Abstract: A radiation detector system is provided that includes a semiconductor detector, plural pixelated anodes, and a side anode. The semiconductor detector has a surface. The pixelated anodes are disposed on the surface, and are arranged in a grid defining a footprint. The side anode is disposed outside of the footprint defined by the plural pixelated anodes, and has a length extending along at least two of the pixelated anodes.

Abstract: A detector assembly is provided that includes a semiconductor detector, a collimator and a processing unit. The semiconductor detector has a first surface and a second surface opposed to each other. The first surface includes pixels (which in turn comprise corresponding pixelated anodes), and the second surface includes a cathode electrode. The collimator includes openings, with each opening associated with a single corresponding pixel of the semiconductor detector. The processing unit is configured to identify detected events within virtual sub-pixels distributed along a length and width of the semiconductor detector. Each pixel includes (e.g., has associated therewith) a plurality of corresponding virtual sub-pixels, with absorbed photons are counted as events in a corresponding virtual sub-pixel. Absorbed photons are counted as events within a thickness of the semiconductor detector at a distance corresponding to an energy window width used to identify the events as photon impacts.

Abstract: An imaging system is provided that includes a gantry, a plurality of image detectors, an x-ray source, an adjustable source collimator, and at least one processor. The image detectors are radially spaced around a circumference of the bore such that gaps exist between adjacent image detectors. The x-ray source transmits x-rays across the bore towards at least two of the image detectors. The adjustable source collimator is interposed between the x-ray source and a center of the bore, and is configured to block a portion of the x-rays produced by the x-ray source The at least one processor is configured to control the adjustable source collimator to dynamically adjust a range of x-rays that are blocked by the adjustable source collimator along the fan angle during transmission of x-rays from the x-ray source and acquisition of computed tomography (CT) information.

Abstract: Methods and systems are provided for calibrating a nuclear medicine imaging system. In one embodiment, a method comprises: detecting, with a plurality of detectors, photons emitted by a calibration source comprising a radioactive line source and a fluorescence source, while pivoting one or more detectors of the plurality of detectors; and calibrating, with a processor communicatively coupled to the plurality of detectors, each detector of the plurality of detectors based on energy measurements of the detected photons. In this way, a two-point energy calibration of detectors can be performed with a single isotope, and without removing or adjusting a collimator attached to the detector.

Abstract: A nuclear medicine (NM) multi-head imaging system is provided that includes a gantry defining a bore configured to accept an object to be imaged. The imaging system includes a plurality of detector units coupled to the gantry, with each of the detector units having a respective detector field-of-view (FOV). Each of the detector units is configured to rotate about a respective unit axis, with the plurality of detector units including at least a first and a second detector unit. The imaging system also includes at least one processor configured to execute programmed instructions stored in memory, wherein the at least one processor, when executing the programmed instructions, rotates the first and second detector units as the first and second detector units acquire persistence image data; and generates at least one persistence image based on the persistence image data.

Abstract: A customizable and upgradeable imaging system is provided. Imaging detector columns are installed in a gantry to receive imaging information about a subject. Imaging detector columns can extend and retract radially as well as be rotated orbitally around the gantry. The gantry can be partially populated with detector columns and the detector columns can be partially populated with detector elements.

Abstract: Systems and methods for planar imaging with detectors having moving heads are provided. One system includes a gantry having an opening therethrough, a patient table movable through the opening of the gantry along an examination axis, and a plurality of detector units mounted to the gantry and aligned in a row transverse to the examination axis. The plurality of detector units are spaced apart from each other, wherein the spacing forms gaps between adjacent detector units. The plurality of detector units are configured to acquire Single Photon Emission Computed Tomography (SPECT) data. The system further includes a controller configured to control movement of the patient table and the plurality of detector units to acquire two-dimensional (2D) SPECT data, wherein the plurality of detector units remain in a fixed relative orientation with respect to each other when acquiring the 2D SPECT data and move together to acquire the 2D SPECT data.

Abstract: An imaging system is provided that includes a gantry having a bore extending therethrough; a plurality of image detectors attached to the gantry and radially spaced around a circumference of the bore such that gaps exist between image detectors along the circumference of the bore; an x-ray source attached to the gantry, wherein the x-ray source transmits x-rays across the bore towards at least two of the image detectors; wherein at least two image detectors detect both emission radiation and x-ray radiation.

Abstract: A radiation detector head assembly is provided that includes a detector housing, a detector unit, and a fastener. The detector housing defines a cavity therein, and includes a shielding body disposed at least partially around the cavity. The detector unit is disposed within the cavity, and includes an absorption member and associated processing circuitry. The processing circuitry is configured to generate electronic signals responsive to radiation received by the absorption member. The fastener extends through the detector housing, and is accepted by the detector unit to secure the detector unit to the detector housing. The shielding body of the detector housing is interposed between the fastener and the processing circuitry.

Abstract: A radiation detector head assembly is provided that includes a detector housing, a detector unit, and a fastener. The detector housing defines a cavity therein, and includes a shielding body disposed at least partially around the cavity. The detector unit is disposed within the cavity, and includes an absorption member and associated processing circuitry. The processing circuitry is configured to generate electronic signals responsive to radiation received by the absorption member. The fastener extends through the detector housing, and is accepted by the detector unit to secure the detector unit to the detector housing. The shielding body of the detector housing is interposed between the fastener and the processing circuitry.

