Abstract: A method for correcting emission data from Positron Emission Tomography (PET) or SPECT includes generating a plurality of computed tomography (CT) image data, selecting a portion of the CT image data, processing the selected CT data to generate a plurality of attenuation correction (CTAC) factors at the appropriate energy of the emission data, weighting the CTAC factors to generate an emission attenuation correction map wherein the weights are determined based on the axial location and the slice thickness of the CT data and the axial location and the slice thickness of the PET or SPECT data, and utilizing the generated attenuation correction map to generate an attenuation corrected PET image.

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.