Gamma camera

• US 20040075058A1
• Filed: 10/22/2002
• Published: 04/22/2004
• Est. Priority Date: 10/22/2002
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: ELGEMS Ltd
• Original Assignee: ELGEMS Ltd
• Inventors: Blevis, Ira, Tsukerman, Leonid, Hefetz, Yaron
• Granted Patent: US 6,906,330 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 250/370.09
• CPC Class Codes: G01T 1/1642 using a scintillation crystal and position sensing photodetector arrays, e.g. ANGER cameras

Abstract

A hand, gamma camera system for generating an image of a gamma radiation source, said camera comprising a housing designed to be hand held, a gamma radiation image detector mounted on or in said housing that generates detection data responsive to radiation data from a gamma source incident on said radiation detector, a controller connected to said radiation detector that receives said detection data and generates image data and a display mounted on or in said housing that receives said image data from said controller and generates an image.

Claims

1. A hand gamma camera system for generating an image of a gamma radiation source, said camera comprising:

(a) a housing designed to be hand held;

(b) a gamma radiation image detector mounted on or in said housing that generates detection data responsive to radiation data from a gamma source incident on said radiation detector;

(c) a controller that receives said detection data and generates image data; and

(d) a display mounted on or in said housing that receives said image data from said controller and generates an image.

2. A gamma camera according to claim 1 wherein said controller is in or on said housing.

3. A gamma camera according to claim 1 wherein said controller is remote from said housing.

4. A gamma camera according to claim 1 wherein said camera comprises a fixed focus collimator having a predetermined focal distance that focuses the gamma camera image substantially at the focal distance from the gamma camera.

5. A gamma camera according to claim 4 wherein said source is located within a three-dimensional body with a surface and said camera comprises a transducer that senses the distance of said camera in relation to said surface.

8. A gamma camera according to claim 1 wherein said camera is provided with a self-contained power supply that supplies power to said camera.

9. A gamma camera according to claim 1 wherein said display provides an image in real time.

10. A gamma camera according to claim 1 wherein said controller is operable to provide image data at a plurality of resolutions to said display.

11. A gamma camera according to claim 10 wherein an operator-operated resolution control, controls said image data resolution provided by said controller to said display.

12. A gamma camera according to claim 1 wherein said camera comprises a position transponder that provides position data of said camera, to said display.

13. A gamma camera according to claim 1 wherein said camera comprises a position transponder that provides orientation data of said camera, to said display.

14. A gamma camera according to claim 12, wherein an operator-operated control on said housing causes said position transponder to provide at least one of said position information and orientation information to said display.

17. A gamma camera according to claim 1 wherein said image detector comprises solid state circuit radiation detectors.

18. A gamma camera according to claim 1 wherein said image detector comprises miniature PMT'"'"'s.

19. A gamma camera according to claim 1 wherein said display is adapted to move in relation to said housing.

20. A gamma camera according to claim 1 comprising a handle extending from said housing.

21. A gamma camera according to claim 20 comprising a moveable articulation between said handle and said housing.

6. A gamma camera according to claim S wherein said controller is responsive to said transducer and provides at least one of the following distances on said display,

the camera focal length;

the distance between said gamma source and said tissue surface; and

the distance of said camera in relation to said surface.

7. A gamma camera according to claim 6 wherein an operator-operated distance control causes said display to display at least one of said distances.

15. A gamma camera according to claim 7 wherein said operator-operated controls are attached to said camera.

16. A gamma camera according to claim 7 wherein said operator-operated controls are remote from said camera.

22. A gamma detection system apparatus comprising:

a) a controller

b) a gamma radiation imaging detector that provides image data to the controller, said data being detected from a gamma radiation source within a body having a surface;

c) a fixed focus collimator having a predetermined focal distance through which the detector views the gamma source; and

d) a transducer that determines the distance of said detector or collimator from said surface and generates distance data to said controller.

23. A gamma detection apparatus according to claim 22 wherein at least said detector is adapted to be held in a hand.

24. A gamma detection apparatus according to claim 22 wherein at least said detector is adapted to be portable.

25. A gamma detection apparatus according to claim 22 wherein at least one display is connected to said controller.

26. A gamma detection apparatus according to claim 25 wherein said at least one display is mounted on said detector.

27. A gamma detection apparatus according to claim 25 wherein said at least one display is separate from said detector.

28. A gamma detection apparatus according to claim 25 wherein said at least one display displays at least one of the following the camera focal length;

the distance between said gamma source and said tissue surface; and

the distance of said camera in relation to said surface.

29. A gamma detection apparatus according to claim 28 wherein an operator-operated control causes said at least one display to display at least one of said distances.

30. A gamma detection apparatus according to claim 29 wherein said operator-operated control is attached to said detector.

31. A gamma detection apparatus according to claim 29 wherein said operator-operated control is remote from said detector.

32. A method of gamma-radiation imaging, comprising:

(a) imaging a region containing gamma-emitting material using a gamma radiation detector through a fixed focus collimator having a fixed focal length;

(b) providing said image on a display;

(c) moving said detector closer to, or further from, said material until said image fills said display;

d) determining the distance of the detector to a surface enclosing said material; and

e) calculating the distance of said gamma-emitting material from said surface, based upon said determined distance and said focal length.

33. A method of gamma-radiation imaging according to claim 32, wherein said calculating comprises subtracting said measured distance from the focal distance associated with said fixed focus collimator.

34. A method of gamma-radiation imaging according to claim 32, wherein said determining comprises sending and receiving a signal to and from said enclosing surface.

35. A method of gamma-radiation imaging according to claim 32, wherein said distance determination is displayed said display.

36. A method for gamma radiation imaging according to claim 32, comprising:

(a) determining the velocity of said detector in relation to said gamma emitting material;

(b) processing said image information to provide adjusted image data at a pixel resolution that maximizes features of said image, consonant with said velocity, and

(c) displaying an image of gamma emitting material based on said adjusted image data at said pixel resolution on said display.