PET/MR scanners for simultaneous PET and MR imaging
First Claim
1. A combined magnetic resonance (MR) and positron emission tomography (PET) data acquisition system comprising:
- a magnetic resonance scanner including a magnet configured to generate a static magnetic field at least in a magnetic resonance examination region, the magnetic resonance scanner being configured to acquire magnetic resonance data from the magnetic resonance examination region; and
radiation detectors configured to detect gamma rays generated by positron-electron annihilation events in a positron emission tomography examination region, the radiation detectors including electron multiplier elements having a direction of electron acceleration arranged substantially parallel or anti-parallel with the static magnetic field.
1 Assignment
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Accused Products
Abstract
In a combined system, a magnetic resonance (MR) scanner includes a magnet (10, 110) configured to generate a static magnetic field (B0) at least in a MR examination region (12) from which MR data are acquired. Radiation detectors (40, 41, 140) are configured to detect gamma rays generated by positron-electron annihilation events in a positron emission tomography (PET) examination region (70). The radiation 5 detectors include electron multiplier elements (60, 160) having a direction of electron acceleration (ae) arranged substantially parallel or anti-parallel with the static magnetic field (B0). In some embodiments, the magnet is an open magnet having first and second spaced apart magnet pole pieces (14, 15) disposed on opposite sides of a magnetic 10 resonance examination region, and the radiation detectors include first and second arrays (40, 41) of radiation detectors disposed with the first and second spaced apart magnet pole pieces.
44 Citations
17 Claims
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1. A combined magnetic resonance (MR) and positron emission tomography (PET) data acquisition system comprising:
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a magnetic resonance scanner including a magnet configured to generate a static magnetic field at least in a magnetic resonance examination region, the magnetic resonance scanner being configured to acquire magnetic resonance data from the magnetic resonance examination region; and radiation detectors configured to detect gamma rays generated by positron-electron annihilation events in a positron emission tomography examination region, the radiation detectors including electron multiplier elements having a direction of electron acceleration arranged substantially parallel or anti-parallel with the static magnetic field. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8)
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9. A combined magnetic resonance (MR) and positron emission tomography (PET) data acquisition system comprising:
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a magnetic resonance scanner including a magnet configured to generate a static magnetic field at least in a magnetic resonance examination region, the magnetic resonance scanner being configured to acquire magnetic resonance data from the magnetic resonance examination region; and first and second parallel planar arrays of radiation detectors arranged to view a positron emission tomography examination region that at least partially overlaps the magnetic resonance examination region, the first and second parallel planar arrays arranged orthogonal to the static magnetic field, the radiation detectors being configured to detect gamma rays generated by positron-electron annihilation events in the positron emission tomography examination region, wherein each planar array of radiation detectors includes; a planar array of microchannel plate photomultipliers, electron-transmissive microchannels of the microchannel plate photomultipliers being arranged parallel with the static magnetic field, and a planar array of scintillators arranged parallel with the planar array of microchannel plate photomultipliers and disposed between the planar array of microchannel plate photomultipliers and the positron emission tomography examination region.
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10. A combined magnetic resonance (MR) and positron emission tomography (PET) data acquisition system comprising:
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a magnetic resonance scanner including a generally cylindrical magnet configured to generate a static magnetic field at least in a magnetic resonance examination region that is oriented parallel with a cylinder axis of the generally cylindrical magnet, the magnetic resonance scanner being configured to acquire magnetic resonance data from the magnetic resonance examination region; and radiation detectors arranged inside of the generally cylindrical magnet and configured to detect gamma rays generated by positron-electron annihilation events in a positron emission tomography examination region, the radiation detectors including electron multiplier elements having a direction of electron acceleration arranged substantially parallel or anti-parallel with the static magnetic field, wherein the radiation detectors include; scintillators arranged inside of the generally cylindrical magnet; and microchannel plate photomultipliers arranged to view the scintillators, electron-transmissive microchannels of the microchannel plate photomultipliers being arranged parallel with the static magnetic field and parallel with the cylinder axis of the generally cylindrical magnet.
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11. A combined magnetic resonance (MR) and positron emission tomography (PET) data acquisition system comprising:
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a magnetic resonance scanner including a magnet configured to generate a static magnetic field at least in a magnetic resonance examination region, the magnetic resonance scanner being configured to acquire magnetic resonance data from the magnetic resonance examination region; and radiation detectors configured to detect gamma rays generated by positron-electron annihilation events in a positron emission tomography examination region, the radiation detectors including electron multiplier elements having a direction of electron acceleration arranged substantially parallel or anti-parallel with the static magnetic field; wherein the magnet generates a static magnetic field between a pair of pole pieces, the radiation detectors being mounted adjacent and parallel to at least one of the pole pieces.
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12. A combined magnetic resonance (MR) and positron emission tomography (PET) data acquisition system comprising:
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an open magnetic resonance scanner having first and second spaced-apart magnet pole pieces disposed on opposite sides of a magnetic resonance examination region wherein a static magnetic field at least in the magnetic resonance examination region has a magnetic field direction directed from the first magnet pole piece to the second magnet pole piece; and first and second arrays of radiation detectors disposed with the first and second spaced-apart magnet pole pieces and configured to detect gamma rays generated by positron-electron annihilation events in a positron emission tomography examination region that at least partially overlaps the magnetic resonance examination region; wherein the radiation detectors of the first and second arrays of radiation detectors include electron multiplier elements disposed with the first and second spaced-apart magnet pole pieces. - View Dependent Claims (13, 14, 15, 16, 17)
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Specification