High performance positron camera
First Claim
1. A PET camera for imaging objects, the camera comprising:
- a plurality of gamma radiation detectors forming a substantially right cylindrical array and disposable about an object to be imaged, said radiation detectors further disposed on a plurality of separable sectors comprising said substantially right cylindrical array, each sector similar in form to a right longitudinal section of said substantially right cylindrical array, and each sector having opposing arcuate and straight edges;
attachments for securing said sectors to each other along said arcuate edges and straight edges; and
removable collimators inserted within said substantially right cylindrical array, said collimators comprising a plurality of substantially parallel planar rings, each ring having an inside contour having varying cross-sections so dimensioned to substantially conform to exterior surfaces of an object to be imaged.
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Accused Products
Abstract
The invention relates to methods and apparatus for cameras for gamma radiation, including cameras for positron emission tomography (PET). Included in the invention are cameras having radiation detector arrays splittable into sections, which then may be used to extend the axial field-of-view in a two-dimensional mode. Individual array sections may be equipped with collimators. Additionally, splittable PET cameras having detector arrays approximately one-fourth the diameter of conventional whole-body PET cameras are disclosed as having insertable conformal collimators comprising stacks of planar rings. The inner contours of the planar rings are adapted to accept objects to be imaged in the camera and to closely conform to the objects'"'"'surface contours.
60 Citations
27 Claims
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1. A PET camera for imaging objects, the camera comprising:
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a plurality of gamma radiation detectors forming a substantially right cylindrical array and disposable about an object to be imaged, said radiation detectors further disposed on a plurality of separable sectors comprising said substantially right cylindrical array, each sector similar in form to a right longitudinal section of said substantially right cylindrical array, and each sector having opposing arcuate and straight edges; attachments for securing said sectors to each other along said arcuate edges and straight edges; and removable collimators inserted within said substantially right cylindrical array, said collimators comprising a plurality of substantially parallel planar rings, each ring having an inside contour having varying cross-sections so dimensioned to substantially conform to exterior surfaces of an object to be imaged. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11)
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12. A splittable PET camera for objects to be imaged, the camera comprising
a plurality of radiation detectors forming a substantially right cylindrical array; -
said radiation detectors further disposed on pairs of sectors of said cylindrical array, each sector being similar in form to a right longitudinal section of said cylindrical array, each sector of each pair being of substantially equal size, and each sector having opposing arcuate and straight edges; means for attaching said sectors together along said straight edges to form said substantially right cylindrical array; wherein said sectors are disposable in pairs symmetrically diametrically opposed in said substantially right cylindrical array about an object to be imaged; and removable collimators inserted within said substantially right cylindrical array, said collimators comprising a plurality of substantially parallel planar rings, each ring having an inside contour with varying cross-sections so dimensioned to substantially conform to exterior surfaces of an object to be imaged. - View Dependent Claims (13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21)
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22. A method of converting a tomographic PET camera to a two-dimensional camera, the method comprising
providing a tomographic PET camera, '"'"'s aid camera having a plurality of gamma radiation detectors arrayed as a right cylinder; -
rearranging said detectors into curved, open planar detector arrays; and positioning said planar detector arrays for coincidence detection of gamma radiation from a radiation source between said arrays. - View Dependent Claims (23)
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24. A PET camera for imaging objects, the camera comprising:
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a plurality of gamma radiation detectors forming a substantially right cylindrical array and disposable about an object to be imaged; and a removable collimator comprising a plurality of substantially parallel planar rings, each ring having an inside contour and being insertable within said substantially right cylindrical array of radiation detectors, the inside contours of said plurality of rings having varying cross-sections so dimensioned to substantially conform to exterior surfaces of an object to be imaged. - View Dependent Claims (25, 26, 27)
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Specification