Abstract: An imaging system comprises a plurality of imaging detectors for acquiring imaging data. The plurality of imaging detectors is configurable to be arranged proximate to an anatomy of interest within a patient. Each of the plurality of imaging detectors has a field of view (FOV) and at least a portion of the plurality of imaging detectors image the anatomy of interest within the respective FOV. A processor receives the imaging data and processes the imaging data to form a multi-dimensional dataset having at least three dimensions.

Abstract: A method for performing an imaging scan of a subject includes positioning a narrow field-of-view camera at a first imaging position to acquire a first set of imaging information of a first object of interest, positioning the narrow field-of-view camera at a second imaging position to acquire a second set of imaging information of a second object of interest, determining emission counts for the first and second sets of imaging information, and utilizing the determined emission counts to generate a value that indicates a probability of a successful medical procedure being performed on the subject.

Abstract: An imaging system is provided including a gantry, a detector unit mounted to the gantry, at least one processing unit, and a controller. The at least one processing unit is configured to obtain object information corresponding to an object, and to automatically determine at least one first portion of the object and at least one second portion of the object. The controller is configured to control a rotational movement of the detector unit. The detector unit is rotatable at a sweep rate over a range of view of the object to be imaged, and the controller is configured to rotate the detector unit at an uneven sweep rate. The uneven sweep rate varies during the rotation from the, wherein a larger amount of scanning information is obtained for the at least one first portion than for the at least one second portion.

Abstract: Systems and methods for biopsy guidance are provided. One system includes a gantry and a breast immobilization plate mounted to the gantry, wherein the breast immobilization plate is configured to be coupled with a biopsy unit. The biopsy unit includes at least one nuclear medicine imaging detector in an angled orientation with respect to the breast immobilization plate. The breast imaging system also includes a nuclear medicine imaging detector mounted to the gantry parallel to the breast immobilization plate, wherein the nuclear medicine imaging detector mounted to the gantry and the breast immobilizing plate are configured to immobilize a breast therebetween.

Abstract: A molecular breast imaging (MBI) unit includes a housing, a first detector unit, and a second detector unit. The housing is configured to be positioned in an imaging position for imaging an object. The first detector unit includes a first nuclear medicine (NM) imaging detector secured in the housing. The first detector unit is configured to acquire first imaging information of the object when the housing is in the imaging position. The second detector unit includes a second NM imaging detector secured in the housing. The second detector unit is configured to acquire second imaging information of the object when the housing is in the imaging position. The housing includes an opening disposed between the first and second detector units. The opening is configured to allow access by a biopsy assembly to the object with the housing in the imaging position.

Abstract: A detector module for detecting photons includes a detector formed from a semiconductive material, the detector having a first surface, an opposing second surface, and a plurality of sidewalls extending between the first and second surfaces, and a guard band coupled to the sidewalls, the guard band having a length that extends about a circumference of the detector, the guard band having a width that is greater than a thickness of the detector such that an upper rim segment of the guard band projects beyond the first surface of the detector, the upper rim segment being folded over a peripheral region of the first surface along the circumference of the detector, the guard band configured to reduce recombinations proximate to the edges of the detector.

Abstract: A method is provided including identifying a target portion of a patient corresponding to a portion of interest of the patient to be scanned with a nuclear medicine scanning technique. The method also includes applying an uptake increasing technique to at least one of the target portion or an application portion of the patient other than the target portion. The uptake increasing technique is configured to increase uptake of a radiopharmaceutical to the target portion of the patient relative to portions of the patient other than the target portion. Also, the method includes administering the radiopharmaceutical to the patient temporally proximate to the applying an uptake increasing technique.

Abstract: Nuclear medicine (NM) imaging system including first and second NM cameras having camera surfaces that are configured to face each other while imaging patient tissue therebetween. The NM imaging system also includes an immobilization plate that is configured to be positioned between the first and second NM cameras and extend parallel to the camera surface of the first NM camera. The immobilization plate is movable to and from the camera surface of the first NM camera to compress the patient tissue, and the second NM camera is movable to and from the immobilization plate. The second NM camera is oriented with respect to a roll axis that extends parallel to the immobilization plate. The second NM camera is rotatable about the roll axis while the immobilization plate and the first NM camera have fixed positions with respect to each other with the patient tissue therebetween.

Abstract: A method for motion correcting molecular breast imaging (MBI) images includes obtaining a plurality of two-dimensional (2D) images of a breast using a MBI system, selecting a reference image from the plurality of 2D images, selecting a feature of interest in the reference image, determining a location of the feature of interest in the reference image, calculating a correction value based on a difference in the location of the feature of interest in the reference image and a location of the feature of interest in a plurality of non-reference images, and aligning the non-reference 2D images with the reference image based on the calculated correction value.

