing device on said detector face for producing a live visual image of said object positioned in said direction of said detector face; and

displaying said radiopharmaceutical distribution profile and/or said live visual image of said object on a display mounted to a back surface of said detector opposite said detector face.

12. The method of claim 11, wherein said radiopharmaceutical distribution profile includes the shape and location of said detected radiation.

13. The method of claim 11, wherein the displayed image is a combined image of said radiopharmaceutical distribution profile and said live visual image of said object.

14. The method of claim 11, wherein the displayed image is said radiopharmaceutical distribution profile of said object.

15. The method of claim 11, wherein the displayed image is said live visual image of said object.