Single photon emission computed tomography system
First Claim
1. A single photon emission computed tomography system for producing multiple tomographic images of the type representing a three-dimensional distribution of a photon-emitting radioisotope, said system comprising:
- a base including a patient support for supporting a patient such that a portion of the patient is located in a field of view, a longitudinal axis being defined through the field of view;
a generally arcuate detector assembly adjacent to the field of view, said detector assembly extending generally arcuately at least partially about the field of view between a first end and a second end, said first and second ends being spaced apart so as to define an entry opening to the field of view, the detector assembly comprising a plurality of photon-responsive detectors arranged along the arcuate detector assembly, each detector being operable to detect if a photon strikes the detector;
a collimating assembly including at least two spaced apart collimating vanes of photon-attenuating material, each of said vanes being disposed between said detectors and the field of view;
a generally arcuate photon-blocking member disposed between the field of view and said detectors, said blocking member having a plurality of aperture slots defined therethrough at intervals along said member for passage of photons aligned with said aperture slots, a line of response for each of said detectors being defined from said detector through the nearest of said aperture slots; and
a displacement actuator operable to move said photon-blocking member relative to said detectors such that said aperture slots are displaced relative to said detectors and said lines of response are swept across at least a portion of the field of view.
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Accused Products
Abstract
A single photon emission computed tomography system produces multiple tomographic images of the type representing a three-dimensional distribution of a photon-emitting radioisotope. The system has a base including a patient support for supporting a patient such that a portion of the patient is located in a field of view. A longitudinal axis is defined through the field of view. A generally arcuate detector assembly is adjacent the field of view. The detector assembly extends generally arcuately at least partially about the field of view between a pair of ends. The ends are spaced apart so as to define an entry opening to the field of view. The detector assembly includes a plurality of photon-responsive detectors arranged along the arcuate detector assembly, with each detector being operable to detect if a photon strikes the detector. A generally arcuate photon-blocking member is positioned between the field of view and the detectors. The blocking member has a plurality of aperture slots defined therethrough at intervals along the member for passage of photons aligned with the aperture slots. A line of response for each of the detectors is defined from each detector through the nearest of the aperture slots. A displacement actuator moves the photon-blocking member relative to the detectors such that the aperture slots are displaced relative to the detectors and the lines of response are swept across at least a portion of the field of view.
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Citations
26 Claims
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1. A single photon emission computed tomography system for producing multiple tomographic images of the type representing a three-dimensional distribution of a photon-emitting radioisotope, said system comprising:
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a base including a patient support for supporting a patient such that a portion of the patient is located in a field of view, a longitudinal axis being defined through the field of view;
a generally arcuate detector assembly adjacent to the field of view, said detector assembly extending generally arcuately at least partially about the field of view between a first end and a second end, said first and second ends being spaced apart so as to define an entry opening to the field of view, the detector assembly comprising a plurality of photon-responsive detectors arranged along the arcuate detector assembly, each detector being operable to detect if a photon strikes the detector;
a collimating assembly including at least two spaced apart collimating vanes of photon-attenuating material, each of said vanes being disposed between said detectors and the field of view;
a generally arcuate photon-blocking member disposed between the field of view and said detectors, said blocking member having a plurality of aperture slots defined therethrough at intervals along said member for passage of photons aligned with said aperture slots, a line of response for each of said detectors being defined from said detector through the nearest of said aperture slots; and
a displacement actuator operable to move said photon-blocking member relative to said detectors such that said aperture slots are displaced relative to said detectors and said lines of response are swept across at least a portion of the field of view. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13)
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14. A single photon emission computed tomography system for producing multiple tomographic images of the type representing a three-dimensional distribution of a photon-emitting radioisotope, said system comprising:
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a base including a patient support for supporting a patient such that a portion of the patient is located in a field of view, a longitudinal axis being defined through the field of view;
a generally arcuate detector assembly adjacent to the field of view, said detector assembly extending generally arcuately at least partially about the field of view between a first end and a second end, said first and second ends being spaced apart so as to define an entry opening to the field of view, the detector assembly comprising a plurality of photon-responsive detectors arranged along the arcuate detector assembly, each detector being operable to detect if a photon strikes the detector;
a collimating assembly including at least two spaced apart collimating vanes of photon-attenuating material, each of said vanes being disposed between said detectors and the field of view;
a generally arcuate photon-blocking member disposed between the field of view and said detectors, said blocking member having a plurality of aperture slots defined therethrough at intervals along said member for passage of photons aligned with said aperture slots, a line of response for each of said detectors being defined from said detector through the nearest of said aperture slots; and
a displacement actuator operable to move said detectors relative to said photon-blocking member such that said detectors are displaced relative to said aperture slots and said lines of response are swept across at least a portion of the field of view. - View Dependent Claims (15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26)
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Specification