Abstract: A nuclear medicine (NM) multi-head imaging system is provided that includes a gantry, plural detector units mounted to the gantry, and at least one processor operably coupled to at least one of the detector units. The detector units are mounted to the gantry. Each detector unit defines a detector unit position and corresponding view oriented toward a center of the bore. Each detector unit is configured to acquire imaging information over a sweep range corresponding to the corresponding view. The at least one processor is configured to, for each detector unit, determine plural angular positions along the sweep range corresponding to boundaries of the object to be imaged, generate a representation of each angular position for each detector unit position, generate a model based on the angular positions using the representation, and determine scan parameters to be used to image the object using the model.

Abstract: An imaging system is provided that includes a gantry, at least five detector units mounted to the gantry, a corresponding collimator for each of the detector units, at least one processing unit, and a controller. Each collimator has septa defining plural bores for each pixel of at least some of a plurality of pixels of the detector unit. A corresponding interior septum of the collimator is disposed above an internal portion of a corresponding pixel of the at least some of the plurality of pixels. The at least one processing unit is configured to obtain object information corresponding to the object to be imaged. The controller is configured to control an independent rotational movement of each the detector units used to acquire scanning information by detecting emissions from the object, wherein the controller rotates each of the detector units at a corresponding sweep rate.

Abstract: A radiation detector head assembly includes a detector column. The detector column includes a detector having a first surface and a second surface opposite the first surface. The detector column also includes a first collimator disposed over the first surface of the detector configured for use during imaging scans involving radiation in a first energy range. The detector column further includes a second collimator disposed over the second surface of the detector configured for use during imaging scans involving radiation in a second energy range different from the first energy range.

Abstract: A nuclear medicine (NM) multi-head imaging system is provided that includes a gantry, plural detector units mounted to the gantry, and at least one processor operably coupled to at least one of the detector units. The detector units are mounted to the gantry. Each detector unit defines a detector unit position and corresponding view oriented toward a center of the bore. Each detector unit is configured to acquire imaging information over a sweep range corresponding to the corresponding view. The at least one processor is configured to, for each detector unit, determine plural angular positions along the sweep range corresponding to boundaries of the object to be imaged, generate a representation of each angular position for each detector unit position, generate a model based on the angular positions using the representation, and determine scan parameters to be used to image the object using the model.

Abstract: An imaging system is provided that includes a gantry, at least five detector units mounted to the gantry, a corresponding collimator for each of the detector units, at least one processing unit, and a controller. Each collimator has septa defining plural bores for each pixel of at least some of a plurality of pixels of the detector unit. A corresponding interior septum of the collimator is disposed above an internal portion of a corresponding pixel of the at least some of the plurality of pixels. The at least one processing unit is configured to obtain object information corresponding to the object to be imaged. The controller is configured to control an independent rotational movement of each the detector units used to acquire scanning information by detecting emissions from the object, wherein the controller rotates each of the detector units at a corresponding sweep rate.

Abstract: Methods and systems are provided for a medical imaging system having a detector array. In one example, the detector array may include a plurality of adjustable imaging detectors, each of the plurality of adjustable imaging detectors including a detector unit, each detector unit having a plurality of rows of detector modules, wherein the plurality of adjustable imaging detectors may be arranged on an annular gantry, the annular gantry configured for rotation about an axis of a cylindrical aperture of the annular gantry, the axis extending a length of the cylindrical aperture, and wherein each of the plurality of adjustable imaging detectors may be disposed within the cylindrical aperture and may extend orthogonally toward the axis.

Abstract: Methods and systems are provided for a medical imaging system having a detector array. In one example, the detector array may include a plurality of adjustable imaging detectors, each of the plurality of adjustable imaging detectors including a detector unit, each detector unit having a plurality of rows of detector modules, wherein the plurality of adjustable imaging detectors may be arranged on an annular gantry, the annular gantry configured for rotation about an axis of a cylindrical aperture of the annular gantry, the axis extending a length of the cylindrical aperture, and wherein each of the plurality of adjustable imaging detectors may be disposed within the cylindrical aperture and may extend orthogonally toward the axis.

Abstract: Methods and systems are provided for additive manufacturing of collimators for medical imaging applications. In one example, a collimator may include a plurality of collimator segments including a plurality of septa, wherein at least one collimator segment may be interlocked with at least one adjacent collimator segment via mating of one or more projections with one or more complementary recesses, each of the one or more projections including a lengthwise portion of at least one septum of the plurality of septa.

Abstract: A detector assembly is provided that includes a semiconductor detector, a collimator, and a processing unit. The semiconductor detector has a first surface and a second surface opposed to each other. The first surface includes pixelated anodes, and the second surface includes a cathode electrode. The collimator includes openings defined by septa. The collimator defines a pitch D between adjacent septa, with the septa defining a septa length L. A ratio of L/D is less than 14. The processing unit is configured to identify detected events within virtual sub-pixels distributed along a length and width of the semiconductor detector. Each pixel comprises a plurality of corresponding virtual sub-pixels, and absorbed photons are counted as events in a corresponding virtual sub-pixel.

Abstract: Methods and systems are provided for additive manufacturing of collimators for medical imaging applications. In one example, a collimator may include a plurality of collimator segments including a plurality of septa, wherein at least one collimator segment may be interlocked with at least one adjacent collimator segment via mating of one or more projections with one or more complementary recesses, each of the one or more projections including a lengthwise portion of at least one septum of the plurality of septa.

