Single photon emission computed tomography (SPECT) system for cardiac imaging
First Claim
1. A single photon emission computed tomography (SPECT) system for cardiac imaging comprising:
- a stationary open arc-shaped frame;
a stationary open arc-shaped collimator subsystem for optimizing collimation of radiation photons emitted from the heart, the collimator subsystem configured to;
approximately match the shape of the thoracic contour of patients having different sizes and weights, locate the collimator subsystem closely proximate a heart of a patient and define a plurality of predetermined image volumes each having a central longitudinal axis, each of the plurality of predetermined imaging volumes configured to encompass the heart of patients of different sizes and weights;
a stationary open arc-shaped detector subsystem proximate the collimator subsystem and having a shape generally matching the shape of the collimator subsystem configured to detect collimated radiation photons from the collimator subsystem and generating output electrical signals for the generation of one or more SPECT images and;
a computer subsystem configured to receive the digitized output electrical signals from the detector subsystem and generate a plurality of SPECT images of the heart.
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Abstract
A single photon emission computed tomography (SPECT) system for cardiac imaging including an open arc-shaped frame. A collimator subsystem is shaped to approximately match the thoracic contour to optimize the geometric efficiency for detecting photons emitted from the heart of patients having different sizes and weights and shaped to surround and position the collimator subsystem closely proximate a heart of a patient of the patients encompassed by at least one predetermined image volume for optimizing collimation of radiation photons emitted from the heart. The collimator subsystem is facilitated by a tracking system that is capable of quickly bringing up the collimator component, which meets a specific set of collimation requirements, into place for imaging. And an open arc-shaped detector system is coupled to the collimator subsystem having a shape closely matching the shape of the collimator subsystem for detecting collimated radiation photons from the collimator subsystem and generating output electrical signals.
154 Citations
27 Claims
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1. A single photon emission computed tomography (SPECT) system for cardiac imaging comprising:
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a stationary open arc-shaped frame; a stationary open arc-shaped collimator subsystem for optimizing collimation of radiation photons emitted from the heart, the collimator subsystem configured to;
approximately match the shape of the thoracic contour of patients having different sizes and weights, locate the collimator subsystem closely proximate a heart of a patient and define a plurality of predetermined image volumes each having a central longitudinal axis, each of the plurality of predetermined imaging volumes configured to encompass the heart of patients of different sizes and weights;a stationary open arc-shaped detector subsystem proximate the collimator subsystem and having a shape generally matching the shape of the collimator subsystem configured to detect collimated radiation photons from the collimator subsystem and generating output electrical signals for the generation of one or more SPECT images and; a computer subsystem configured to receive the digitized output electrical signals from the detector subsystem and generate a plurality of SPECT images of the heart. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25)
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26. A single photon emission computed tomography (SPECT) system for cardiac imaging comprising:
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a stationary open arc-shaped frame; a stationary open arc-shaped collimator subsystem for optimizing collimation of radiation photons emitted from the heart, the collimator subsystem configured to;
approximately match the shape of the thoracic contour of patients having different sizes and weights, locate the collimator subsystem closely proximate a heart of a patient and define the plurality of predetermined image volumes each having a central longitudinal axis, each of the plurality of predetermined imaging volumes configured to encompass the heart of patients of different sizes and weights;a stationary open arc-shaped detector subsystem proximate the collimator subsystem and having a shape generally matching the shape of the collimator subsystem configured to detect collimated radiation photons from the collimator subsystem and generating output electrical signals for the generation of one or more SPECT images and; a patient positioning subsystem configured to position the patient about the central longitudinal of a predetermined imaging volume selected from the plurality of imaging volumes such that the heart is located proximate the center of the selected predetermined imaging volume.
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27. A single photon emission computed tomography (SPECT) system for cardiac imaging comprising:
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an open arc-shaped frame; a collimator subsystem shaped to approximately match the thoracic contour of patients having different sizes and weights and shaped to surround and position the collimator subsystem closely proximate a heart of a patient of said patients encompassed by at least one predetermined image volume configured for optimizing collimation of radiation photons emitted from the heart, the collimator system further including a slit-plate configured as a flexible loop moveably coupled to the frame having a plurality of sections each configured to provide a unique predetermined imaging volume having a predetermined size and location, and a spatial resolution; and an open arc-shaped detector system coupled to the collimator subsystem having a shape closely matching the shape of the collimator subsystem for detecting collimated radiation photons from the collimator subsystem and generating output electrical signals.
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Specification