Abstract: Provided is a radiation imaging apparatus including: a conversion unit including a plurality of pixels arranged two-dimensionally, wherein each of the pixels includes a conversion element for converting incident radiation into an electric charge and a switching element for transferring an electric signal based on the electric charge; a drive circuit unit for outputting, to the switching element, a drive signal having a voltage for turning on the switching element; a read-out circuit unit for reading out the electric signal from the pixel; a calculating unit for calculating the S/N ratio of the electric signal read out by the read-out circuit unit; and a determination unit capable of changing the voltage of the drive signal output from the drive circuit unit according to the S/N ratio calculated. As a result, the radiation imaging apparatus capable of improving the S/N ratio of the derived image is provided.

Abstract: The invention relates to a method of inspecting a specimen surface. The method comprises the steps of generating a plurality of primary beams directed towards the specimen surface, focussing the plurality of primary beams onto respective loci on the specimen surface, collecting a plurality of secondary beams of charged particles originating from the specimen surface upon incidence of the primary beams, converting at least one of the collected secondary beams into an optical beam, and detecting the optical beam.

Abstract: A method for improving timing response in light-sharing scintillation detectors is disclosed. The method includes detecting an event, by a plurality of photo sensors, from a scintillation crystal. The method then includes sampling and digitizing the photo sensor outputs by an analog-to-digital converter. Then the method includes correcting associated timing data, by a processor, for each of the photo sensor outputs based on a lookup table. The method then includes selectively time shifting the photo sensor outputs based on the lookup table to generate corrected photo sensor outputs. The method then includes summing the corrected photo sensor outputs by the processor. The method then includes generating an event time, by the processor, for the detected event based on the sum of the corrected photo sensor outputs.

Abstract: A method for determining a particle impact on a sensor device comprising M sensing areas, each impact causing a variation of at least one physical magnitude of several sensing portions, said method comprising the steps of: determining an impact center sensing area, where the variation of the at least one physical magnitude is substantially maximal, allocating a result of a sum of the physical magnitude variations of a first set of N sensing areas, said set including the impact center area and other sensing areas neighboring said impact center sensing area, where N is at least 2 and is strict less than M.

Abstract: The power consumed by a positron emission tomography (PET) imaging system is substantially reduced by utilizing an analog memory, such as a switch-capacitor analog memory, to sample and store analog values for a number of gamma ray signals so that only the stored analog values that represent pairs of gamma rays with coincident emission and vectors that are opposite to each other are digitized. In addition, the digitization is performed at a much slower clock frequency.

Abstract: Light emitted in correspondence to ionizing radiation incident from a scintillator is fed through an optical fiber to a photoelectron multiplier tube by which it is converted to an electrical signal. The electrical signal is amplified by a signal amplifying circuit, and any light emission events of given or higher intensity are discriminated by a discriminator and counted by a counter. The count value is fed to a computer. The computer converts the count value to a dosage on the basis of an exponential relationship lying between the light emission intensity and the number of emission events, thereby attaining detection of the dosage.

Abstract: A charge calibrator for simulating the output of a scintillation detector. The calibrator includes a processor for executing a Gaussian random number generator algorithm to produce an output comprising a Gaussian random number distribution having at least one characteristic established in response to a user input.

Abstract: The present invention relates to an automatic radioactivity analyzer of mixed liquid beta emitter which comprises: a sample preparation part (1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, and 7) for extracting a liquid sample from liquid-phase radioactive nuclear wastes; a sample injection part (9 and 10), including a sample transportation part for transporting a bottled sample to a radioactivity detection part to perform measurement; the radioactivity detection part (11) including two photon multiplier tubes; an exterior gamma-ray source injection part (12) for compensating for measurement efficiency according to quenching effects; a signal processing part (13), including a pre-amplifier circuit (14), a high-voltage generator circuit (15), an analogue-to-digital converter circuit (21), and a digital signal processor (DSP) (24), for generating beta spectrums by the aid of a fast coincidence counter (20) and a multi-channel analyzer (22); a main control PC (25) and a graphic user interface (GUI) program (29) for remotely automatically me

Abstract: The present invention provides a photomultiplier tube interface device (PMT), comprising a PMT module and a circuit substrate. The PMT module comprises a plurality of pins formed at a front end. A plurality of contacts are disposed on a lateral side of the circuit substrate to be electrically connected to the plurality of pins while a connecting base is arranged at a peripheral portion on another lateral side of the circuit substrate to be electrically connected to the contacts. By means of the interface device, not only the connecting pins of the PMT can be protected from being damaged and generating high frequency noise but also the convenience for assembling or replacing the PMT can be improved.

