Spect examination device

• US 20040239941A1
• Filed: 07/07/2004
• Published: 12/02/2004
• Est. Priority Date: 08/31/2001
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Miltenyi Biotec B.V. & Co. KG (Miltenyi GmbH), Scivis Wissenschaftliche Bildverarbeitung GmbH
• Original Assignee: Forschungszentrum Jã¼Lich GmbH (Bundesrepublik Deutschland), Scivis GmbH
• Inventors: Ebel, Gernot, Schramm, Nils, Halling, Horst
• Granted Patent: US 7,199,371 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 356/479
• CPC Class Codes: G01T 1/1648 Ancillary equipment for scintillation cameras, e.g. reference markers, devices for removing motion artifacts, calibration devices adapted for flow studies G01T1/1647

Abstract

The invention relates to a tomography device and method, particularly for single photon emission computed tomography (SPECT). The device for carrying out a tomography method, especially for carrying out a single photon tomography, comprises a multi-pinhole collimator and a detector for detecting gamma quanta or photons that penetrate the multi pinhole collimator. According to the device for carrying out the tomographic method, the distance between the object and the multi-pinhole collimator is selected to be smaller than the distance between the multi-pinhole collimator and the surface of the detector. The invention provides a device and a method with which the desired result can be achieved with a high spatial resolution and sensitivity.

Claims

1-7. -7. (cancelled).

8. A device for the implementation of a tomographical method using single photon emission computed tomography comprising a multiple-pinhole collimator and a detector having a surface for registering photons or gamma quanta which pass through the multiple-pinhole collimator.

9. A device according to claim 8, wherein the distance between a holder for an object to be imaged and the multiple-pinhole collimator is smaller than the distance between the multiple-pinhole collimator and the surface of the detector.

10. A device according to claim 8, wherein the multiple-pinhole collimator is made from at least one metal selected from the group consisting of tungsten and iridium.

11. A device according to claim 8, wherein the multiple-pinhole collimator includes pinholes and regions formed of iridium adjacent to the pinholes.

12. A device according to claim 8, wherein the multiple-pinhole collimator includes pinholes and the pinholes open in a funnel shape into the multiple-pinhole collimator.

13. A device according to claim 8, wherein the multiple-pinhole collimator is made from at least one metal selected from the group consisting of tungsten and iridium, the multiple-pinhole collimator includes pinholes and regions formed of iridium adjacent to the pinholes, and the pinholes open in a funnel shape into the multiple-pinhole collimator.

14. A device according to claim 9, wherein the multiple-pinhole collimator is made from at least one metal selected from the group consisting of tungsten and iridium, the multiple-pinhole collimator includes pinholes and regions formed of iridium adjacent to the pinholes, and the pinholes open in a funnel shape into the multiple-pinhole collimator.

15. A device according to claim 9, wherein the multiple-pinhole collimator includes pinholes, the distances between adjacent pinholes, the size of the pinholes and the position of the holder are arranged so that cones formed by photons or gamma quanta on the surface of the detector partially overlap.

16. A tomographical method using single photon emission computed tomography comprising providing a multiple-pinhole collimator and a detector having a surface for registering photons or gamma quanta which pass through the multiple-pinhole collimator, spacing an object to be imaged and the collimator a first distance which is smaller than a second distance between the multiple-pinhole collimator and the surface of the detector.

17. A method as in claim 16, wherein the multiple-pinhole collimator is made from at least one metal selected from the group consisting of tungsten and iridium.

18. A method as in claim 16, wherein the multiple-pinhole collimator includes pinholes and regions formed of iridium adjacent to the pinholes.

19. A method as in claim 16, wherein the multiple-pinhole collimator includes pinholes and regions formed of iridium adjacent to the pinholes.

20. A method as in claim 16, wherein the multiple-pinhole collimator includes pinholes and the pinholes open in a funnel shape into the multiple-pinhole collimator.

21. A method as in claim 16, wherein the multiple-pinhole collimator is made from at least one metal selected from the group consisting of tungsten and iridium, the multiple-pinhole collimator includes pinholes and regions formed of iridium adjacent to the pinholes, and the pinholes open in a funnel shape into the multiple-pinhole collimator.

22. A method as in claim 21, wherein the multiple-pinhole collimator includes pinholes, the distances between adjacent pinholes, the size of the pinholes and the position of the object are selected so that cones formed by photons or gamma quanta on the surface of the detector to partially overlap.

23. A method as in claim 21, wherein the overlap is up to 35% of the area of the cones formed on the surface of the detector.

24. A method as in claim 16, wherein the multiple-pinhole collimator is made from at least one metal selected from the group consisting of tungsten and iridium, the multiple-pinhole collimator includes regions formed of iridium adjacent to the pinholes, and the pinholes open in a funnel shape into the multiple-pinhole collimator.

25. A method as in claim 24, further including a reconstruction method to determine an object image including assuming different distributions of radio pharmaceuticals in the object, calculating the measured results which would achieve the assumed distributions, and selecting as a result of the reconstruction the assumed distribution for which the calculated measured result most accurately agrees with the measured result obtained.

26. A method as in claim 24, wherein the multiple-pinhole collimator includes pinholes, the distances between adjacent pinholes, the size of the pinholes and the position of the object are selected so that cones formed by photons or gamma quanta on the surface of the detector partially overlap.

27. A method as in claim 24, wherein the overlap is up to 35% of the area of the cones formed on the surface of the detector.