Radioactive emission detector equipped with a position tracking system and utilization thereof with medical systems and in medical procedures
First Claim
1. A system for radioactive emission imaging after an administration of a radiopharmaceutical, by calculating a position of a radioactivity emitting source in an overall system-of-coordinates, the system comprising:
- (a) a first radioactive emission detector;
(b) a first position tracking system, associated with said first radioactive emission detector, and operative in a first system-of-coordinates;
(c) at least a second radioactive emission detector, physically connected to said first radioactive emission detector, by a flexible connection;
(d) at least a second position tracking system, associated with said at least second radioactive emission detector, and operative in at least a second system-of-coordinates;
(e) a data processor programmed to receive data inputs from said position tracking systems and from said radioactive emission detectors and to calculate the position of the radioactivity emitting source in the overall system-of-coordinates,wherein said first and at least second radioactive emission detectors are configured for scanning a three dimensional surface which define body curvatures, while following contours of said three dimensional surface,and wherein said flexible connection constrains said first and second radioactive emission detectors while said detectors follow contours of said three dimensional surface, to point towards the vicinity of said radioactivity emitting source.
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Accused Products
Abstract
a system for calculating a position of a radioactivity emitting source in a system-of-coordinates, the system comprising (a) a radioactive emission detector; (b) a position tracking system being connected to and/or communicating with the radioactive emission detector; and (c) a data processor being designed and configured for receiving data inputs from the position tracking system and from the radioactive emission detector and for calculating the position of the radioactivity emitting source in the system-of-coordinates.
238 Citations
43 Claims
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1. A system for radioactive emission imaging after an administration of a radiopharmaceutical, by calculating a position of a radioactivity emitting source in an overall system-of-coordinates, the system comprising:
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(a) a first radioactive emission detector; (b) a first position tracking system, associated with said first radioactive emission detector, and operative in a first system-of-coordinates; (c) at least a second radioactive emission detector, physically connected to said first radioactive emission detector, by a flexible connection; (d) at least a second position tracking system, associated with said at least second radioactive emission detector, and operative in at least a second system-of-coordinates; (e) a data processor programmed to receive data inputs from said position tracking systems and from said radioactive emission detectors and to calculate the position of the radioactivity emitting source in the overall system-of-coordinates, wherein said first and at least second radioactive emission detectors are configured for scanning a three dimensional surface which define body curvatures, while following contours of said three dimensional surface, and wherein said flexible connection constrains said first and second radioactive emission detectors while said detectors follow contours of said three dimensional surface, to point towards the vicinity of said radioactivity emitting source. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22)
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23. A method for radioactive emission imaging after an administration of a radiopharmaceutical, by defining a position of a radioactivity emitting source in an overall system-of-coordinates, the method comprising the steps of:
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(a) providing;
(i) a first radioactive emission detector;(ii) a first position tracking system, associated with said first radioactive emission detector, and operative in a first system-of-coordinates; (iii) at least a second radioactive emission detector, physically connected to said first radioactive emission detector, by a flexible connection; (iv) at least a second position tracking system, associated with said at least second radioactive emission detector, and operative in at least a second system-of-coordinates; (v) a data processor, programmed to receive data inputs from said position tracking systems and from said radioactive emission detectors and to calculate the position of the radioactivity emitting source in the overall system-of-coordinates; (b) employing said radioactive emission detectors, while constraining said radioactive emission detectors to point towards the vicinity of said radioactivity emitting source, in scanning a three dimensional surface which define body curvatures, while following contours of said three dimensional surface; and (c) monitoring radioactivity being emitted from the radioactivity emitting source, while at the same time, monitoring the position of each of said radioactive emission detectors in the overall system-of-coordinates, thereby defining the position of the radioactivity emitting source in the overall system-of-coordinates. - View Dependent Claims (24, 25, 26, 27, 28, 29, 30, 31, 32, 33, 34, 35, 36, 37, 38, 39, 40, 41, 42, 43)
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Specification