Systems and Methods for Reducing Interference in a Dual Modality Imaging System

• US 20120095321A1
• Filed: 10/18/2010
• Published: 04/19/2012
• Est. Priority Date: 10/18/2010
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Siemens Medical Solutions USA Incorporated (Siemens AG)
• Original Assignee: Siemens Medical Solutions USA Incorporated (Siemens AG)
• Inventors: Bak, Donald J.
• Granted Patent: US 8,892,184 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 600/411
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/0035 adapted for acquisition of images from more than one imaging mode, e.g. combining MRI and optical tomography
• 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 6/4417 related to combined acquisition of different diagnostic modalities
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 6/5247 combining images from an ionising-radiation diagnostic technique and a non-ionising radiation diagnostic technique, e.g. X-ray and ultrasound

Abstract

A magnetic resonance (MR)-positron emission tomography (PET) device dual modality system includes a dual modality detector system, conductors, and a PET processing device. The dual modality detector system includes a plurality of PET detector device having a framing recovery device and PET detectors, and an MR detector device having a magnetic resonance (MR) receiver. The conductors are electrically connected to the PET detectors. The PET processing device transmits modulated timing and frame synchronization signals to the PET detectors via the conductors and the framing recovery device. The frame synchronization signal is missing one or more framing signals, thereby reducing a spectral radiation of the conductors that causes interference to the MR receiver of the MR detector device. The framing recovery device detects the timing and frame synchronization signals and recovers the one or more missing framing signals.

Claims

1. A magnetic resonance (MR)-positron emission tomography (PET) device dual modality system, comprising:

a dual modality detector system including a PET detector device having a framing recovery device and a plurality of PET detectors, and an MR detector device having a magnetic resonance (MR) receiver;

conductors that are electrically connected to the PET detectors; and

a PET processing device that transmits timing signal and frame synchronization signals to the PET detectors via the conductors and the framing recovery device, wherein the frame synchronization signal includes one or more missing framing signals, thereby reducing a spectral radiation of the conductors that causes interference to the MR receiver of the MR detector device, wherein the framing recovery device detects the timing and frame synchronization signals and recovers the one or more missing framing signals.

2. The MR-PET dual modality system of claim 1, wherein the framing recovery device includes a demodulator that separates the timing and frame synchronization signals.

3. The MR-PET dual modality system of claim 2, wherein the demodulator includes an amplitude demodulator.

4. The MR-PET dual modality system of claim 1, wherein the framing recovery device includes a counter that recovers the one or more missing framing signals by detecting a framing signal from the transmitted timing and frame synchronization signals, counting cycles of the timing signal from the detected framing signal, and generating one or more framing signal at every predetermined number of cycles of the timing signal.

5. The MR-PET dual modality system of claim 1, wherein the PET processing device modifies the frame synchronization signal to reduce a period of generating framing signals by a predetermined factor.

6. The MR-PET dual modality system of claim 1, wherein the PET processing device modifies the frame synchronization signal to generate framing signals once per predetermined number of transitions of the timing signal.

7. The MR-PET dual modality system of claim 1, wherein the PET processing device suppresses framing signals for a period based upon a multiplication of predetermined number of transitions of the timing signal and a predetermined period of the framing signals.

8. A method for reducing interference in a magnetic resonance (MR)-positron emission tomography (PET) device dual modality system, wherein the MR-PET device dual modality system includes a dual modality detector system that includes a PET detector device having a framing recovery device and a plurality of PET detectors, and an MR detector device having a magnetic resonance (MR) receiver, wherein the PET detectors are connected to a PET processing device via conductors, the method comprising:

transmitting modulated timing and frame synchronization signals by the PET processing device to the PET detectors, wherein the frame synchronization signal includes one or more missing framing signals, thereby reducing a spectral radiation of the conductors that causes interference to the MR receiver of the MR detector device;

detecting the transmitted timing and frame synchronization signals by the framing recovery device at the PET detectors; and

recovering the one or more missing framing signals by the framing recovery device.

9. The method of claim 8, wherein recovering the one or more missing framing signals includes the step of:

detecting a framing signal from the transmitted timing and frame synchronization signals;

counting cycles of the timing signal from the detected framing signal; and

generating one or more framing signal at every predetermined number of cycles of the timing signal.

10. The method of claim 8, further comprising separating the modulated timing and frame synchronization signals.

11. The method of claim 8, further comprising modifying the frame synchronization signal by reducing a period of generating framing signals by a predetermined factor.

12. The method of claim 8, further comprising modifying the frame synchronization signal to generate framing signals once per predetermined number of transitions of the timing signal.

13. The method of claim 8, further comprising suppressing framing signals for a period based upon a multiplication of predetermined number of transitions of the timing signal and a predetermined period of the framing signals.

14. A magnetic resonance (MR)-positron emission tomography (PET) device dual modality system, comprising:

a dual modality detector system including a PET detector device having a framing recovery device and a plurality of PET detectors, and an MR detector device having a magnetic resonance (MR) receiver and an MR coil, wherein the framing recovery device and the MR receiver are located in the proximity of the PET detectors and the MR coil, respectively;

conductors that are electrically connected to the PET detectors; and

a PET processing device that transmits modulated timing and frame synchronization signals to the PET detectors via the conductors and the framing recovery device, wherein the frame synchronization signal includes one or more missing framing signals, thereby reducing a spectral radiation of the conductors that causes interference to the MR receiver of the MR detector device, wherein the framing recovery device detects the modulated timing and frame synchronization signals and recovers the one or more missing framing signals.

15. The MR-PET dual modality system of claim 14, wherein the framing recovery device includes a demodulator that separate the modulated timing and frame synchronization signals.

16. The MR-PET dual modality system of claim 15, wherein the demodulator includes an amplitude demodulator.

17. The MR-PET dual modality system of claim 14, wherein the framing recovery device includes a counter that recovers the one or more missing framing signals by detecting a framing signal from the transmitted timing and frame synchronization signals, counting cycles of the timing signal from the detected framing signal, and generating one or more framing signal at every predetermined number of cycles of the timing signal.

18. The MR-PET dual modality system of claim 14, wherein the PET processing device modifies the frame synchronization signal to reduce a period of generating framing signals by a predetermined factor.

19. The MR-PET dual modality system of claim 14, wherein the PET processing device modifies the frame synchronization signal to generate framing signals once per predetermined number of transitions of the timing signal.

20. The MR-PET dual modality system of claim 14, wherein the PET processing device suppresses framing signals for a period based upon a multiplication of predetermined number of transitions of the timing signal and a predetermined period of the framing signals.