Fast dynamic imaging protocol using a multi-head single photon emission computed tomography system

• US 20060000983A1
• Filed: 06/17/2005
• Published: 01/05/2006
• Est. Priority Date: 06/18/2004
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Children's Hospital of Philadelphia (Children's Hospital of Philadelphia Foundation)
• Original Assignee: Children's Hospital of Philadelphia (Children's Hospital of Philadelphia Foundation)
• Inventors: Bal, Girish, Charron, Martin
• Granted Patent: US 7,468,513 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 250/394
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 6/037 Emission tomography
• CPC Class Codes: G01T 1/1641 Static instruments for imaging the distribution of radioactivity in one or two dimensions using one or several scintillating elements; Radio-isotope cameras
• CPC Class Codes: G01T 1/166 involving relative movement between detector and subject scanners in general without using scintigraphy G01T1/2964
• CPC Class Codes: G01T 1/2985 In depth localisation, e.g. using positron emitters; Tomographic imaging (longitudinal and transverse section imaging; apparatus for radiation diagnosis sequentially in different planes, steroscopic radiation diagnosis); using external radiation sources A61B6/02

Abstract

An imaging system for acquiring multi-dimensional tomographic image data of an object, the imaging system having (1) a plurality of detectors to acquire image data, the detectors coupled to a supporting structure, wherein at least one of the detectors is adapted to move relative to the object during image data acquisition and wherein the detectors are adapted to rotate independently of each other, provided that image data from the detectors are collected concomitantly during a study time and (2) a data analyzer adapted to acquire and/or reconstruct the image data.

Claims

1. An imaging system for acquiring multi-dimensional tomographic image data of an object, the imaging system comprising:

a plurality of detectors to acquire image data, said detectors coupled to a supporting structure, wherein at least one of said detectors is adapted to move relative to the object during image data acquisition and wherein said detectors are adapted to rotate independently of each other, provided that image data from said detectors are collected concomitantly during a study time; and

a data analyzer adapted to acquire and/or reconstruct the image data.

2. The imaging system of claim 1, wherein a first detector and a second detector do not maintain a constant angle relative to each other.

3. The imaging system of claim 1, wherein the first detector is positioned stationary in relation to the object to acquire planar two-dimensional data over a first period of time and the second detector is adapted to move relative to the object during image data acquisition to acquire three-dimensional data over a second period of time, provided that image data from the first detector and the second detector are collected concomitantly during the study time.

4. The imaging system of claim 3, wherein the second detector is adapted to move with a variable speed.

5. The imaging system of claim 3, wherein the second detector is adapted to move with a constant speed.

6. The imaging system of claim 3, wherein the second detector has a starting position and a finishing position both located at an angle relative to the first detector, wherein the angle is variable provided that said detectors do not collide.

7. The imaging system of claim 6, wherein the second detector is rotating about the object from the starting position to the finishing position and from the finishing position to the starting position during image data acquisition.

8. The imaging system of claim 7, wherein the second detector is making rotations of about 180 degrees.

9. The imaging system of claim 1, wherein said detectors are gamma ray detectors.

10. The imaging system of claim 1, wherein the multi-dimensional tomographic image data is a composition of planar two-dimensional data and three-dimensional data acquired concomitantly over a period of time.

19. A method of determining a parameter of an object, the method comprising obtaining multi-dimensional tomographic image data using the imaging system of claim 1, provided that the first detector is positioned stationary in relation to the object to acquire planar two-dimensional data over a first period of time and the second detector is adapted to move relative to the object during image data acquisition to acquire three-dimensional data over a second period of time, provided that image data from the first detector and the second detector are collected concomitantly during the study time;

and thereby determining the parameter of the object.

20. The method of claim 19, wherein the three-dimensional data are used to make an attenuation map.

21. The method of claim 19, wherein the parameter is a member selected from the group consisting of a renal filtration rate, a shape, a volume, and a location in a body.

11. A method for obtaining multi-dimensional tomographic image data of an object, the method comprising:

providing the imaging system of claim, wherein the first detector is positioned stationary in relation to the object to acquire planar two-dimensional data over a first period of time and the second detector is adapted to move relative to the object during image data acquisition to acquire three-dimensional data over a second period of time, provided that image data from the first detector and the second detector are collected concomitantly during the study time;

providing the object;

positioning the first detector stationary in relation to the object during data acquisition;

positioning the second detector adjacent to the first detector and rotating the second detector relative to the object during data acquisition; and

concomitantly collecting during a study time planar two-dimensional data acquired over the first period of time by the first detector and three-dimensional data acquired over the second period of time by the second detector; and

thereby obtaining the multi-dimensional tomographic image data.

12. The method of claim 11, wherein the second detector is adapted to move with a variable speed.

13. The method of claim 11, wherein the second detector is adapted to move with a constant speed.

14. The method of claim 11, wherein the second detector has a starting position and a finishing position both located at an angle relative to the first detector, wherein the angle is variable provided that said detectors do not collide.

15. The method of claim 14, wherein the second detector is making rotations of about 180 degrees.

16. The method of claim 14, wherein the second detector rotates from the starting position to the finishing position during the second period of time, wherein the second period of time is less than eight seconds.

17. The method of claim 16, wherein the second period of time is at most one second.

18. The method of claim 11, wherein the object is a member selected from the group consisting of a kidney, a bladder, a pelvis, a bone, a lung, a thyroid, a brain and a heart.