Abstract: A virtual-reality method for surgical training simulates the task of detecting sentinel lymph nodes using a nuclear uptake probe. The simulator can be used with lymphoscintigraphic clinical imaging data to provide patient-specific training scenarios. In yet another embodiment, the apparatus can use a database representing mathematical phantoms to simulate different patient sizes, node distributions, node uptakes, and combinations thereof.

Abstract: An apparatus and a method for implementing emission tomography of a compressed and/or immobilized body part with open access for interventions, such as biopsy, hook-wire placement, or minimally invasive therapy, are provided. The apparatus includes one or more holders that compress and/or immobilize the body part on one or more sides of the body part. One or more of the holders contains an aperture through which an intervention can be carried out. Affixed to one or more holders are mechanical stages that carry and move a gamma-ray detector or detectors across the body part, so that the gamma-ray detector(s) can at times stay on the mechanical stages in a position that does not interfere with interventions through the aperture in the body part holder(s). A safety door mechanism is affixed to the aperture in the body part holder(s) in order to prevent the gamma-ray detector(s) from coming into physical contact with one or more portions of the body part that might otherwise protrude through the aperture.