Adjustable dual-detector image data acquisition system

• US 6,184,530 B1
• Filed: 05/23/1991
• Issued: 02/06/2001
• Est. Priority Date: 05/23/1991
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Koninklijke Philips Electronics N.V. (Koninklijke Philips N.V.)
• Original Assignee: Adam Laboratories Inc.
• Inventors: Hug, Paul, Lamp, Mark L., Hines, Horace
• Primary Examiner(s): Hannaher, Constantine
• Application Number:
  US07/704,759
• Time in Patent Office: 3,547 Days
• Field of Search: 250/363.05, 250/363.08, 250/363.1, 250/363.04, 378/209, 378/196
• US Class Current: 250/363.08
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 6/037 Emission tomography
• CPC Class Codes: G01T 1/166 involving relative movement between detector and subject scanners in general without using scintigraphy G01T1/2964

Abstract

The imaging system has two detectors which can be rotated in a circular path about an object with the angular displacement between the detectors and their radial position with respect to the axis being adjustable. Preferably, the distance of the detectors from the lateral axis is adjustable to increase resolution of the system. A gantry has supports for drive gear rings for the detectors with radial motion mechanisms connecting one detector to the interior surface of a drive gear ring and the other to the exterior of its drive gear ring via a support arm. A drive gear and idler gear move one detector along the circular path and a radial drive motor moves the detectors radially with respect to the axis.

Claims

1. An imaging system for acquiring imaging data generated by an object positioned about a lateral axis to form a SPECT image, said system comprising:

first and second gamma ray detectors;

a first pair of rings, oriented substantially perpendicular to and approximately centered on the lateral axis;

a second pair of rings, oriented substantially perpendicular to and centered approximately on said lateral axis

means for coupling said first detector to said first pair of rings, with the first detector pointed toward the lateral axis and disposed between said rings;

means for coupling said second detector to said second pair of rings, with the second detector pointed toward said lateral axis and disposed between said rings; and

means for independently rotating said first pair of rings to adjust the angular displacement, about the lateral axis, between said first and second detectors to a predetermined magnitude.

2. The imaging system of claim 1 further comprising:

means for rotating both said first and second pairs of rings to rotate the detectors about the lateral axis while maintaining a constant angular displacement therebetween.

3. The system of claim 1 wherein:

said means for coupling said first detector to said first pair of rings includes means for moving said first detector toward and away from the lateral axis; and

said means for coupling said second detector to said second pair of rings includes means for moving said second detector toward and away from the lateral axis.

4. An imaging system for acquiring imaging data of an object positioned about a lateral axis to form a SPECT image, said system comprising:

first and second gamma ray detectors;

a first pair of rings, oriented substantially perpendicular to and approximately centered on the lateral axis;

a second pair of rings, oriented substantially perpendicular to and centered approximately on said lateral axis

means for coupling said first detector to said first pair of rings, with the first detector pointed toward the lateral axis and disposed between said rings;

means for coupling said second detector to said second pair of rings, with the second detector pointed toward said lateral axis and disposed between said rings; and

means for rotating said first and second pairs of rings to adjust the angular displacement, relative to the lateral axis, between said first and second detectors to a predetermined magnitude.

5. The system of claim 4 wherein:

said means for coupling said first detector to said first pair of rings includes means for moving said first detector toward and away from the lateral axis; and

said means for coupling said second detector to said second pair of rings includes means for moving said second detector toward and away from the lateral axis.

6. The imaging system of claim 4 further comprising:

means for rotating both said first and second pairs of rings to rotate the detectors about the lateral axis while maintaining a constant angular displacement therebetween.

7. An imaging system for acquiring imaging data generated by an object positioned about a lateral axis, said system comprising:

first and second detectors, with the second detector being narrower than said first detector;

means for rotating said first and second detectors in a circular path approximately centered at said lateral axis and oriented perpendicularly to a lateral axis, with the angular displacement of the detectors fixed at a selected magnitude of about 90°

;

means for moving said detectors toward or away from the lateral axis to decrease the distance between the detectors and the object to be imaged to improve resolution, where the narrower second detector facilitates minimizing the distance between the detectors and the body of a patient oriented along the lateral axis.

8. The system of claim 7 further comprising:

a table for supporting a patient;

means, coupled to said table to support said table and orient said table parallel to said lateral axis, for displacing the table, horizontally and vertically relative to the lateral axis, by a selected distance to increase the resolution of the imaging system.

9. An imaging system for acquiring imaging data generated by an object positioned about a lateral axis, said system comprising:

first and second detectors, with the second detector being narrower than said first detector; and

means for rotating said first and second detectors in a circular path approximately centered at said lateral axis and oriented perpendicularly to a lateral axis, with the angular displacement of the detectors fixed at a selected magnitude of about 90°

.

10. The system of claim 9 further comprising:

a table for supporting a patient;

means, coupled to said table to support said table and orient said table parallel to said lateral axis, for displacing the table, horizontally and vertically relative to the lateral axis, by a selected distance to increase the resolution of the imaging system.

11. An imaging system for acquiring imaging data generated by an object positioned about a lateral axis, said system comprising:

first and second detectors, with the second detector being narrower than the first detector;

means for rotating said first and second detectors in a circular path approximately centered at said lateral axis and oriented substantially perpendicular to a lateral axis with the angular displacement of the detectors fixed at a selected magnitude between 180° and

about 90°

; and

extended collimators, coupled to said first and second detectors and pointed toward said lateral axis, for increasing the resolution of said imaging system.