Radioimaging

• US 20080128626A1
• Filed: 10/31/2007
• Published: 06/05/2008
• Est. Priority Date: 11/09/2004
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Spectrum Dynamics Medical Ltd
• Original Assignee: Spectrum Dynamics LLC
• Inventors: Rousso, Benny, Ben-Haim, Shlomo, Vallabhajosula, Shankar, Dickman, Dalia, Nagler, Michael, Zilberstein, Yoel, Melman, Haim, Ravhon, Ran, Bronshtine, Zohar, Ziv, Omer, Berman, Daniel, Weissberg, Nir, Ben-Haim, Simona, Dichterman, Eli, Roth, Nathaniel, Popper, Ziv
• Granted Patent: US 8,606,349 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 250/362
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/06 Devices, other than using radiation, for detecting or locating foreign bodies for removing same A61B17/50 ; determining position of probes within or on the body of the patient
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/415 the glands, e.g. tonsils, adenoids or thymus
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/416 the spleen
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/418 lymph vessels, ducts or nodes
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/7285 for synchronising or triggering a physiological measurement or image acquisition with a physiological event or waveform, e.g. an ECG signal A61B6/5205, A61B6/541, A61B8/5207, A61B8/543 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 6/037 Emission tomography
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 6/425 using detectors specially adapted to be used in the interior of the body
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 6/4258 for detecting non x-ray radiation, e.g. gamma radiation A61B6/037 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 6/4291 the detector being combined with a grid or grating
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 6/488 involving pre-scan acquisition
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 6/501 for diagnosis of the head, e.g. neuroimaging or craniography
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 6/502 for diagnosis of breast, i.e. mammography
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 6/507 for determination of haemodynamic parameters, e.g. perfusion CT
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 6/541 involving acquisition triggered by a physiological signal
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 6/547 involving tracking of position of the device or parts of the device
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 6/548 Remote control of the apparatus or devices
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 6/583 using calibration phantoms
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 8/0825 for diagnosis of the breast, e.g. mammography
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 8/12 in body cavities or body tracts, e.g. by using catheters catheters per se A61M25/00
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 8/4416 related to combined acquisition of different diagnostic modalities, e.g. combination of ultrasound and X-ray acquisitions
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 8/543 : involving acquisition triggered by a physiological signal
• CPC Class Codes: G01R 33/481 : MR combined with positron emission tomography [PET] or single photon emission computed tomography [SPECT]
• CPC Class Codes: G01T 1/1615 : using both transmission and emission sources simultaneously SPECT imaging G01T1/1642; PET imaging G01T1/2985; detecting prohibited goods, e.g. weapons, explosives, hazardous substances, contraband or smuggled objects G01V5/20
• CPC Class Codes: G01T 1/1642 : using a scintillation crystal and position sensing photodetector arrays, e.g. ANGER cameras
• 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

Radioimaging methods, devices and radiopharmaceuticals therefor.

Claims

1. A method of imaging, comprising:

(a) providing a PET-type isotope in a body;

(b) receiving radiation from said body using a non-coincident radiation camera; and

(c) reconstructing a 3D distribution of said isotope from said received radiation.

2. A method according to claim 1, wherein said isotope is selected from the group consisting of F-18, C-11, N-13, O-15, Rb-82, Cu-62, and Ga-68.

3. A method according to claim 2, wherein F-18-Fluorodeoxyglucose (FDG) is used as a substrate for hexokinase in glucose metabolism, for the study of glucose metabolism of cells including one or more of tumor, heart and brain cells.

4. A method according to claim 2, wherein F-18-Fluorodeoxyglucose (FDG) is used for imaging of one or both of hypoxia and oxidative metabolism for radiotherapy treatment planning,

5. A method according to claim 4, wherein C-11-Methionine is used to target amino acid synthesis, for imaging brain tumors.