Abstract: Nuclear medicine (NM) imaging system including first and second NM cameras having camera surfaces that are configured to face each other while imaging patient tissue therebetween. The NM imaging system also includes an immobilization plate that is configured to be positioned between the first and second NM cameras and extend parallel to the camera surface of the first NM camera. The immobilization plate is movable to and from the camera surface of the first NM camera to compress the patient tissue, and the second NM camera is movable to and from the immobilization plate. The second NM camera is oriented with respect to a roll axis that extends parallel to the immobilization plate. The second NM camera is rotatable about the roll axis while the immobilization plate and the first NM camera have fixed positions with respect to each other with the patient tissue therebetween.

Abstract: An imaging system comprises a plurality of imaging detectors for acquiring imaging data. The plurality of imaging detectors is configurable to be arranged proximate to an anatomy of interest within a patient. Each of the plurality of imaging detectors has a field of view (FOV) and at least a portion of the plurality of imaging detectors image the anatomy of interest within the respective FOV. A processor receives the imaging data and processes the imaging data to form a multi-dimensional dataset having at least three dimensions.

Abstract: A system includes a detector and a processing module. The detector includes pixels configured to detect an event corresponding to energy from a radiopharmaceutical. The processing module is configured to receive a request for each pixel that detects energy during a reading cycle. The processing module is configured to determine an energy level for each requesting pixel. For each requesting pixel, the processing module is configured to count the event when the energy level corresponds to an energy of the radiopharmaceutical, and to determine a combined energy level of the pixel and at least one adjacent pixel when the energy level does not correspond. The processing module is configured to count the event when the combined energy level corresponds to the energy of the radiopharmaceutical, and to disregard the event when the combined energy level does not correspond to the energy of the radiopharmaceutical.

Abstract: A nuclear medicine mammography system and method for conducting concurrent examinations of both breasts of a patient, thereby reducing examination time in molecular breast imaging. The system comprises first and second pairs of generally opposed articulatable gamma photon detectors, wherein each pair of detectors can be arranged to image a respective breast independently from the other pair of detectors. In one or more embodiments, each pair of detectors can be arranged in at least two imaging orientations, such as cranio-caudal and mediolateral-oblique.

Abstract: A nuclear medicine mammography system and method for conducting concurrent examinations of both breasts of a patient, thereby reducing examination time in molecular breast imaging. The system comprises first and second pairs of generally opposed articulatable gamma photon detectors, wherein each pair of detectors can be arranged to image a respective breast independently from the other pair of detectors. In one or more embodiments, the first detector pair is dedicatedly oriented in a first orientation and the second detector pair is dedicatedly oriented in a second, different orientation.

Abstract: A system and apparatus for classifying x-ray energy into discrete levels include an imaging system comprising an x-ray source, a detector, and a DAS having a discriminator assembly configured to count photon hits in the detector. A computer causes the discriminator assembly to count photon hits in the detector having an energy level greater than or equal to first and second threshold levels during an imaging scan, wherein the second threshold level is distinct from the first threshold level. The computer further modifies the counted photon hits having an energy level greater than or equal to the first threshold level based on the counted photon hits having an energy level greater than or equal to the second threshold level and reconstructs an image based on the modified photon hits and based on the counted photon hits having an energy level greater than or equal to a second threshold level.

Abstract: An imaging system includes an x-ray source, a detector that receives x-rays emitted from the x-ray source, a DAS configured to count photon hits in the detector that occur at photon energies above at least a low keV threshold, a medium keV threshold, and a high keV threshold, and a computer operably coupled to the DAS. The computer is programmed to vary each of the medium keV threshold and the high keV threshold over a continuous keV range during data acquisition to define low, medium, and high keV bins that are based on the low, medium, and high keV thresholds, obtain photon counts in the low, medium, and high keV bins in a plurality of keV threshold combinations, calculate a noise variance as a function of at least one of the keV thresholds, and identify a noise minimum and low, medium, and high keV thresholds that correspond thereto.

Abstract: Methods and systems for automatic patient table positioning are provided. The method includes determining patient specific scan parameters and positioning the patient with the imaging scanner based on the determined patient specific scan parameters.

Abstract: Methods and systems for a medical imaging system are provided. The medical imaging system includes an input circuit configured to receive a voltage level signal indicative of a stream of pulses, a voltage level signal shape analyzer configured to determine shape characteristics of the received voltage level signal and an amount of time that the received voltage level signal matches a predetermined shape, and a counting circuit configured to determine a true number of pulses from the shape characteristics and the amount of time.

Abstract: Methods and systems for controlling medical imaging are provided. A proximity sensor arrangement for an imaging system is provided. The proximity sensor arrangement includes at least one light emitter and at least one light detector. The proximity sensor arrangement further includes at least one reflector configured to reflect light waves from the at least one light emitter to the at least one light detector to form at least one light path to determine a proximity to the at least one imaging component of the imaging system.

Abstract: Methods and systems for medical imaging using an ergonomic patient head an arm support are provided. A support for medical imaging is provided that includes a lower body configured to engage a portion of a medical imaging system and an upper surface having a plurality of depressions configured to receive therein at least one of a head and arm of a patient.