METHOD AND SYSTEM OF OPTIMIZED VOLUMETRIC IMAGING

• US 20110026685A1
• Filed: 06/03/2010
• Published: 02/03/2011
• Est. Priority Date: 07/29/2009
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Spectrum Dynamics Medical Ltd
• Original Assignee: Spectrum Dynamics LLC
• Inventors: ROTH, Nathaniel, BEN-HAIM, Shlomo, ROUSSO, Benny, ZILBERSTEIN, Yoel
• Granted Patent: US 8,338,788 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 378/197
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 6/037 Emission tomography
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 6/04 Positioning of patients; Tiltable beds or the like operating tables A61G13/00; operating chairs A61G15/00
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 6/42 Arrangements for detecting radiation specially adapted for radiation diagnosis
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 6/4258 for detecting non x-ray radiation, e.g. gamma radiation A61B6/037 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 6/4266 characterised by using a plurality of detector units A61B6/4014 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 6/507 for determination of haemodynamic parameters, e.g. perfusion CT
• CPC Class Codes: G01T 1/1611 using both transmission and emission sources sequentially 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 1/1635 involving relative movement between detector and subject; scanning beds profile scanning G01T1/166; positioning patients, tiltable tables for radiation diagnosis A61B6/04
• CPC Class Codes: G01T 1/1644 using an array of optically separate scintillation elements permitting direct location of scintillations G01T1/1645 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: G21K 1/02 using diaphragms, collimators

Abstract

A system of performing a volumetric scan. The system comprises a surface of positioning a patient in a space parallel thereto, a plurality of extendable detector arms each the detector arm having a detection unit having at least one radiation detector, and an actuator which moves the detection unit along a linear path, and a gantry which supports the plurality of extendable detector arms around the surface so that each the linear path of each respective the extendable detector arm being directed toward the space.

Claims

1. A system of performing a volumetric scan, comprising:

a surface of positioning a patient in a space parallel thereto;

a plurality of extendable detector arms each said detector arm having;

a detection unit having at least one radiation detector, and

an actuator which moves said detection unit along a linear path; and

a gantry which supports said plurality of extendable detector arms around said surface so that each said linear path of each respective said extendable detector arm being directed toward said space.

2. The system of claim 1, further comprising a controller for controlling each said actuator to move a respective said detection unit along said linear path according to a scanning pattern.

3. The system of claim 1, wherein said detection unit comprises a tilting mechanism for tilting said at least one radiation detector in a sweeping motion.

4. The system of claim 1, wherein said gantry is configured for radially disposing said plurality of extendable detector arms along an arch above said surface.

5. The system of claim 1, wherein said at least one radiation detector comprises at least one nuclear medicine (NM) detector.

6. The system of claim 1, wherein each said extendable detector arm comprises an X-ray radiation source and said at least one radiation detector being set to intercept a reflection of X-ray radiation emitted from said X-ray radiation source.

7. The system of claim 6, wherein said X-ray radiation source is part of said detection unit.

8. The system of claim 6, wherein said at least one radiation detector intercepts both said reflection and Gamma ray radiation emitted from the body of said patient.

9. The system of claim 6, wherein each said detection unit operates both in a photon counting mode and in a flux measurement mode.

10. The system of claim 1, wherein said gantry rotates said plurality of extendable detector arms around the body of said patient.

11. The system of claim 1, wherein said surface is at least one of a horizontal surface or a vertical surface embedded with a plurality of additional radiation detectors.

12. The system of claim 1, wherein said surface is at least one of a bed, a chair and a wall.

13. The system of claim 2, wherein at least one of said plurality of detection units comprises a proximity detector which estimates a distance between a tip of a respective said extendable detector arm and the body of said patient, said controller controls each respective said actuator according to respective said distance.

14. The system of claim 2, wherein at least one of said plurality of detection units comprises a pressure detector which estimates a pressure applied on the body of said patient by a tip of a respective said extendable detector arm, said controller controls each respective said actuator according to respective said pressure.

