Radioactive-emission-measurement optimization to specific body structures

• US 8,620,046 B2
• Filed: 01/08/2012
• Issued: 12/31/2013
• Est. Priority Date: 08/21/2000
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Spectrum Dynamics Medical Ltd
• Original Assignee: Biosensors International Group, Ltd.
• Inventors: Nagler, Michael, Dichterman, Eli, Zilberstein, Yoel, Ziv, Omer, Rousso, Benny, Ben-Haim, Shlomo, Ravhon, Ran
• Primary Examiner(s): Akhavannik, Hadi
• Application Number:
  US13/345,719
• Publication Number:
  US 20120172699A1
• Time in Patent Office: 723 Days
• Field of Search: 382/154, 382/128
• US Class Current: 382/128
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 6/00 Apparatus or devices for radiation diagnosis; Apparatus or devices for radiation diagnosis combined with radiation therapy equipment instruments measuring radiation intensity for application in the field of nuclear medicine, e.g. in vivo counting, G01T1/161; apparatus for taking X-ray photographs G03B42/02
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 6/02 Arrangements for diagnosis sequentially in different planes; Stereoscopic radiation diagnosis
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 6/06 Diaphragms
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 6/4258 for detecting non x-ray radiation, e.g. gamma radiation A61B6/037 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 6/4266 characterised by using a plurality of detector units A61B6/4014 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 6/481 involving the use of contrast agents
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 6/54 Control of apparatus or devices for radiation diagnosis
• CPC Class Codes: G01T 1/1642 using a scintillation crystal and position sensing photodetector arrays, e.g. ANGER cameras
• 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: G06T 2207/10072 Tomographic images
• CPC Class Codes: G06T 7/0012 Biomedical image inspection

Abstract

A method for predefining a set of radioactive-emission measurement views, for radioactive-emission imaging after an administration of a radiopharmaceutical, the method being tailored to a specific body structure and optimized with respect to the information gained about the body structure and based on modeling body-structure, based on its geometry and anatomical constraints, which limit accessibility to the body structure.

Claims

1. A camera for imaging of radiation emitted from a patient that includes:

at least one assembly, the assembly comprises plurality of heads, each comprising at least one pixilated solid-state detector being configured to detect photons emitted from the body during image acquisition and being collimated to define one or more collection angles for the detector pixels; and

one or more actuators which control the position and orientation of at least one of the heads relative to the assembly during image acquisition,

wherein at least one of the heads is configured to be translated forward, relative to said assembly, along a general direction that the head is aimed at during image acquisition and to change its viewing direction by rotation while in a forward translated position.

2. A camera according to claim 1, comprising a data processor which collects data acquired by said heads and reconstruct a 3D SPECT image therefrom.

3. A camera according to claim 1, wherein a plurality of said heads are translatable and wherein directions of translation are different for different heads.

4. A camera according to claim 3, wherein said heads are aimed in different directions during said translation in different directions.

5. A camera according to claim 1, wherein a plurality of said heads are configured to move in a windshield wiper motion.

6. A camera according to claim 1, configured for cardiac imaging.

7. A camera according to claim 1, configured for bringing into proximity with body tissue to be imaged.

8. A camera according to claim 1, configured for insertion into a body.

9. A camera according to claim 1, comprising at least one position tracking device which tracks a position of said assembly.

10. A camera according to claim 1, comprising a controller which activates said one or more actuators to move said one or more heads during data acquisition from said heads.

11. A camera according to claim 1, comprising at least one actuator which moves a plurality of said heads in a lateral direction relative to a direction of view thereof.

12. A camera according to claim 1, wherein said forward direction is away from a base portion of said assembly, relative to which base portion a plurality of said heads move.

13. A camera according to claim 1, wherein at least two of said heads do not move synchronously.

14. A camera according to claim 1, wherein at least two of said heads are aimable by said actuators at a same region of interest.

15. A camera according to claim 1, wherein at least two of said heads are do not change a distance between them when translated.

16. A camera according to claim 1, wherein at least two of said heads are configured to scan in a same plane.

17. A camera according to claim 1, wherein at least two of said heads are configured to scan in different plane.

18. A camera according to claim 1, wherein adjacent heads are configured to scan without touching each other.

19. A method of radioimaging, comprising:

(a) aiming a camera including a controller and a plurality of pixilated and collimated solid-state detector heads at a body location;

(b) detecting photons emitted by said body, using said plurality of heads;

(c) moving at least one of said heads during said detecting in a forward direction of a viewing by said head, under the control of said controller;

(d) moving, during said detecting when said at least one head is in said forward direction, said at least one head in an angular motion relative to said forward direction, under the control of said controller; and

(e) reconstructing a 3D SPECT image from said detected photons.

20. A method according to claim 19, wherein said forward movement comprises movement towards a tissue of interest.

21. A method according to claim 19, comprising selecting views according to a rotational ability of said heads, to cover a region of interest.

22. A method according to claim 19, comprising selecting views according to a rotational ability of said heads, to cover a region of interest.

23. A method according to claim 19, comprising moving a plurality of said plurality of heads towards a region of interest.

24. A method according to claim 19, comprising moving said plurality of heads to scan a region of interest.