Abstract: The power consumed by a positron emission tomography (PET) imaging system is substantially reduced by utilizing an analog memory, such as a switch-capacitor analog memory, to sample and store analog values for a number of gamma ray signals so that only the stored analog values that represent pairs of gamma rays with coincident emission and vectors that are opposite to each other are digitized. In addition, the digitization is performed at a much slower clock frequency.

Abstract: A method and an apparatus are disclosed for processing of detector signals, for example in nuclear-medical imaging. In at least one disclosed embodiment, the signals from N photodetectors are transmitted to a total of approximately M=ld(N) output lines, with the signals from the photodetectors each being weighted with +1 or ?1 for the addition onto an output line.

Abstract: The nuclear medicine diagnosis equipment according to the present invention comprises a plurality of scintillators, and the equipment comprises a plurality of scintillator arrays in a depth direction of an incident ? ray with different decay times for an emitted light pulse; an incidence timing calculating device for calculating an incident timing in the scintillator array; a scintillator array identifying device for identifying a scintillator array, in a plurality of arrays, that has received the electrical signal; and an incidence timing compensation device in a position arithmetic processing part for discriminating whether compensation for an incidence timing calculated by the incidence timing calculating device is to be done or not corresponding to a scintillator array identified by the scintillator array identification part.

Abstract: A data processing device for processing a reference background spectrum and a measurement spectrum of a radioactive material represented by a multichannel spectrum to acquire energy region information of detected gamma rays is provided, said data processing device comprising: energy region dividing means for degenerating said multichannel spectrum into a degenerated spectrum of limited channels, each degenerated spectrum representing an energy region; degenerated spectrum calculating means for calculating a background degenerated spectrum and measurement degenerated spectrum based on said background spectrum and said measurement spectrum corresponding to said degenerated spectrum of limited channels respectively; energy ratio calculating means for calculating a energy ratio based on the calculated background degenerated spectrum and measurement degenerated spectrum; peak-detection means, for searching a peak value in the calculated energy ratios; energy region determining means for determining a corresponding

Abstract: An object hereof is to restrain occurrence of artifact in an acquired radiation image with comparatively simple configuration without providing wiring between a radiation source and a radiation imaging apparatus to thereby obtain a radiation image with extremely good quality. Therefore, a controller selectively carries out real read operation of reading an electric signal obtained by activating a drive circuit from a signal processing circuit unit in case of detecting X-ray irradiation with an X-ray detecting circuit and dummy read operation of reading an electric signal obtained by activating a drive circuit from a signal processing circuit unit in case of detecting X-ray non-irradiation with an X-ray detecting circuit; discontinues the dummy read operation at the time of detecting the start of X-ray irradiation with the X-ray detecting unit in dummy read operation; and starts real read operation at the time of detecting the finish of X-ray irradiation with the X-ray detecting unit.

Abstract: Provided is a radiation imaging apparatus including: a conversion unit including a plurality of pixels arranged two dimensionally, wherein each of the pixels includes a conversion element (S1-1) for converting an incident radiation into an electric charge and a switching element (T1-1) for transferring an electric signal based on the electric charge; a drive circuit unit (106) for outputting, to the switching element, a drive signal having a voltage for turning on the switching element; a read out circuit unit (A1, CL1, 100 and 101) for reading out the electric signal from the pixel; a calculating unit (103) for calculating S/N ratio of the electric signal read out by the read out circuit unit; and a determination unit (104, 105 and LUT) capable of changing the voltage of the drive signal output from the drive circuit unit according to the S/N ratio calculated. As a result, the radiation imaging apparatus capable of improving the S/N ratio of the derived image is provided.

Abstract: The present invention refers to a radiation system (1) comprising an excentric gantry (100) arranged in connection with multiple treatment rooms (61-68) separated by radiation-shielding separating members (71-78). A movable rotation head (120) is connected to the gantry (100) and is able to move between, and direct a radiation beam (110) into, the treatment rooms (61-68). A simulator head (200-1 to 200-8) is preferably arranged together with the radiation system so it can be used in each respective treatment room (61-68). In such a case, while a first subject (40-1) is being irradiated in a first room (61), a treatment set-up procedure, including correct positioning of subjects (40-2 to 40-8) and irradiation simulation, can simultaneously take place for the other subjects (40-2 to 40-8) in the other treatment rooms (62 to 68).

