Abstract: A brain navigation device, comprising: a lead with an elongated lead body; at least one macro-electrode contact positioned on an outer surface on the lead; wherein the at least one macro-electrode contact is located at the distal part of said lead; and wherein the at least one macro-electrode contact is configured to be used during lead navigation.

Abstract: A brain navigation device, comprising a lead with an elongated lead body, at least one macro-electrode contact positioned on an outer surface on the lead, wherein the at least one macro-electrode contact is located at the distal part of the lead, and wherein the at least one macro-electrode contact is configured to be used during lead navigation.

Abstract: A system for differential recording connectable to an electrical lead with at least two electrodes, including: the lead having a distal end; at least one amplifier electrically connectable to the at least two electrodes, wherein the at least one amplifier subtracts a signal recorded by one of the at least two electrodes, from a signal recorded by the other one of the at least two electrodes to generate a differential signal; a memory configured for storing said differential signal and reference indications of electrical signals associated with neural tissue; a processing circuitry for detection of an anatomical position, wherein the processing circuitry calculates an anatomical position of the electrical lead based on processing of the differential signal and the reference indications of electrical signals associated with the neural tissue.

Abstract: A system for differential recording connectable to an electrical lead with at least two electrodes, including: the lead having a distal end; at least one amplifier electrically connectable to the at least two electrodes, wherein the at least one amplifier subtracts a signal recorded by one of the at least two electrodes, from a signal recorded by the other one of the at least two electrodes to generate a differential signal; a memory configured for storing said differential signal and reference indications of electrical signals associated with neural tissue; a processing circuitry for detection of an anatomical position, wherein the processing circuitry calculates an anatomical position of the electrical lead based on processing of the differential signal and the reference indications of electrical signals associated with the neural tissue.

Abstract: A system for differential recording connectable to an electrical lead with at least two electrodes, including: the lead having a distal end; at least one amplifier electrically connectable to the at least two electrodes, wherein the at least one amplifier subtracts a signal recorded by one of the at least two electrodes, from a signal recorded by the other one of the at least two electrodes to generate a differential signal; a memory configured for storing said differential signal and reference indications of electrical signals associated with neural tissue; a processing circuitry for detection of an anatomical position, wherein the processing circuitry calculates an anatomical position of the electrical lead based on processing of the differential signal and the reference indications of electrical signals associated with the neural tissue.

Abstract: A brain navigation device, comprising: a lead with an elongated lead body; at least one macro-electrode contact positioned on an outer surface on the lead; wherein the at least one macro-electrode contact is located at the distal part of said lead; and wherein the at least one macro-electrode contact is configured to be used during lead navigation.

Abstract: The present invention teaches a new and unique method and apparatus of resolving the inaccuracy related to high photon counting rate in photon counting-based detectors that comprises a sensor, a discriminator and a counter. According to the method, a circuitry is provided at the output of the discriminator wherein the circuitry is adapted to measure duty cycle of a signal by which an indication of an input rate of photons to the discriminator is established.

Abstract: Indirectly converted X-ray radiation is detected by a sensor system having a plurality of detector modules arranged with individual pedestals in a staggered configuration. Each detector module has a plurality of scintillator-diode combinations associated with respective electrical circuits for concurrent single photon counting and charge-integration. Each electrical circuit includes at least two counters and an integrator that act cooperatively to provide the concurrent single photon counting and charge-integration.

Abstract: The present invention teaches a new and unique method and apparatus of resolving the inaccuracy related to high photon counting rate in photon counting-based detectors that comprises a sensor, a discriminator and a counter. According to the method, a circuitry is provided at the output of the discriminator wherein the circuitry is adapted to measure duty cycle of a signal by which an indication of an input rate of photons to the discriminator is established.

Abstract: A method of mounting a CT imager on a gantry: determining a center of rotation of a rotor of the gantry; siting a plurality of mounting elements at predetermined positions with respect to the center of rotation; and attaching the mounting elements to the rotor while keeping the mounting elements at the predetermined positions.

Abstract: A nuclear medicine camera having an X-ray imaging capability. The camera comprises at least one gamma camera mounted on a gantry and an X-ray CT imager mounted on the same gantry. The at least one gamma camera and the X-ray imager are capable of simultaneously rotating about a common axis at different rotation rates.

