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: A dynamic Single Photon Emission Computed Tomography (SPECT) system utilizes an array of modular detectors structured in a dome shape and being independently tiltable in polar or azimuth angle. The system can be used to image cardiovascular studies as well as other quantitative studies and 3D imaging studies, without requiring movement or motion of the detectors.

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: A collimator for a nuclear imaging device includes, i.e., is formed from, a tungsten polymer. Preferably, the tungsten polymer includes at least 50% by weight of tungsten powdered tungsten mixed with polymer and has a density substantially equivalent to that of lead. Preferably, the collimator includes at least one of a slat, a parallel hole, a pinhole, a multi-pinhole, a square hole, a hexagonal hole, a fan beam, a diverging and a converging beam type-collimator. Preferably, the collimator has a thickness from 0.01 to 1.1 cm and a photon stopping power of from 0.5 to 50% for stopping photons having energy levels from 50 to 200 keV.

Abstract: A gamma camera having a scintillation detector formed of multiple rotating bar detector modules arranged in a ring configuration, with synchronized spin motion of each module. Such a camera can be used for both PET (coincidence) and single photon imaging applications. Image reconstruction is obtained using either an inverse 3-D Radon transform or a 3-D fan-beam algorithm.

Abstract: A preclinical nuclear imaging detector system, including a gantry and one or more detector assemblies, each including a scintillator configured to interact with radiation emanating from a target test object being imaged and at least one pinhole collimator, having one or more pinhole apertures formed therein. The pinhole collimator is disposed between the target object and the scintillator, wherein a distance between the pinhole aperture and the scintillator is selected as a function of the number of pinhole apertures provided in the collimator and to optimize one of sensitivity or spatial resolution, such that the one or more pinhole apertures collectively project a unitary minified radiation image of the target object onto the scintillator. Further, one or more photosensors are optically coupled to the scintillator to receive interaction events from the scintillator.

Abstract: A dynamic Single Photon Emission Computed Tomography (SPECT) system utilizes an array of modular detectors structured in a dome shape and being independently tiltable in polar or azimuth angle. The system can be used to image cardio-vascular studies as well as other quantitative studies and 3D imaging studies, without requiring movement or motion of the detectors.

Abstract: A nuclear imaging system and method are provided for synchronously recovering the field of view of a target to be imaged includes multiple detectors attached to a gantry, a support member or wobbling ring and a driver. The driver engages the wobbling ring whereby the wobbling ring rotates with respect to the gantry. The wobbling ring cooperates with the detectors causing the detectors to synchronously adjust to multiple viewing positions of a detection target, enabling recovery of the full field of view from an otherwise truncated field of view if the detectors were stationary with respect to the gantry.

Abstract: A method for enhancing the light output efficiency of a scintillation crystal, e.g. a NaI(Tl), scintillation crystal generally includes providing an input face of the scintillation crystal with a first set of substantially spaced apart, parallel channels that extend in a first direction along a portion of the input face of the crystal and providing a second set of substantially spaced apart, parallel channels in a portion of the input face of the crystal that extend in a second direction along a portion of the input face that is non-parallel to the first direction.

Abstract: A pinhole collimator is provided that eliminates or at least minimizes the need for collimator exchange, to manage system sensitivity versus spatial resolution tradeoff, and to control imaging FOV (field of view) depending on object size by controlling the focal length of the collimator. There is also provided a detector system is that includes a detector, a collimator, and means for changing the focal length. Various means for changing the focal length are also identified. The collimator can have a plurality of apertures in a top plate, each aperture with its own collimator septa. Additionally, there is provided a medical imaging system that includes the detector system and collimator of the present invention. The nuclear medical imaging systems can have a hand-held detector assembly and be portable.

Abstract: A medical imaging system locates tumors in tissue surrounding an anatomical portion of the human body subject to investigation for primary lesions. The imaging system comprises a single-photon limited angle tomographic imaging device to provide a first emission image including tissue surrounding the anatomical portion. In combination with the single photon limited angle tomographic imaging device, a digital x-ray device provides an x-ray transmission image of the anatomical portion and tissue thereabout. A third component of the imaging system is a single-photon nuclear imaging device for tomographic image acquisition and reconstruction to produce a second emission image of the anatomical portion and tissue previously viewed by the digital radiography device. Registration of the first emission image, the transmission image and the second emission leads to selection of two- and three-dimensional image sets of the anatomical portion and tissue surrounding the anatomical portion.

Abstract: An imaging radiation detector includes a scintillator coupled to an array of photodiodes operating in Geiger mode. The array is divided into separate detector pixels, each of which is composed of a multiplicity of photodiode cells with their outputs tied together. While each of the cells operates independently in a binary or digital mode, by tying together the outputs of a multiplicity of adjacent photodiode cells forming a single pixel, the sum of the outputs is proportional to the intensity of generated scintillation photons, similar to the output of a PMT. Appropriate quenching circuitry is provided to rapidly reset the photodiodes after scintillation photon detection.

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 gamma camera having a scintillation detector formed of multiple bar detector modules. The bar detector modules in turn are formed of multiple scintillation crystal bars, each being designed to have physical characteristics, such as light yield, to achieve a sufficient spatial resolution for nuclear medical imaging applications. According to another aspect of the invention, the bar detector modules are arranged in a three-dimensional array, where each module is made up of a two-dimensional array of bar detectors with at least one photosensor optically coupled to each end of the module. Such a camera can be used for both PET (coincidence) and single photon imaging applications. According to another aspect of the invention, a bar detector gamma camera is provided, which utilizes an improved positioning algorithm that greatly enhances spatial resolution in the z-axis direction (i.e., the direction along the length of the scintillation crystal bar).

Abstract: A multi-pinhole collimator nuclear medical imaging detector divides a target object space into many non-overlapping areas and projects a minified image of each area onto a segmented detector, where each segment functions as an independent detector or imaging cell. Septa may be provided between the collimator and the detector, to physically isolate the segments.

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 dynamic Single Photon Emission Computed Tomography (SPECT) system utilizes an array of modular detectors structured in a dome shape and being independently tiltable in polar or azimuth angle. The system can be used to image cardiovascular studies as well as other quantitative studies and 3D imaging studies, without requiring movement or motion of the detectors.

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: A multi-pinhole collimator nuclear medical imaging detector divides a target object space into many non-overlapping areas and projects a minified image of each area onto a segmented detector, where each segment functions as an independent detector or imaging cell. Septa may be provided between the collimator and the detector, to physically isolate the segments.

Abstract: A gamma camera having a scintillation detector formed of multiple rotating bar detector modules arranged in a ring configuration, with synchronized spin motion of each module. Such a camera can be used for both PET (coincidence) and single photon imaging applications. Image reconstruction is obtained using either an inverse 3-D Radon transform or a 3-D fan-beam algorithm.