Abstract: The signal strength of communications of a cassette transmitter/receiver is set to be lower during transmission of confirmation image signals, that is, during readout of image signals from a radiation detector, than the signal strength of communications of the cassette transmitter/receiver at times other than during readout of image signals. This suppresses adverse influence imparted onto the image signals by wireless communication, and reduces the amount of noise generated in the image signals.

Abstract: An apparatus for detecting particles, comprising a plurality of electrically conductive structures disposed on a support element. The structures are electrically insulated from one another and each structure can be electrically connected to an electronic read-out device. The structures receive a beam of particles in a direction forming an angle of incidence with the support element. A trough is disposed between each two successive structures as viewed in the beam direction. And at least partial overlap exists between each two successive structures. The apparatus can be disposed in the focal plane of a mass spectrometer.

Abstract: According to an aspect of the invention, a radiation spectrum measuring system for measuring a radiation spectrum by using a radiation detection element includes, a radiation spectrum measuring unit for measuring a radiation spectrum by obtaining a pulse signal output from the radiation detection element as data, and a rise time detection unit which detects a rise time of the pulse signal, compares the detected rise time with a preset value, and causes the radiation spectrum measuring unit to exclude from data a pulse signal with a rise time longer than the preset value.

Abstract: A scintillator crystal (26) based gamma-ray camera system is described. The gamma-ray camera system includes a spectra processing component for (34) providing improved energy resolution over that seen in conventional gamma-ray camera systems. The spectra processing component operates to deconvolve detector response functions from observed energy spectra on a pixel by pixel basis. The pixel dependent to detector response functions are obtained by a combination of theoretical simulation, and empirical calibration. By deconvolving pixel specific detector response functions, variations in response of a gamma-ray camera system across its image plane can be accounted for. This offers significant improvements in energy resolution and many of the problems associated with conventional gamma-ray camera systems are reduced. For example, the improved energy resolution allows better rejection of photons associated with Compton scattering events occurring in a source being imaged.

Abstract: An X-ray inspection system in which a thin X-ray absorber is placed upstream of an object under investigation so as to remove low energy X-rays, typically below 0.5 MeV. The absorber may be a sheet of lead 10 mm thick. Where the X-ray inspection system which incorporates a detector which relies on the electro-magnetic cascade effect produced in suitable materials when bombarded with X-rays so that energy is transferred into the material at different depths depending on the energy of incident X-rays, and the first component on which the X-rays impinge comprises a relatively thin crystal this unwanted background may be reduced by placing a vessel containing a fluid whose density is less than that of air, in front of the detector crystal array. Typically the fluid is helium at atmospheric or slightly greater than atmospheric pressure. The background can be reduced by applying a magnetic field in the region in front of the detector crystal array so as to sweep away electrons from that region.

Abstract: A method for correcting energy values of pulses from a nuclear medicine camera for errors due to Analog to Digital conversion shift includes determining a relationship between a subset of samples selected from a set of samples from the pulse, the relationship being expressed in the form of a code. A conversion table is accessed which provides a list of codes and corresponding conversion factors. The conversion factor for the closest code to that of the subset of samples is selected from the table and applied to an integration of the set of samples to correct the energy value of the pulse.

Abstract: In a preferred embodiment, a method of identifying nuclides, including the steps of: determining spectral continuum via a peak erosion process to render a residual peak spectrum; filtering a standard nuclide library specified by a user to select candidate nuclides; simultaneously fitting calibrations and activities of selected candidate nuclides from the standard library to the peak spectrum using a standard least squares method; calculating statistical significances of optimized nuclide activities and determining shape correlations between optimized candidate nuclide peak spectra and measured peak spectrum with alternative candidates subtracted; and identifying and providing activities of nuclides determined to have sufficiently significant activities and sufficient shape correlations.

Abstract: A scintillation detector including one or more photomultiplier tubes, a scintillation block optically attached to the photomultiplier tubes, and a DC-coupled bleeder circuit combining outputs of dynodes of the photomultipliers to provide a DC-coupled dynode output together with a DC-coupled anode output of the photomultiplier tubes. The DC-coupled bleeder circuit includes a RF transformer. A positive high voltage supply also can be used together with a DC-coupled bleeder circuit for the anode outputs.

