Abstract: A gamma camera device includes a collimator with pinholes which surrounds an object space for receiving an object, a detector surface for detecting gamma radiation emitted by the object and passing through pinholes of the collimator, and a controller for processing the detector signals into an image of the object. The collimator and the object space have a common longitudinal axis, wherein the collimator includes a plurality of groups each of multiple pinholes with a central line. In each group, the pinholes lie in a plane perpendicular to the longitudinal axis, wherein the pinholes of the groups together see a focus volume, which focus volume has a geometric center. Within each group, on a rotation around said longitudinal axis, the respective central line of each of said pinholes becomes congruent with the central line of each of the other pinholes of the group.

Abstract: A gamma radiation breast imaging apparatus, comprising an object positioning device, defining an imaging space and having as an intended insertion direction of the breast to be imaged, and a gamma camera positioned to image a volume in said imaging space. The gamma camera comprises a collimator with a first plurality of focused pinholes, the individual fields of view of the first pinholes defining a common central field of view having a geometrical center. The apparatus also has a gamma sensitive detector to receive images from the collimator. The first pinholes are provided non-symmetrically with respect to a first plane through said geometrical center that is perpendicular to the collimator and parallel to said intended insertion direction. Hereby, more angular information about the scanned volume can be obtained for the same detector size, in particular when combined with a similar opposite camera.

Abstract: The invention provides a radiation detection device (1) for obtaining an image of a part of a test animal or human using high-energy radiation, comprising a detection chamber, a plurality of pinholes distributed all around the detection chamber over at least one pinhole wall, at least one framing wall having an opening for the high-energy radiation, at least one detector which is designed for detecting high-energy radiation, in which a plurality of image fields are provided on the at least one detector, in each case having one beam path from a part of the detection chamber to at least one detector, in which at least one of the at least one pinhole wall and the at least one framing wall is displaceable in such a manner that at least one of the plurality of image fields can be modified in size and/or direction. This provides the possibility to image an object at several angles, or to image a larger or a different part thereof, so that the entire device can be used in a more flexible manner.

Abstract: The invention provides a gamma detection device, a collimator for use therein, and use of such a collimator or device in imaging an object. The invention is directed to pinhole imaging with high energy photons, such as 511 keV photons. In order to achieve sufficiently low pinhole knife edge penetration, the collimator uses a plurality of focused clusters of pinholes, each with a smaller opening angle, and arranged such that all the combined fields of view of the individual pinholes in all clusters provide a large central field of view with still compact dimensions of the detection device. This is made possible since the field of view of a single cluster is divided up into a number of individual fields of view.

Abstract: A scintillation camera includes a scintillation material which is capable of converting high-energy radiation incident thereon and having a wavelength of X-ray radiation or shorter into optical radiation, at least one position-sensitive detector capable of detecting the optical radiation, and at least one bundle of light guides which is located in front of the detector, characterized in that the bundle of light guides is located between the detector and the scintillation material. As a result of the scintillation material being provided as a separate unit, optionally including non-scintillating light guides, selection of the materials of each of the two parts can be optimized. Thus, for example, the scintillation material is no longer hygroscopic or subject to restrictions because of the need to grow it in parallel bundles.

Abstract: The invention provides a detection device and a method of making a gamma detection image. The detection device comprises a gamma camera and an additional camera, that can make an image of the object outside the gamma detection space. Through correlating the positions of the object with respect to the first and the second camera, the images therefrom may also be correlated. The correlation of the images allows quick and accurate navigation through the object.

Abstract: The invention provides a radiation detection device (1) for obtaining an image of a part of a test animal or human using high-energy radiation, comprising a detection chamber, a plurality of pinholes distributed all around the detection chamber over at least one pinhole wall, at least one framing wall having an opening for the high-energy radiation, at least one detector which is designed for detecting high-energy radiation, in which a plurality of image fields are provided on the at least one detector, in each case having one beam path from a part of the detection chamber to at least one detector, in which at least one of the at least one pinhole wall and the at least one framing wall is displaceable in such a manner that at least one of the plurality of image fields can be modified in size and/or direction. This provides the possibility to image an object at several angles, or to image a larger or a different part thereof, so that the entire device can be used in a more flexible manner.

Abstract: The invention provides a gamma detection device, a collimator for use therein, and use of such a collimator or device in imaging an object. The invention is directed to pinhole imaging with high energy photons, such as 511 keV photons. In order to achieve sufficiently low pinhole knife edge penetration, the collimator uses a plurality of focused clusters of pinholes, each with a smaller opening angle, and arranged such that all the combined fields of view of the individual pinholes in all clusters provide a large central field of view with still compact dimensions of the detection device. This is made possible since the field of view of a single cluster is divided up into a number of individual fields of view.