15. The system of claim 1, wherein at least one of said plurality of detection units comprises an attenuation correction detector which captures additional radiation emitted from the body of said patient to correct a reconstruction of a volumetric image by radiation intercepted by respective said at least one radiation detector.

16. The system of claim 15, wherein said attenuation correction detector is an ultrasonic (US) transducer.

17. The system of claim 2, further comprising a breathing detector which monitors thoracic movements of said patient, said controller controls at least one of said plurality of actuators according to said monitoring.

18. The system of claim 1, wherein said linear path extends from a plane defined by said gantry.

19. The system of claim 1, wherein said linear path is diagonal to said surface.

20. The system of claim 2, wherein said actuator rotates each said detection unit around an axis parallel to a respective said linear path.

21. The system of claim 1, further comprising at least one additional gantry each supports a plurality of extendable detector arms around said surface in a similar manner to the manner said gantry supports said plurality of extendable detector arms.

22. The system of claim 2, wherein the tips of said plurality of extendable detector arms and said plurality of extendable detector arms are extended toward a common axial plane of the body of said patient.

23. The system of claim 1, further comprising at least one tilting motor which tilts at least one of said plurality of extendable detector arms in relation to said gantry.

24. The system of claim 1, wherein each said detection unit comprises an array of a plurality of radiation detectors, each set to move in sweeping motion.

25. A method of performing a volumetric scan, comprising:

a) providing a surface of positioning a patient in a space parallel thereto;

b) linearly moving a plurality of detection units, each having at least one radiation detector, from a plurality of distinct locations along a framework around said surface toward a plurality of points each at a less than a predefined distance from the body of the patient;

c) intercepting radiation from said patient using each said at least one radiation detector; and

d) reconstructing a volumetric image of at least one part of said patient'"'"'s body according to said radiation.

26. The method of claim 25, further comprising radially disposing plurality of detection units to a plurality of new locations and repeating said c) and d) from said plurality of new locations.

27. The method of claim 25, wherein said plurality of points comprises a plurality of points of contact with the body of said patient.

28. The method of claim 25, wherein said plurality of points comprises a plurality of points of proximity from said body, each said point of proximity being at a distance of less than 5 cm from said body.

29. The method of claim 25, wherein said plurality of distinct locations are at least 5 cm from one another.

30. The method of claim 25, wherein said intercepting comprises tilting each said at least one radiation detector in sweeping motion at said point of contact.

31. The method of claim 25, further comprising selecting a group of said plurality of detection units according to a dimension of the body of said patient, said linearly moving comprising linearly moving only members said group.

32. The method of claim 25, wherein said linearly moving comprises, for each said detection unit, detecting a distance from the body of said patient and linearly moving respective said radiation detector according to said distance.

33. The method of claim 25, wherein said linearly moving comprises, using an actuator to move said detection unit toward the body of said patient until a pressure applied by said actuator is above a threshold.

34. The method of claim 25, wherein said linearly moving comprises monitoring breathing of said patient and controlling said linear motion according to said monitoring.

35. The system of claim 25, further comprising changing at least one of emission and orientation of said plurality of detection units so as to increase the resolution of said volumetric image in at least one region of interest in relation to other regions of said volumetric image and repeating said b)-d).

36. A system of performing a volumetric scan, comprising:

a surface of positioning a patient in a space parallel thereto;

a plurality of radiation detectors embedded in said surface and set to intercept radiation emitted from of at least one part of said patient'"'"'s body; and

a reconstruction module which reconstructs a volumetric image of said at least one part according to said intercepted radiation.

37. The system of claim 36, further comprising of actuating unit for actuating said plurality of radiation detectors according to a scanning pattern.

38. The system of claim 36, further comprising a gantry which supports a plurality of additional radiation detectors above said surface, said additional radiation detectors are set to intercept additional radiation emitted from of said at least one part, said reconstruction module reconstructs said volumetric image according to a combination of said intercepted radiation and said intercepted additional radiation.