Abstract: A low noise digital radiography image capture system employs a two-dimensional array of pixel sites in the image capture panel with each site having an analog-to-digital converter to digitize analog charge values produced by imaging radiation directly into corresponding digital data at the site prior to read-out to subsequent digital data processing electronics thereby avoiding noise and crosstalk problems associated with high frequency read-out of analog information. Fill factor problems caused by inclusion of integrated circuitry on the pixel site are minimized by inclusion of the A/D counter on the opposite side of the substrate support for the pixel site.

Abstract: A method and system for automatically identifying and tracking a ROI over all planar acquisition view angles of a nuclear imaging system, such as a gamma camera used for SPECT or planar imaging. Temporal intensity variation in emission projection imaging is measured to identify a region of interest (ROI) such as the myocardium. The method automatically tracks the location of the ROI over different planar view angles and adapts detector head orbit and positioning to bring the ROI within a predefined preferred area or so-called “sweet spot” within the FOV of a collimator attached to the front of a scintillation detector surface. After initial positioning of the detector head by the user, the system automatically tracks the ROI location as the detector head(s) rotate about the patient and re-position the detector head(s) appropriately to maintain the ROI within the optimal collimation area of the detector FOV.

Abstract: Correction of scintillation event data from a nuclear medicine imaging system for effects of pulse pile-up is carried out by separating event data packets into total energy and individual detector energy data packets, executing pile-up correction algorithms on each of the separated packets simultaneously using a pipeline processing architecture, and reassembling the corrected data packets into corrected scintillation event data packets. Pulse tail correction information for each individual detector is stored in a storage medium for a present event and immediately preceding event for which correction information exists, which allows individual detector correction information to be retrieved by using a look-up procedure, thereby enabling correction to be performed within a single processor cycle.

Abstract: A radiation image pickup device receives radiation passing through a subject and outputs an image pickup signal responsive to an amount of the radiation. The radiation image pickup device comprising pixel part each of which comprising: a photoelectric conversion section comprising a lower electrode on or above a substrate, a photoelectric conversion film on or above the lower electrode, and an upper electrode on or above the photoelectric conversion film; a phosphor film on or above the upper electrode; and a signal output section, provided in the substrate corresponding to the photoelectric conversion section, that outputs a signal responsive to a charge generated in the photoelectric conversion film. The signal output section and the photoelectric conversion section have an overlap in a plan view, and the photoelectric conversion film comprises an organic photoelectric conversion material that absorbs light emitted from the phosphor film.

Abstract: A SPECT apparatus has a two-dimensional detector that detects radiations from RIs in a patient via a collimator. A correction processing unit corrects plural two-dimensional projection distributions with different projection angles, which are detected by the detector, on a three-dimensional frequency space according to plural correction functions corresponding to plural distances, respectively. Consequently, a fall in spatial resolution having dependency on distances between the respective RIs and the detector is reduced. A reconfiguring unit reconfigures a three-dimensional RI distribution from the plural two-dimensional projection distributions corrected.

Abstract: A portable radiation detection apparatus is provided to transform detected radioactivity into an analog pulse signal and then convert the analog pulse signal into a digital pulse signal. Thereafter, a counting information with respect to the pulse width and pulse counting of the digital pulse signal is created for data processing executed in a portable device. A spectrometric analysis method is provided, which comprises the steps of generating a smooth and continuous curve with respect to the counting information, searching peak values and channel numbers corresponding to the peak values toward the smooth and continuous curve, calculating FWHM and region of interest of the peak values and then processing counting rate process. According to the foregoing characteristics, the present invention is not only provide lowing cost and wireless communication but also provide distance protection for radiation protection personnel to execute the inspection routinely under the extremely environment.

Abstract: A radiation detection system and method suitable for use by a first responder to detect a radiological source. The system includes a container that encloses a chamber containing a pressurized inert gas. Incident gamma rays pass through walls of the container to interact with inert gas atoms within the chamber. Wavelength-shifting fiber elements are disposed within scintillator bars oriented parallel to and radially spaced from the chamber axis. At least one sensor is interconnected with the fiber elements to receive first signals therefrom in response to the scattered gamma rays. An electrically-charged wire is disposed within the container along the axis thereof. The wire is adapted to attract electrons released from atoms of the inert gas that are ionized from being impacted by an incident gamma ray, and then produce second signals in response to the released electrons.

