Abstract: Methods and systems are provided for molecular breast imaging. In one embodiment, a method for nuclear medicine imaging comprises: during an acquisition of emission data from an anatomy of interest, calculating an average counts per pixel in non-target tissue; and responsive to the average counts per pixel reaching a threshold, automatically stopping the acquisition. In this way, an amount of time spent by a patient undergoing an MBI procedure is optimized for the patient.

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: 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: An imaging detector is provided that includes a continuous NaI crystal, a glass plate, an array of SiPMs, and an array of concentrators. The continuous NaI crystal defines a reception side and a detection side. The glass plate is disposed on the detection side of the continuous NaI crystal, and is interposed between the detection side of the continuous NaI crystal and the array. The array of concentrators corresponds to the array of SiPMs, and is interposed between the array of SiPMs and the glass plate. Each concentrator has a reception side opening that is larger than a detection side opening, with the detection side opening disposed proximate to a corresponding SiPM.

Abstract: An imaging system is provided that includes a gantry, at least five detector units mounted to the gantry, a corresponding collimator for each of the detector units, at least one processing unit, and a controller. Each collimator has septa defining plural bores for each pixel of at least some of a plurality of pixels of the detector unit. A corresponding interior septum of the collimator is disposed above an internal portion of a corresponding pixel of the at least some of the plurality of pixels. The at least one processing unit is configured to obtain object information corresponding to the object to be imaged. The controller is configured to control an independent rotational movement of each the detector units used to acquire scanning information by detecting emissions from the object, wherein the controller rotates each of the detector units at a corresponding sweep rate.

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: A medical 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 system can automatically adjust setup configuration and an imaging operation based on subject shape estimation information.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for defining a volume of interest in a physiological image based upon an anatomical image. The method and system acquires an anatomical image of a volume of interest using a first imaging modality. A physiological image is acquired using a second imaging modality different from the first imaging modality. An outline of the volume of interest is defined on the anatomical image and applied to the physiological image to define the volume of interest m the physiological image. Based upon the outline, the system and method assigns binary values to voxels within the outline to more accurately define the volume of interest.

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: Methods and apparatus for imaging with detectors having moving heads are provided. One apparatus includes a gantry and a plurality of detector units mounted to the gantry. At least some of the plurality of detector units are movable relative to the gantry to position one or more of the detector units with respect to a subject. The detector units are movable along parallel axes with respect to each other.

Abstract: A medical 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 system can automatically adjust setup configuration and an imaging operation based on subject shape estimation information.

Abstract: A nuclear medicine (NM) multi-head imaging system is provided that includes a gantry, plural detector units, and at least one processor. The gantry defines a bore configured to accept an object to be imaged. The plural detector units are mounted to the gantry. Each detector unit defines a corresponding view oriented toward a center of the bore, and is configured to acquire imaging information over a sweep range. The at least one processor is configured to dynamically determine at least one boundary of an acquisition range corresponding to an uptake value of the object to be imaged for at least one of the detector units. The acquisition range is smaller than sweep range. The at least one processor is also configured to control the at least one detector unit to acquire imaging information over the acquisition range.

Abstract: A nuclear medicine (NM) multi-head imaging system is provided that includes a gantry, plural detector units mounted to the gantry, and at least one processor. The at least one processor is operably coupled to at least one of the detector units, and configured to acquire, via the detector units, imaging information. The imaging information includes edge information and interior information. The edge information corresponds to a contour boundary of tissue and the interior information corresponds to an intermediate portion of the tissue. The least one processor is configured to control the detector units to acquire a proportionally larger amount of imaging information for the contour boundary than for the intermediate portion.

Abstract: Methods and apparatus for imaging with detectors having moving heads are provided. One apparatus includes a gantry and a plurality of detector units mounted to the gantry. At least some of the plurality of detector units are movable relative to the gantry to position one or more of the detector units with respect to a subject. The detector units are movable along parallel axes with respect to each other.

Abstract: An imaging system is provided that includes a pixelated detector and a processing unit. The pixelated detector has individually read pixels. The processing unit is configured to count events detected by the detector unit using an energy window for each pixel. The energy window is individually tailored for each pixel, and is defined by an upper energy boundary corresponding to a higher energy level and a lower energy boundary corresponding to a lower energy level. At least one of the upper energy boundary or the lower energy boundary of the energy window is adjusted based on acquired events. The processing unit adjusts the at least one of the upper energy boundary or the lower energy boundary of the energy window for a given pixel before counting the events for the given pixel.

Abstract: An imaging system is provided that includes a gantry, plural radiation detector head assemblies, a cooling unit, and a manifold. The radiation detector head assemblies are disposed about a bore of the gantry. Each radiation detector head assembly includes a detector housing and a rotor assembly. The rotor assembly is configured to be rotated about an axis. The rotor assembly includes a detector unit that in turn includes an absorption member and associated processing circuitry. The cooling unit is mounted to the gantry and is configured to provide an output flow of air at a controlled temperature. The manifold is coupled to the cooling unit and the plural radiation detector head assemblies, and places the cooling unit and radiation detector head assemblies in fluid communication with each other. The output flow of air from the cooling unit is delivered to the plural radiation detector head assemblies.

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: 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: An imaging system is provided that includes a gantry, plural radiation detector head assemblies, a cooling unit, and a manifold. The radiation detector head assemblies are disposed about a bore of the gantry. Each radiation detector head assembly includes a detector housing and a rotor assembly. The rotor assembly is configured to be rotated about an axis. The rotor assembly includes a detector unit that in turn includes an absorption member and associated processing circuitry. The cooling unit is mounted to the gantry and is configured to provide an output flow of air at a controlled temperature. The manifold is coupled to the cooling unit and the plural radiation detector head assemblies, and places the cooling unit and radiation detector head assemblies in fluid communication with each other. The output flow of air from the cooling unit is delivered to the plural radiation detector head assemblies.

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.