Data processing unit positioning in MR-PET imaging system integration

• US 8,818,488 B2
• Filed: 07/20/2011
• Issued: 08/26/2014
• Est. Priority Date: 07/21/2010
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Siemens Medical Solutions USA Incorporated (Siemens AG)
• Original Assignee: Siemens Medical Solutions USA Incorporated (Siemens AG)
• Inventors: Caruba, James Frank, Albert, Grant Arthur
• Primary Examiner(s): Le, Long V.
• Assistant Examiner(s): Negarestan, Farshad
• Application Number:
  US13/186,913
• Publication Number:
  US 20120022361A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,133 Days
• Field of Search: None
• US Class Current: 600/411
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/055 involving electronic [EMR] or nuclear [NMR] magnetic resonance, e.g. magnetic resonance imaging
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 6/037 Emission tomography
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 6/5235 combining images from the same or different ionising radiation imaging techniques, e.g. PET and CT
• CPC Class Codes: G01R 33/28 Details of apparatus provided for in groups G01R33/44 - G01R33/64
• CPC Class Codes: G01R 33/481 MR combined with positron emission tomography [PET] or single photon emission computed tomography [SPECT]

Abstract

An integrated magnetic resonance (MR) and positron emission tomography (PET) system includes an MR scanner including a magnet that defines an opening in which a subject is positioned, a set of PET detectors disposed between the magnet and the opening, and a plurality of data processing units, each data processing unit being configured for communication with a respective one or more of the PET detectors of the set of PET detectors. The plurality of data processing units are positioned along a side of the MR scanner not having the opening.

Claims

1. An integrated magnetic resonance (MR) and positron emission tomography (PET) system comprising:

an MR scanner comprising a magnet having a bore configured to accommodate a subject to be imaged;

a set of PET detectors disposed within the bore, said PET detectors including scintillators and scintillation photon sensors; and

a plurality of RF shielded data processing units, each data processing unit being configured for communication with a respective one or more of the PET detectors of the set of PET detectors;

wherein the plurality of data processing units are disposed on an external planar end face around the external periphery of the MR scanner magnet bore to form an array of data processing units around said bore.

2. The integrated MR and PET system of claim 1, wherein the plurality of data processing units are connected to the set of PET detectors via a set of cables having an equal length.

3. The integrated MR and PET system of claim 1, wherein the plurality of data processing units are connected to the set of PET detectors via a set of cables arranged in a symmetrical pattern relative to a horizontal line passing through a center of the bore.

4. The integrated MR and PET system of claim 1, wherein the plurality of data processing units and the MR scanner are inside a radio frequency (RF) cabin.

5. The integrated MR and PET system of claim 1, wherein the plurality of data processing units are galvanically isolated from one another.

6. The integrated MR and PET system of claim 1, wherein one or more of the plurality of data processing units are grounded to the magnet.