Abstract: A generalized rebinning method transforms SPECT projection data acquired with a first type of collimator into projection data as if it were acquired with a second type of collimator, for subsequent reconstruction using a 3-D algorithm devised for the second type of collimator. The method includes use of a non-stationary point-spread function in the conversion to account for image blurring.

Abstract: A method for detecting ionizing radiation with the aid of a scintillation counter and a photomultiplier using an inorganic solid-matter scintillator that incorporates at least one decay time component greater than 100 ns and measures the photons emitted by the scintillator with a fast single-photon counter. The single-photon counter is composed of a fast photomultiplier with high internal amplification, a stabilized high-voltage supply and a fast amplifier/discriminator with standard pulse output. With this arrangement, the measurement of all types of radiation, like alpha, beta, gamma and X radiation, can be performed, with low manufacturing costs for the detector, a high degree of sensitivity especially with regard to low beta energies, only small sensitivity changes over a large temperature range of ?20 to +50 degrees C., and good long-term stability.

Abstract: A method for the conversion of Compton camera data into a 2D image of the incident-radiation flux on the celestial sphere includes detecting coincident gamma radiation flux arriving from various directions of a 2-sphere. These events are mapped by back-projection onto the 2-sphere to produce a convolution integral that is subsequently stereographically projected onto a 2-plane to produce a second convolution integral which is deconvolved by the Fourier method to produce an image that is then projected onto the 2-sphere.

Abstract: A method of generating a filter (40) for a nuclear medicine system (20) where the filter selects valid detected radiation events for image processing. A dataset (60) is provided that is indicative of a plurality of emitted radiation events occurring over a predetermined period of time. Signals representative of the response of a detector to the dataset of the plurality of emitted radiation events are generated. A pattern is determined (66) based on a correlation of a plurality of signals resulting from the response of the detector to a plurality of single radiation events in the dataset. A filter is generated (74) based on the correlation pattern. A method and apparatus of using the generated filter is also disclosed.

Abstract: Rays incident upon a plurality of detection plates arranged along a normal direction are detected. A distance between the ray and the ray source is estimated based on the number of counted rays detected by each detection plate, and each interval distance of the detection plates. Moreover, the direction of the source of the ray is estimated based on each image obtained from each detection plate.

Abstract: The invention is a digital radiation detector utilizing the stable timing functions of a microcontroller or plurality of microcontrolling devices to perform three independent functions. A first timer generates a continuous square wave output that is fed through a class B amplifier to yield a stable, drift-free power supply for a connected radiation sensor. A second timer is used as an event counter for counting the processed pulses coming from the radiation sensor. A third timer acts as a real time clock generating a one-second interrupt for quantifying the number of counts per second. The number of counts per second can be communicated as raw data through a communication interface or presented as a number of audible or visual displays.

Abstract: A system for detecting and identifying low-level (weak) radioactive sources moving past stationary detectors. The system, which can detect low-level sources moving at speeds of 30 m/s (about 70 mph), uses the differences between background counts and gamma counts from a moving source to determine that a source has passed the detector, when a source has passed the detector, and the identification of the source. This system has been demonstrated to work successfully for ordinary passenger vehicles transporting a variety of sources, and also for boats at lower speeds on a waterway.

Abstract: A method of locating an event with a gamma camera (12) of an emission computed tomography (ECT) scanner (10) is provided. The gamma camera (12) includes a matrix of sensors (22) situated to view the event. The sensors (22) have respective outputs that are responsive to the event. The method includes: identifying a first sensor in the matrix that has in response to the event a highest output relative to the other sensors in the matrix (step (B2)); identifying a number of second sensors in the matrix that are closest neighbors to the first sensor (step (B3)); combining into a total output a number of outputs from the identified sensors, the number of outputs being at least one (1) and less than the number of all the identified sensors (step (B4)); and, determining a threshold value which is a percentage of the total output (step (B4)).

Abstract: A portable nuclear material detector generally includes a scintillating fiber radiation sensor, a light detector, a conditioning circuit, a frequency shift keying (FSK) circuit, a fast Fourier transform (FFT) circuit, an electronic controller, an amplitude spectral addition circuit, and an output device. A high voltage direct current (HVDC) source is provided to excite the light detector, while a separate power supply may be provided to power the remaining components. Portability is facilitated by locating the components of the detector within a handheld-sized housing. When bombarded by gamma particles, the radiation sensor emits light, which is detected by the light detector and converted into electrical signals. These electrical signals are then conditioned and converted to spectral lines.

