Abstract: A medical imaging system having a patient support apparatus is provided. The medical imaging system includes a framework portion and a kit of rigid modular patient support panels, constructed of material having a radiation attenuation coefficient less than that of metals. The panels in sub-combination are removably mounted to and supported by the framework portion. The panels are selectively assembled to define varying surface profiles, including selective gaps there between, that are capable of conforming a patient in contact with the surface profile in a range of supported body positions from supine to seated.

Abstract: A nuclear medicine imaging system is disclosed that includes a detector including a plurality of silicon strip sensor arrays surrounding a scintillator. In some embodiments, strip detectors can be provided that can lead to significant cost benefits as compared to existing detectors, such as existing nuclear detectors. The preferred embodiments may be applied in nuclear medical cameras, while other embodiments may be applied in other radiation applications, whether medical or non-medical applications.

Abstract: The present invention relates to an apparatus for nuclear medicine imaging in which the imaging platform is attached directly to the detectors for nuclear imaging to allow for minimal constant distance between the detector(s) and the object to be imaged. As the detector moves around the object to be imaged to capture different angular views of the object, the imaging platform is rotated in a compensatory manner to maintain a its long axis perpendicular to gravity during movement of the detector. An advantage of this configuration over prior systems is the ability to obtain multiple angular projections while the distance between the detector and the object being imaged is maintained at a minimum, but the danger of detector-object collision is minimized and the necessity for orbital path calibration to preserve precision of detector movement and distance is eliminated.

Abstract: An inverse collimator detector for nuclear medicine imaging applications is provided. The inverse collimator detector includes an inverse collimator wherein high density, high atomic number collimator material is placed in the location where the conventional collimator has no material, and no material is placed where the conventional collimator has high density, high atomic number collimator material. The inverse collimator detector of the present invention allows significantly higher detection efficiency for incident photons while providing distance information and maintaining high resolution for isolated, small sources of radioactivity associated with molecular imaging agents.

Abstract: A radiation detection that employs an array of carbon-based photodetectors (CBPD) to convert scintillation photons into electronic signals is disclosed. According to one embodiment, the carbon-based photodiode consists of a p-type semiconductor and an n-type semiconductor. Further, the p-type semiconductor and n-type semiconductors are a conjugated polymer and a media comprised of fullerenes respectively.