Abstract: A nuclear medicine camera having an X-ray imaging capability, comprising: a gantry having a stationary portion and at least one rotating portion; at least one gamma camera mounted on a said at least one rotating portion and capable of being rotated together at a common first rotation rate about an axis, said at least one gamma camera being capable of acquiring nuclear imaging data for reconstructing a tomographic nuclear image; and an X-ray CT imager having an X-ray source mounted on said at least one rotating portion and being capable of acquiring X-ray imaging data for reconstructing an X-ray image; said X-ray CT imager being mounted closer to said stationary portion than said at least one gamma camera.

Abstract: A method of mounting a CT imager on a gantry: determining a center of rotation of a rotor of the gantry; siting a plurality of mounting elements at predetermined positions with respect to the center of rotation; and attaching the mounting elements to the rotor while keeping the mounting elements at the predetermined positions.

Abstract: A method of producing a nuclear medicine image of a subject, comprising: acquiring nuclear imaging data suitable to produce a nuclear tomographic image, said nuclear image data being acquired by a gamma camera head rotating about the subject; acquiring X-ray imaging data suitable to produce an X-ray tomographic image for attenuation correction of the gamma camera image, said X-ray imaging data being acquired by detectors irradiated by an X-ray source rotating around the subject; reducing the sensitivity of gamma camera head while the X-rays are produced; and reconstructing an attenuation corrected nuclear medicine image utilizing the nuclear imaging data and X-ray imaging data.

Abstract: A nuclear medicine camera having an X-ray imaging capability, comprising: a gantry having a stationary portion and at least one rotating portion; at least one gamma camera mounted on a said at least one rotating portion and capable of being rotated together at a common first rotation rate about an axis, said at least one gamma camera being capable of acquiring nuclear imaging data for reconstructing a tomographic nuclear image; and an X-ray CT imager having an X-ray source mounted on said at least one rotating portion and being capable of acquiring X-ray imaging data for reconstructing an X-ray image; said X-ray CT imager being mounted closer to said stationary portion than said at least one gamma camera.

Abstract: Apparatus for producing attenuation corrected nuclear medicine images of patients, comprising: at least one gamma camera head that acquires nuclear image data suitable to produce a nuclear tomographic image at a first controllable rotation rate about an axis; at least one X-ray CT imager that acquires X-ray data suitable to produce an attenuation image for correction of the nuclear tomographic image at a second controllable rotation rate about the axis; and a controller that controls the data acquisition and first and second rotation rates to selectively provide at least one of the following modes of operation: (i) a movement gated NM imaging mode in which the second rotation rate is substantially higher than the first rotation rate and the data from each view of the X-ray acquisition is associated with one of a plurality of respiration gated time periods; (ii) a cardiac gated NM imaging mode in which the second rotation rate is substantially higher than the first rotation rate and the data from each view

Abstract: Apparatus for producing attenuation corrected nuclear medicine images of patients, comprising: at least one gamma camera head that acquires nuclear image data suitable to produce a nuclear tomographic image at a first controllable rotation rate about an axis; at least one X-ray CT imager that acquires X-ray data suitable to produce an attenuation image for correction of the nuclear tomographic image at a second controllable rotation rate about the axis; and a controller that controls the data acquisition and first and second rotation rates to selectively provide at least one of the following modes of operation: (i) a movement gated NM imaging mode in which the second rotation rate is substantially higher than the first rotation rate and the data from each view of the X-ray acquisition is associated with one of a plurality of respiration gated time periods; (ii) a cardiac gated NM imaging mode in which the second rotation rate is substantially higher than the first rotation rate and the data from each view of

Abstract: A method of producing a nuclear medicine image of a subject comprising the steps of acquiring nuclear image data suitable to produce a nuclear tomographic image, the data being acquired by at least one gamma camera head (12, 14) rotating about the subject at an average first rate, acquiring x-ray imaging data suitable to produce an x-ray tomographic image for attenuation correction of the gamma camera image, the data being acquired by an array of detectors (20) irradiated by an x-ray source (18) rotating around the subject at an average second rate which is within a factor of 10 of the first rate, and reconstructing an attenuation corrected nuclear medicine image utilizing the nuclear imaging data and x-ray imaging data.

Abstract: A method of acquiring an analog electrical pulse signal caused by a radiation event impinging on a detector crystal and viewed by a plurality of detector units. An image is formed based on a plurality of the events, each of which is captured by some of the detector units. The method of acquiring includes.(a) adding a linearity enhancement signal to the analog signal; and(b) converting the analog signal to a digital signal, where the linearity enhancement signal is slowly varying relative to the length of an analog signal pulse. Alternatively or additionally, a resolution enhancement signal is added to the analog signal before (b) converting the analog signal to a digital signal. The resolution enhancement signal varying relatively quickly compared to the length of an analog signal pulse.