Device and system for improved imaging in nuclear medicine and mammography

• US 7,147,372 B2
• Filed: 06/20/2003
• Issued: 12/12/2006
• Est. Priority Date: 06/07/2000
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Minnesota Imaging and Engineering LLC
• Original Assignee: Robert Sigurd Nelson, William Bert Nelson
• Inventors: Nelson, Robert Sigurd, Nelson, William Bert
• Primary Examiner(s): Glick, Edward J.
• Assistant Examiner(s): Kiknadze, Irakli
• Application Number:
  US10/600,904
• Publication Number:
  US 20040008810A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,271 Days
• Field of Search: 378/19, 378/98.8, 378/205, 378/207, 378/50, 378/54, 250/370.11, 250/252.1, 600/436
• US Class Current: 378/207
• 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, Compton 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 method of calibrating a radiation detection system comprising:

providing a radiation source that emits radiation, wherein the source is chosen from the group consisting of a uniform point-like source, a line-like source, a spherical source, a rod-like source, a collimated spot source, a slit source, a slot source, a grid pattern source, a planar flood field, and a shaped three-dimensional flood field,

measuring an energy-dependent modulation transfer function of the detection system, and

measuring the level of radiation emitted from the source that is detected by the detection system, and

calibrating the detection system by evaluating the detected radiation and balancing the system based upon the detected radiation and the energy-dependent modulation transfer function of the detection system.

2. A method of estimating the effects of tissue attenuation on the intensity and energy distribution of an x-ray beam comprising:

calibrating an energy-resolving detector array by determining its energy-dependent modulator transfer function,

aligning the calibrated energy-resolving detector array with the x-ray beam,

measuring a first position-dependent, energy-dependent intensity profile of the x-ray beam at the detector array,

transmitting the x-ray beam through a patient,

measuring a second position-dependent, energy-dependent intensity profile of the x-ray beam at the detector array immediately after the beam has been transmitted through the patient, and

comparing the first and the second position-dependent, energy-dependent intensity profiles of the beam.