Apparatus for forming radiation source distribution image

• US 6,946,659 B2
• Filed: 10/07/2002
• Issued: 09/20/2005
• Est. Priority Date: 02/14/2002
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Anzai Medical Kabushiki Kaisha
• Original Assignee: Anzai Medical Kabushiki Kaisha
• Inventors: Yasue, Naoto, Ito, Tadashi, Ryuo, Hideki, Jimbo, Masao
• Primary Examiner(s): GAGLIARDI, ALBERT J
• Application Number:
  US10/265,412
• Publication Number:
  US 20030150996A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,079 Days
• Field of Search: 250/363.06, 250/370.09, 250/370.08, 250/363.02, 250/363.04
• US Class Current: 250/363.06
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 6/037 Emission tomography
• CPC Class Codes: G01T 1/1642 using a scintillation crystal and position sensing photodetector arrays, e.g. ANGER cameras
• CPC Class Codes: G01T 1/166 involving relative movement between detector and subject scanners in general without using scintigraphy G01T1/2964
• CPC Class Codes: G01T 1/295 using coded aperture devices, e.g. Fresnel zone plates handling of radiation of particles, e.g. using diaphragms, collimators, diffraction G21K1/00

Abstract

A radiation source distribution image of an examinee is formed by driving X direction movement motors to move a radiation information-detecting unit in the X direction, and detecting radiation from the examinee on a stretcher placed between guide rails by using a collimator and a line sensor which constitute a detection unit.

Claims

1. An apparatus for forming a radiation source distribution image for detecting radiation radiated from a radiation source in an examinee to form a distribution image of said radiation source in said examinee, said apparatus comprising:

a line sensor including a plurality of radiation-detecting elements for detecting said radiation, said plurality of radiation-detecting elements being arranged one dimensionally;

a coded aperture plate arranged between said line sensor and said examinee, including a plurality of apertures arranged one dimensionally according to a predetermined array rule in a same direction as said radiation-detecting elements;

a movable means for moving said line sensor and said coded aperture plate in unison in a direction perpendicular to the direction in which said radiation-detecting elements and said apertures are arranged;

an image-forming means for forming said distribution image of said radiation source based on said radiation detected by said radiation-detecting elements; and

a display means for displaying said distribution image of said radiation source formed by said image-forming means.

2. The apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said coded aperture plate includes said plurality of apertures arranged one dimensionally according to an array rule of M-sequence.

3. The apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said coded aperture plate is detachable from said line sensor.

4. The apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said movable means includes a first movement mechanism for moving said line sensor in a first direction along said examinee, a second movement mechanism for moving said line sensor in a second direction perpendicular to said first direction along said examinee, and a revolution mechanism for revolving said line sensor so that said direction of said plurality of radiation-detecting elements is perpendicular to said first direction or said second direction.

5. The apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising an elevating/lowering mechanism for adjusting a distance between said line sensor and said examinee.

6. The apparatus according to claim 5, further comprising a distance sensor for detecting said distance between said line sensor and said examines.

7. The apparatus according to claim 1, wherein each of said radiation-detecting elements is a semiconductor detection element of CdTe or CdZnTe.

8. The apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising a photographing unit for photographing a two dimensional image of said examinee, wherein said display means displays said distribution image of said radiation source and said two dimensional image of said examinee.

9. The apparatus according to claim 8, further comprising an image-synthesizing means for superimposing said distribution image of said radiation source on said two dimensional image of said examinee.

10. The apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising:

memory means for memorizing nuclear species distinction data, said data including radiation intensity data inherent in nuclear species; and

nuclear species-specifying means for specifying a nuclear species of said radiation by comparing intensity data of said radiation detected by said line sensor with said radiation intensity data inherent in nuclear species.

11. The apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said radiation source is a radioisotope administered to said examinee.