Abstract: A customizable and upgradeable imaging system is provided. Imaging detector columns are installed in a gantry to receive imaging information about a subject. Imaging detector columns can extend and retract radially as well as be rotated orbitally around the gantry. The gantry can be partially populated with detector columns and the detector columns can be partially populated with detector elements.

Abstract: A radiation detector head assembly is provided that includes a detector housing and a rotor assembly. The detector housing defines a cavity therein. The rotor assembly includes a detector unit, a body, and a sealing member. The body defines an opening oriented in the imaging direction. The body is disposed at a distance from the detector housing within the cavity defining a passageway extending axially along the body. The sealing member includes a body extending across the opening. The sealing member is coupled to at least one of the shielding unit or the collimator, and is mounted within the cavity to provide a gas-tight seal along the imaging direction between the passageway and the detector unit.

Abstract: Methods and systems for controlling movement of detectors having multiple detector heads are provided. One system includes a gantry, a patient support structure supporting a patient table thereon, and a plurality of detector units. At least some of the detector units are rotatable to position the detector units at different angles relative to the patient table. The imaging system further includes a detector position controller configured to control the position of the rotatable detector units, wherein at least some of the rotatable detector units positioned adjacent to each other have an angle of rotation to allow movement of the rotatable detector units a distance greater than a gap between adjacent rotatable detector units. The detector position controller is configured to calculate at least one of field of view avoidance information or collision avoidance information to determine an amount of movement for one or more of the rotatable detector units.

Abstract: A radiation detector head assembly is provided that includes a detector housing and a rotor assembly. The detector housing defines a cavity therein. The rotor assembly includes a detector unit, a body, and a sealing member. The body defines an opening oriented in the imaging direction. The body is disposed at a distance from the detector housing within the cavity defining a passageway extending axially along the body. The sealing member includes a body extending across the opening. The sealing member is coupled to at least one of the shielding unit or the collimator, and is mounted within the cavity to provide a gas-tight seal along the imaging direction between the passageway and the detector unit.

Abstract: Nuclear medicine (NM) multi-head imaging system includes a gantry defining a bore and a table positioned within the bore. The system also includes a plurality of detector units coupled to the gantry. Each of the detector units is configured to rotate about a unit axis. The plurality of detector units include first and second detector units. The system also includes at least one processor configured to execute programmed instructions stored in memory, wherein the at least one processor, when executing the programmed instructions, rotates the first and second detector units as the first and second detector units acquire image data and generates a composite persistence image based on the image data. The table is configured to be moved within the bore in response to inputs from a user or commands from the at least one processor.

Abstract: A system includes a detector and a main processing unit having an event processing module. The detector includes pixels to detect an event corresponding to photon absorption. The event processing module is configured to read event information for each event detected by each pixel of the detector in order of receipt from the detector and to compare an energy level value in the event information for each event to a predetermined range of energy level values. An event is counted when the energy level value is within the predetermined range of energy level values. For each event having an energy level below the predetermined range, the energy level value for a next consecutive event in the received event information is read and a combined energy level value of the event and the next consecutive event is determined as well as the pixel locations of the event and the next consecutive event.

Abstract: A nuclear medicine (NM) multi-head imaging system is provided that includes a gantry defining a bore configured to accept an object to be imaged. The imaging system includes a plurality of detector units coupled to the gantry, with each of the detector units having a respective detector field-of-view (FOV). Each of the detector units is configured to rotate about a respective unit axis, with the plurality of detector units including at least a first and a second detector unit. The imaging system also includes at least one processor configured to execute programmed instructions stored in memory, wherein the at least one processor, when executing the programmed instructions, rotates the first and second detector units as the first and second detector units acquire persistence image data; and generates at least one persistence image based on the persistence image data.

Abstract: A customizable and upgradable imaging system is provided. Imaging detector columns are installed in a gantry to receive imaging information about a subject. Imaging detector columns can extend and retract radially as well as be rotated orbitally around the gantry. The gantry can be partially populated with detector columns and the detector columns can be partially populated with detector elements.

Abstract: A radiation detector head assembly is provided that includes a detector housing and a rotor assembly. The detector housing defines a cavity therein. The rotor assembly includes a detector unit, a body, and a sealing member. The body defines an opening oriented in the imaging direction. The body is disposed at a distance from the detector housing within the cavity defining a passageway extending axially along the body. The sealing member includes a body extending across the opening. The sealing member is coupled to at least one of the shielding unit or the collimator, and is mounted within the cavity to provide a gas-tight seal along the imaging direction between the passageway and the detector unit.

Abstract: Nuclear medicine (NM) multi-head imaging system includes a plurality of detector units coupled to a gantry. The detector units configured to face toward a center of the bore and including a series of first detector units and a second detector unit. The system also includes at least one processor that, when executing programmed instructions, performs the following operations. The at least one processor rotates the first detector units such that the first detector units face in a common first direction that is generally toward the bore. A working gap exists between the detector FOVs of the respective first detector units. The at least one processor rotates the second detector unit such that the second detector unit faces in a second direction that is opposite the first direction. The detector FOV of the second detector unit covers the working gap.