6. A method of imaging, comprising:

(a) providing an isotope in a body;

(b) receiving radiation generated by said isotope from said body using a non-coincident radiation camera;

(c) reconstructing a distribution of said isotope from said received radiation; and

(d) investigating the biology of at least one molecular event in a living cell in vivo using said image.

7. A method according to claim 6, wherein said distribution is a 3D distribution.

8. A method according to claim 6, wherein said reconstructing comprises reconstructing a useful image from an isotope concentration of less than 1E-10 Moles in 1 gr of tissue

9. A method according to claim 6, wherein investigating comprises determining a level of one or more of gene expression, mRNA expression and protein expression.

10. A method of imaging, comprising:

(a) providing a beta emitting isotope in a body;

(b) receiving radiation generated by said beta emissions from said body using a non-coincident radiation camera; and

(c) reconstructing a 3D distribution of said isotope from said received radiation.

11. A method according to claim 10, wherein said isotope is selected from a group consisting of Sm-153, I-131, Cu-67, Lu-177, and Sn-117m.

12. A method of functional imaging, comprising:

(a) administering a radiopharmaceutical selected from the group consisting of Tc-99m-sestamibi, Tc-99m-teboroxime and Tl-201-thallous chloride to a patient;

(b) imaging said patient using one or both of a low dose protocol in which dosage is lower by at least a factor of 3 from standard and a fast protocol in which acquisition time is shorter by at least a factor of 3 of standard.

13. A method according to claim 12, wherein said imaging comprises dynamic imaging of an organ of the patient.

14. A method according to claim 12, wherein said imaging comprises simultaneous of at least one additional radiopharmaceutical in the patient.

15. A method of imaging, comprising:

(a) providing an isotope at a low dosage in a body;

(b) receiving radiation generated by said isotope from said body using a radiation camera; and

(c) reconstructing a 3D distribution of said isotope from said received radiation,

wherein the dosage is less than ⅓

of an acceptable standard dose.

16. A method according to claim 15, wherein the dosage is less than 1/10 of an acceptable standard dose.

17. A method according to claim 15, wherein the receiving comprises receiving for acquiring data of at least the same quality and type as a standard protocol for the standard dose.

18. A low dose radiopharmaceutical packaged in a form of less than ⅓

of a standard acceptable dosage.

19. A method of dose optimization, comprising, modifying an imaging protocol using a radiopharmaceutical so that a total dose required will be reduced to below a predetermined radiation level.

21. A method according to claim 19, wherein modifying comprises increasing an imaging time, to a value less than required in a standard protocol.

20. A method according to 29.4 wherein said level is a dose equivalent of 2.5 mrem or less per kg body weight.

22. A method of imaging, comprising:

(a) providing an isotope with a gamma decay scheme of low abundance in a body;

(b) receiving radiation generated by said isotope from said body using a non-coincident radiation camera; and

(c) reconstructing a 3D distribution of said isotope from said received radiation.

23. A method according to claim 22, wherein said abundance is about or less than about 10%,

24. A method according to claim 22, wherein said isotopes are selected from a group consisting of Cu-67, Lu-177 and Sm-153.

25. A method of imaging, comprising:

(a) providing an isotope with a long half-life of greater than 8 days in a body;

(b) receiving radiation generated by said isotope from said body using a non-coincident radiation camera; and

(c) reconstructing a 3D distribution of said isotope from said received radiation.

26. A method according to claim 25, wherein said isotope is selected from a group consisting of I-131 and Sn-117m.

27. A method of radioactive imaging, comprising:

(a) providing a conformable radiation camera;

(b) identifying a body contour adjacent a target area of interest;

(c) conforming said camera to said contour, to be within 5 centimeters of said body.

28. A method according to claim 27, comprising selecting at least one view to utilize said conforming.

29. A method according to claim 27, wherein said camera includes an actuator for movement thereof.

30. A method according to claim 27, wherein said camera includes an actuator for said conforming.

31. A method according to claim 27, wherein said camera includes a plurality of detectors that are moved relative to each other for said conforming.