Device and system for improved imaging in nuclear medicine and mammography

• US 6,583,420 B1
• Filed: 06/07/2000
• Issued: 06/24/2003
• Est. Priority Date: 06/07/2000
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Minnesota Imaging and Engineering LLC
• Original Assignee: Robert S. Nelson, William Bert Nelson
• Inventors: Nelson, William Bert, Nelson, Robert S.
• Primary Examiner(s): Hannaher, Constantine
• Assistant Examiner(s): Gabor, Otilia
• Application Number:
  US09/590,089
• Time in Patent Office: 1,112 Days
• Field of Search: 250/397, 250/363.01, 250/363.05, 250/363.07, 250/363.08, 250/363.09, 359/641, 378/196, 378/124, 378/37, 378/90, 378/207
• US Class Current: 250/397
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 6/037 Emission tomography
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 6/4028 resulting in acquisition of views from substantially different positions, e.g. EBCT
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 6/4233 using matrix detectors
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 6/4258 for detecting non x-ray radiation, e.g. gamma radiation A61B6/037 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 6/4291 the detector being combined with a grid or grating
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 6/4488 Means for cooling A61B6/045 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 6/502 for diagnosis of breast, i.e. mammography
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 6/548 Remote control of the apparatus or devices
• 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: G01T 1/243 Modular detectors, e.g. arrays formed from self contained units constructional or manufacturing details H01L25/00
• CPC Class Codes: G01T 1/244 Auxiliary details, e.g. casings, cooling, damping or insulation against damage by, e.g. heat, pressure or the like
• CPC Class Codes: G01T 1/2928 using solid state detectors

Abstract

A method and apparatus for detecting radiation including x-ray, gamma ray, and particle radiation for radiographic imaging, and nuclear medicine and x-ray mammography in particular, and material composition analysis are described. A detection system employs fixed or configurable arrays of one or more detector modules comprising detector arrays which may be electronically manipulated through a computer system. The detection system, by providing the ability for electronic manipulation, permits adaptive imaging. Detector array configurations include familiar geometries, including slit, slot, plane, open box, and ring configurations, and customized configurations, including wearable detector arrays, that are customized to the shape of the patient. Conventional, such as attenuating, rigid geometry, and unconventional collimators, such as x-ray optic, configurable, Conpton scatter modules, can be selectively employed with detector modules and radiation sources. The components of the imaging chain can be calibrated or corrected using processes of the invention. X-ray mammography and scintimammography are enhanced by utilizing sectional compression and related imaging techniques.

Claims

1. A radiation detector array used in Nuclear Medicine, comprising:

a plurality of radiation detector modules, wherein each module includes;

at least one edge-on radiation detector,

a communication link for transferring data between the module and a computer system.

2. The array of claim 1 further comprising:

a configurable collimator coupled to each detector and positioned on a surface of the detector facing a radiation source, the collimator comprising a plurality of adjustable slats, wherein the slats are electronically configurable independently from the detector and with respect to each other to optimize radiation detection by the detector.

3. The array of claim 2 further comprising:

a radiation shield surrounding the array, wherein the shield is designed to reduce erroneous detection of incident radiation by the array.

4. The array of claim 2 further comprising:

tracks in operable connection with the modules that facilitate movement of the modules along the tracks, wherein the tracks are configured in a geometry chosen from the group consisting of a standard geometry and a contoured geometry.

5. The array of claim 4 wherein the modules are capable of moving along the tracks independently of other modules in the array.

6. The array of claim 2 further comprising:

flexible tracks in operable connection with the modules that facilitate movement of the modules along the tracks in a manner whereby the modules conform to an area of a patient being monitored.

7. The array of claim 1 further comprising a Compton scatter module collimator coupled to each detector.

8. The array of claim 1 further comprising a configurable x-ray optics collimator subsystem coupled to each detector and capable of functioning as a narrow bandwidth filter, a focusing device, and a directional filter to enhance collimator performance.

9. The array of claim 8 wherein the x-ray optics subsystem comprises a plurality of nested refractive lenses configured to produce multiple focused beams wherein each beam is directed to a corresponding detector module.

10. The array of claim 8 wherein the x-ray optics subsystem is a subsystem chosen from the group consisting of a x-ray mirror and an array of micromirrors.

11. The array of claim 8 wherein the x-ray optics collimator subsystem comprises:

a first refractive lens component, comprising a plurality of refractive slats attached to a support structure, wherein the slats are configured to refract radiation towards a focal point on the module, and

a second refractive lens component, comprising a plurality of refractive slats attached to a support structure, wherein the slats are configured to refract radiation towards a focal point on the module,

wherein the first refractive lens component and the second refractive lens component are oriented so that the plurality of refractive slats of the first component faces the plurality of refractive slats of the second component.

12. The array of claim 11 wherein the first and second refractive lens components are nested.

13. A wearable radiation detector array for a dynamic study of a patient, comprising:

a shell capable of accepting and holding a detector array, wherein the shell is shaped in a configuration wearable by the patient and conforms to a subject area of the patient,

an open frame system incorporated into the shell for selective placement therein of detector arrays, and

a detector array configured for placement into the open frame system of the shell to image the subject area of the patient, and comprising a plurality of edge-on detector modules,

wherein the detector array remains aligned with the subject area while the patient is moving.

14. The wearable array of claim 13 wherein the array further comprises:

a plurality of collimators associated with each module, wherein the collimators are capable of optimizing imaging of the patient.

15. The wearable array of claim 13 wherein the shell is configured in a shape chosen from the group consisting of a vest, a helmet, a brassiere, a neck brace, a girdle, and a belt.

16. The wearable radiation detector array of claim 13, wherein the subject area of the patient comprises a plurality of subject areas.

17. An incident radiation detection system, comprising:

a radiation detector array, wherein the array comprises

a plurality of edge-on radiation detector modules, and

a collimator coupled to each module and positioned on a surface of the module facing a radiation source, the collimator comprising a plurality of adjustable slats, wherein the slats are electronically configurable independently from the module and with respect to each other to optimize radiation detection by the module,

a mechanical positioning subsystem capable of aligning the modules within the array to optimally detect incident radiation,

a monitoring subsystem to control operating parameters of the array and processing detected radiation data from the array prior to transmitting said data to a computer subsystem, and

a computer subsystem to analyze the array parameters and detected radiation data, wherein the computer subsystem is further capable of processing the detected radiation data for image reconstruction and material analysis purposes.

18. The incident radiation detection system of claim 17 wherein the positioning subsystem comprises:

a plurality of actuator arms, wherein a module is mounted on an arm, the arm thereby configured to move each module independently of the entire array.

19. The system of claim 17 wherein the modules are adaptively positioned according to data obtained by analyzing the module parameter information and the detected radiation data.

20. The system of claim 17 wherein the collimators are capable of being adaptively controlled.

21. The array of claim 17 further comprising:

sensors capable of restricting speed of motion of the array and proximity of the array to a subject, wherein the sensors are selected from the group consisting of motion sensors, optical range sensors, acoustic range sensors, and pressure sensors.