Abstract: The present invention is an apparatus for examining a body part. The apparatus comprises a mechanism for immobilizing and compressing the body part. The apparatus also comprises a mechanism for providing an internal anatomical image of the body part and a mechanism for detecting single gamma-rays emitted by a radiotracer infiltrated into the body part. The detecting mechanism is disposed in an adjacent relationship with the mechanism for providing an internal anatomic image so that the body part remains in the same position during and between anatomic and radiotracer imaging. In one embodiment, the detecting mechanism includes a detector module disposed on one side of the immobilizing mechanism. The detector module preferably has at least one array of gamma ray sensitive material in communication with a position detector. In another embodiment, the detecting mechanism includes a pair of detector modules disposed one on each side of the immobilizing mechanism.

Abstract: The present invention is an apparatus for examining a body part. The apparatus comprises a mechanism for immobilizing and compressing the body part. The apparatus also comprises a mechanism for providing an internal anatomical image of the body part and a mechanism for detecting single gamma-rays emitted by a radiotracer infiltrated into the body part. The detecting mechanism is disposed in an adjacent relationship with the mechanism for providing an internal anatomic image so that the body part remains in the same position during and between anatomic and radiotracer imaging. In one embodiment, the detecting mechanism includes a detector module disposed on one side of the immobilizing mechanism. The detector module preferably has at least one array of gamma ray sensitive material in communication with a position detector. In another embodiment, the detecting mechanism includes a pair of detector modules disposed one on each side of the immobilizing mechanism.

Abstract: The present invention is an apparatus for examining a body part of a patient. The apparatus is comprised of a first detector module for detecting radiotracer emissions from the body part and a second detector module for detecting radiotracer emissions from the body part. The first and second detector modules are disposed adjacent to each other with the body part disposed therebetween. The apparatus also comprises means for backprojecting detected coincident events with respect to the first and second detector modules onto a plurality of imaging planes between the first and second detecting modules. Preferably, the backprojecting means comprises means for defining a line between a point on the first sensor array and a point on the second sensor array associated with a coincident event and means for determining the intersection of the line with each imaging plane.

Abstract: The present invention is an apparatus for examining a body part. The apparatus comprises a device for providing an anatomical image of the body part, such as an x-ray and a device for providing a physiological image of the body part in an adjacent relationship with said means for providing an anatomic image such that the body part remains in the same position during and between anatomic and physiological imaging. Preferably, the body part is infiltrated with a radiotracer and the device for providing a physiological image includes a device for detecting emissions of the radiotracers from the body part. In an alternative embodiment, the apparatus for examining a body part has a device for immobilizing the body part and a device for providing a physiological image of the body part. The providing device is in an adjacent relationship with the immobilizing means.