Abstract: Methods and systems are provided for calibrating a nuclear medicine imaging system having more than 5 detector heads. In one embodiment, a method includes obtaining residual center of gravity determinations corresponding to each of a plurality of detector units based on point source projections acquired over a series of detector unit rotational steps, obtaining center of gravity determinations for each of the plurality of detector units based on point source projections acquired over a series of detector unit sweep angles, obtaining a fit of the center of gravity determinations for each of the plurality of detector units, and determining a sweep offset for each of the plurality of detector units based on the residual center of gravity determinations and the fit of the center of gravity determinations for each of the plurality of detector units. In this way, a sweep axis zero degree position for each of the plurality of detector units is determined.

Abstract: Methods and systems are provided for calibrating a nuclear medicine imaging system having more than 5 detector heads. In one embodiment, a method includes obtaining residual center of gravity determinations corresponding to each of a plurality of detector units based on point source projections acquired over a series of detector unit rotational steps, obtaining center of gravity determinations for each of the plurality of detector units based on point source projections acquired over a series of detector unit sweep angles, obtaining a fit of the center of gravity determinations for each of the plurality of detector units, and determining a sweep offset for each of the plurality of detector units based on the residual center of gravity determinations and the fit of the center of gravity determinations for each of the plurality of detector units. In this way, a sweep axis zero degree position for each of the plurality of detector units is determined.

Abstract: Methods and systems are provided for a medical imaging system having a detector array. In one example, the detector array may include a plurality of adjustable imaging detectors, each of the plurality of adjustable imaging detectors including a detector unit, each detector unit having a plurality of rows of detector modules, wherein the plurality of adjustable imaging detectors may be arranged on an annular gantry, the annular gantry configured for rotation about an axis of a cylindrical aperture of the annular gantry, the axis extending a length of the cylindrical aperture, and wherein each of the plurality of adjustable imaging detectors may be disposed within the cylindrical aperture and may extend orthogonally toward the axis.

Abstract: Methods and systems are provided for a medical imaging system having a detector array. In one example, the detector array may include a plurality of adjustable imaging detectors arranged in subsets thereof, each of the plurality of adjustable imaging detectors including a detector unit, each detector unit having a plurality of rows of detector modules, wherein the plurality of adjustable imaging detectors may be arranged on an annular gantry, where an inner surface of the annular gantry may circumscribe a substantially rectangular aperture therethrough, and wherein each subset of the plurality of adjustable imaging detectors may be respectively disposed on a side of the inner surface and may extend within the substantially rectangular aperture.

Abstract: A nuclear medicine (NM) multi-head imaging system is provided that includes a gantry, plural detector units mounted to the gantry, and at least one processor operably coupled to at least one of the detector units. The detector units are mounted to the gantry. Each detector unit defines a detector unit position and corresponding view oriented toward a center of the bore. Each detector unit is configured to acquire imaging information over a sweep range corresponding to the corresponding view. The at least one processor is configured to, for each detector unit, determine plural angular positions along the sweep range corresponding to boundaries of the object to be imaged, generate a representation of each angular position for each detector unit position, generate a model based on the angular positions using the representation, and determine scan parameters to be used to image the object using the model.

Abstract: A nuclear medicine (NM) multi-head imaging system is provided that includes a gantry, plural detector units mounted to the gantry, and at least one processor operably coupled to at least one of the detector units. The detector units are mounted to the gantry. Each detector unit defines a detector unit position and corresponding view oriented toward a center of the bore. Each detector unit is configured to acquire imaging information over a sweep range corresponding to the corresponding view. The at least one processor is configured to, for each detector unit, determine plural angular positions along the sweep range corresponding to boundaries of the object to be imaged, generate a representation of each angular position for each detector unit position, generate a model based on the angular positions using the representation, and determine scan parameters to be used to image the object using the model.

Abstract: A detector assembly is provided that includes a semiconductor detector, a collimator, and a processing unit. The semiconductor detector has a first surface and a second surface opposed to each other. The first surface includes pixelated anodes, and the second surface includes a cathode electrode. The collimator includes openings defined by septa. The collimator defines a pitch D between adjacent septa, with the septa defining a septa length L. A ratio of L/D is less than 14. The processing unit is configured to identify detected events within virtual sub-pixels distributed along a length and width of the semiconductor detector. Each pixel comprises a plurality of corresponding virtual sub-pixels, and absorbed photons are counted as events in a corresponding virtual sub-pixel.

Abstract: A detector assembly is provided that includes a semiconductor detector, a collimator, and a processing unit. The semiconductor detector has a first surface and a second surface opposed to each other. The first surface includes pixelated anodes, and the second surface includes a cathode electrode. The collimator includes openings defined by septa. The collimator defines a pitch D between adjacent septa, with the septa defining a septa length L. A ratio of L/D is less than 14. The processing unit is configured to identify detected events within virtual sub-pixels distributed along a length and width of the semiconductor detector. Each pixel comprises a plurality of corresponding virtual sub-pixels, and absorbed photons are counted as events in a corresponding virtual sub-pixel.

Abstract: Systems and methods for controlling motion of detectors having moving detector heads are provided. One system includes a gantry and a plurality of detector units mounted to the gantry, wherein the plurality of detector units are individually movable including translational movement and rotational movement. The system further includes a controller configured to control movement of the plurality of detector units to acquire Single Photon Emission Computed Tomography (SPECT) data, wherein the movement includes both the translational movement and the rotational movement coordinated to position the plurality of detector units adjacent to a subject.

Abstract: An imaging detector is provided that includes a continuous NaI crystal, a glass plate, an array of SiPMs, and an array of concentrators. The continuous NaI crystal defines a reception side and a detection side. The glass plate is disposed on the detection side of the continuous NaI crystal, and is interposed between the detection side of the continuous NaI crystal and the array. The array of concentrators corresponds to the array of SiPMs, and is interposed between the array of SiPMs and the glass plate. Each concentrator has a reception side opening that is larger than a detection side opening, with the detection side opening disposed proximate to a corresponding SiPM.