SYSTEMS AND METHODS FOR HYBRID SCANNING
First Claim
1. A system comprising:
- a detector comprising multiple pixels configured to detect computed tomography (CT) events and nuclear medicine (NM) imaging events, the CT events corresponding to X-rays emitted from a X-ray source through an object to be imaged, the NM imaging events corresponding to gamma rays emitted from a radiopharmaceutical that has been administered to the object, the detector configured for photon counting detection of the CT events and the NM imaging events, wherein the detector is configured to detect the CT events and the NM events concurrently, wherein the detector and the X-ray source are configured to rotate about the object to be imaged;
an asymmetrically disposed cone beam collimator positioned proximate the object and configured to be focused on the X-ray source, wherein the asymmetric cone beam collimator is disposed at a shorter distance from the object than a distance from the X-ray source to the object; and
a processing unit comprising at least one processor and at least one memory comprising a tangible and non-transitory computer readable storage medium, the processing module configured to, based on corresponding energy levels of the CT events and the NM imaging events, identify CT information corresponding to the CT events and identify NM information corresponding to the NM imaging events.
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Accused Products
Abstract
A system includes a detector and a processing unit. The detector includes multiple pixels configured to detect computed tomography (CT) events and nuclear medicine (NM) imaging events. The CT events correspond to X-rays emitted from a X-ray source through an object to be imaged, and the NM imaging events correspond to gamma rays emitted from a radiopharmaceutical that has been administered to the object. The detector is configured for photon counting detection of the CT events and the NM imaging events. The processing unit includes at least one processor and at least one memory comprising a tangible and non-transitory computer readable storage medium. The processing unit is configured to, based on corresponding energy levels of the CT events and the NM imaging events, identify CT information corresponding to the CT events and identify NM information corresponding to the NM imaging events.
154 Citations
20 Claims
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1. A system comprising:
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a detector comprising multiple pixels configured to detect computed tomography (CT) events and nuclear medicine (NM) imaging events, the CT events corresponding to X-rays emitted from a X-ray source through an object to be imaged, the NM imaging events corresponding to gamma rays emitted from a radiopharmaceutical that has been administered to the object, the detector configured for photon counting detection of the CT events and the NM imaging events, wherein the detector is configured to detect the CT events and the NM events concurrently, wherein the detector and the X-ray source are configured to rotate about the object to be imaged; an asymmetrically disposed cone beam collimator positioned proximate the object and configured to be focused on the X-ray source, wherein the asymmetric cone beam collimator is disposed at a shorter distance from the object than a distance from the X-ray source to the object; and a processing unit comprising at least one processor and at least one memory comprising a tangible and non-transitory computer readable storage medium, the processing module configured to, based on corresponding energy levels of the CT events and the NM imaging events, identify CT information corresponding to the CT events and identify NM information corresponding to the NM imaging events. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10)
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11. A method comprising:
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detecting, concurrently, with a detector comprising multiple pixels, computed tomography (CT) events and nuclear medicine (NM) imaging events, the CT events corresponding to X-rays emitted from a X-ray source through an object to be imaged, the NM imaging events corresponding to gamma rays emitted from a radiopharmaceutical that has been administered to the object; rotating the detector, X-ray source, and a cone beam collimator around the object being imaged during the detecting, wherein the cone beam collimator is disposed proximate the object and associated with the detector, wherein the cone beam collimator is asymmetrically disposed at a shorter distance from the object than a distance from the X-ray source to the object; identifying, based on energy levels of the CT events, CT information corresponding to the CT events; and identifying, based on energy levels of the NM imaging events, NM information corresponding to the NM imaging events. - View Dependent Claims (12, 13, 14, 15, 16)
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17. A tangible and non-transitory computer readable medium comprising one or more computer software modules configured to direct one or more processors to:
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obtain, concurrently, from a detector comprising multiple pixels, imaging information corresponding to computed tomography (CT) events and nuclear medicine (NM) imaging events, the CT events corresponding to X-rays emitted from a X-ray source through an object to be imaged, the NM imaging events corresponding to gamma rays emitted from a radiopharmaceutical that has been administered to the object, wherein the detector, X-ray source, and a cone beam collimator are rotated around the object being imaged during detection of the CT events and the NM imaging events, wherein the cone beam collimator is disposed proximate the object and associated with the detector, wherein the cone beam collimator is asymmetrically disposed at a shorter distance from the object than a distance from the X-ray source to the object; identify, based on energy levels of the CT events, CT information corresponding to the CT events; and identify, based on energy levels of the NM imaging events, NM information corresponding to the NM imaging events. - View Dependent Claims (18, 19, 20)
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Specification