Abstract: A method and device are provided for matching a patient coordinate system (PCS) of a nuclear medical imaging scanner with a coordinate system of a CT scanner in a multimodality modular imaging system, based on a predefined relationship between a vertical position of a patient bed during the NM scan; an axial position of the patient bed during the NM scan; an axial distance between a gantry of the NM scanner and a gantry of the CT scanner; and a vertical distance between a center of orbit of the NM scanner and a center of rotation of the CT gantry.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for correcting misalignment between fields of view of a CT device and a NM device of a modular multimodality medical imaging system, by providing a Field Of View Calibration Matrix (FOV-CM) containing rotational and translational transformations between coordinate systems of the CT and NM systems.

Abstract: A reference height calibration procedure obtains a reference error value, which can be used to adjust a height calibration parameter for registering the fields of view (FOVs) of the modules of a multi-modality medical imaging system such as a SPECT-CT imaging system.

Abstract: A mobile detector system for use in the detection of radiation photons. The detector system includes an exterior casing, having an internal area. The internal area has an interior periphery and an exterior periphery, at least one rail, at least one mobile camera, that is movably mounted on the at least one rail, and at least one motor. The motor drives at least one mobile camera, and the at least one mobile camera is movable along at least one rail within the exterior casing, to a plurality of radiation receiving positions.

Abstract: Attenuation correction data is obtained from one or more transmission sources to calculate the attenuation factors of a reconstruction area of an object being imaged by a nuclear medicine apparatus, such as a SPECT gamma camera. The transmission sources are capable of swiveling the direction of the transmission to correspond with the direction of capture of the gamma detectors. Additionally, the transmission sources are capable of linear movement to correspond with any linear movement of the detectors. The transmission sources are able to follow the same path as the detectors in order to determine the attenuation factors through the same reconstruction area being scanned by the detectors.

Abstract: A reference height calibration procedure obtains a reference error value, which can be used to adjust a height calibration parameter for registering the fields of view (FOVs) of the modules of a multi-modality medical imaging system such as a SPECT-CT imaging system.

Abstract: A method and device are provided for matching a patient coordinate system (PCS) of a nuclear medical imaging scanner with a coordinate system of a CT scanner in a multimodality modular imaging system, based on a predefined relationship between a vertical position of a patient bed during the NM scan; an axial position of the patient bed during the NM scan; an axial distance between a gantry of the NM scanner and a gantry of the CT scanner; and a vertical distance between a center of orbit of the NM scanner and a center of rotation of the CT gantry.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for correcting misalignment between fields of view of a CT device and a NM device of a modular multimodality medical imaging system, by providing a Field Of View Calibration Matrix (FOV-CM) containing rotational and translational transformations between coordinate systems of the CT and NM systems.

Abstract: A method and system for calibrating a scintillation camera includes steps of constructing a pair of generic linearity coefficient (LC) matrices from a representative detector based on measurement of non-linearity; and transforming the pair of generic LC matrices according to measured pinhole locations from a lead mask to generate detector specific LC matrices.

Abstract: In some preferred embodiments, an apparatus is provided that facilitates correction, such as, e.g., linearity correction, in imaging devices, such as, e.g., scintillation cameras. In preferred embodiments, a mask is implemented that can produce images for locating the actual position of a nuclear event based on its apparent position with high accuracy and reliability. In the preferred embodiments, the mask includes a non-uniform array of apertures that can achieve this goal.

Abstract: A mobile detector system for use in the detection of radiation photons. The detector system includes an exterior casing, having an internal area. The internal area has an interior periphery and an exterior periphery, at least one rail, at least one mobile camera, that is movably mounted on the at least one rail, and at least one motor. The motor drives at least one mobile camera, and the at least one mobile camera is movable along at least one rail within the exterior casing, to a plurality of radiation receiving positions.

Abstract: Attenuation correction data is obtained from one or more transmission sources to calculate the attenuation factors of a reconstruction area of an object being imaged by a nuclear medicine apparatus, such as a SPECT gamma camera. The transmission sources are capable of swiveling the direction of the transmission to correspond with the direction of capture of the gamma detectors. Additionally, the transmission sources are capable of linear movement to correspond with any linear movement of the detectors. The transmission sources are able to follow the same path as the detectors in order to determine the attenuation factors through the same reconstruction area being scanned by the detectors.

Abstract: Point source responses of pinhole apertures in a non-uniform grid mask used to spatially calibrate a gamma camera can be modeled as a two-dimensional Gaussian function with a set of seven parameters. The Gaussian parameters can be measured using a surface-fitting algorithm that seeks minimum error in the least squares sense. The process is repeated for data from each pinhole location and the data are added together to generate a complete model of the flood image from the mask, which then can be used in a peak detection process for clinical images.

Abstract: A method of controlling quality in a nuclear medicine imaging system includes providing an extendable radioactive source in a frame of the nuclear medicine imaging system, providing a detector having a field of view above the source, extending the radioactive source, moving the detector from a first position to a second position, acquiring a plurality of images of the radioactive source with the detector during the movement, summing the plurality of images to form a flood image of the source, and assessing a quality of the detector image using the flood image. An extendable shield having a plurality of windows disposed along a length of the shield may be disposed about a line source so that the windows form an array of point sources when the source and the shield are extended.