Abstract: The image correction method according to an embodiment of the present invention includes the steps of: (a) generating an absorption correction map by replacing a CT value of each pixel of a CT image with a corresponding linear absorption coefficient and replacing the linear absorption coefficient in a bone region with the linear absorption coefficient of water or a soft biological tissue; and (b) generating a corrected image by multiplying a value of each pixel of a nuclear medical image obtained with respect to substantially the same tomographic plane as a plane in which the CT image has been obtained by a corresponding pixel of the absorption correction map.

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 method for assigning a pulse profile, in particular a pulse profile of a scintillation detector having at least two scintillation materials with different decay characteristics, to one of a plurality of pulse types with differing decay times, encompasses the method steps of: acquiring an output pulse profile and converting the pulse profile into an electrical signal whose amplitude-time profile represents the pulse profile of the output pulse; transforming the amplitude-time profile into the frequency space in order to obtain an amplitude-frequency profile representing the output pulse; normalizing the amplitude-frequency profile in order to obtain a normalized amplitude-frequency profile; comparing the normalized amplitude-frequency profile with a predetermined reference profile; and assigning the output pulse profile to one of the pulse types on the basis of the result of the comparison.

Abstract: A device and method used in high resolution positron emission tomography (PET) systems for digitizing gamma ray energy and characterizing peak time and decay time constant, models a voltage pulse generated upon a PET event detection as a fast linearly rising edge followed by a slower exponential decay. The model includes parameters of the voltage pulse that are relevant for PET event detection including a decay constant, a peak voltage value, and a peak time, which are determined from time interval measurements of the voltage pulse. The time interval measurements are made using comparators and counters in an exemplary electronic implementation.

Abstract: The invention relates to a process of quantification of the radioactivity of living tissue structures by emission tomography to determine the concentration of a radioactive tracer. It includes the acquisition of images in three dimensions, the determination of the point dispersion function of the imaging system, its convolution with a high-resolution model to obtain a low resolution model, a readjustment, an appraisal of the match between the low-resolution model and the images, in case of a negative test, iterative steps of deformation of the high-resolution model and of performing the preceding steps until the test remains negative, the segmentation of the images into regions, the calculation of the activity of the regions, the determination of a geometrical transfer matrix, its inversion and the multiplication, so as to obtain data for correction of the partial volume effect.

Abstract: Events of interest are detected within a gamma ray detection system. Characteristics of undesired signals, including a multiplicity of events within the signal, a density of events within the signal, and other aspects are determined. The signal is filtered based on its expected characteristics. A signal which does not have the expected characteristics is rejected, and an image is formed that excludes those rejected signals.

Abstract: A method is for restoring a signal of a defective channel of a beam detector, which has a multitude of channels and by means of which projections are recorded from different directions of projection. The channels of the beam detector each have a detector element with channel electronics connected downstream thereform. The signal of the defective channel is restored while using neighboring signals of an M-neighborhood of the same projection and from adjacent signals of an M-neighborhood of additional projections.

Abstract: The present invention provides a CT detector module with cell summing in the Z-direction and cell staggering in the X-direction. The present invention also provides a method for implementing the present invention by simply combining the cells in the Z-direction. The staggering of the cells in the Z-axis improves the signal sampling in the Z-direction without changing either the X-axis or Y-axis resolution. In effect, this provides spatial resolution in the Z-direction.

Abstract: Gamma rays obtained from radioisotope administered to an examinee are detected by a gamma ray information-detecting unit so that a first tomographic image obtained therefrom is formed on a CRT. Further, a second tomographic image of the examinee detected by using an ultrasonic wave information-detecting unit juxtaposed with respect to the gamma ray information-detecting unit is formed while making the second tomographic image overlap on the first tomographic image. Thus, it is possible to obtain a tomographic image in which relative positional relationship of tissue is clear.

Abstract: A method for collecting signals from a detector that has a plurality of lines of image elements includes sending a control signal to a gate driver to select transistor gates for two or more lines of image elements, and simultaneously passing signals from the two or more lines of image elements to charge amplifiers that are coupled to the image elements. A method for collecting signals from a detector that has a plurality of imagers is provided. Each of the imagers has a plurality of lines of image elements. The method includes sending a control signal to a gate driver to select one or more lines of image elements on each of the plurality of the imagers, and simultaneously passing signals from the selected one or more lines of image elements on each of the plurality of the imagers to charge amplifiers that are coupled to the image elements.