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US 10,502,844 B2Granted
Sparse acquisition gamma cameras
AssigneeKromek Group, PLC
InventorsJames W. Hugg, Brian W. Harris
Life of this patent
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Abstract
An imaging method and device are described for improving the performance of a gamma camera by optimizing a figure of merit that depends upon cost, efficiency, and spatial resolution. In a modular gamma camera comprising a tiled array of gamma detector modules, the performance figure of merit can be optimized by sparsely placing gamma detector modules within the gamma camera, optimizing collimation, and providing means for detector and/or collimator motion. Sparse gamma cameras can be constructed as flat or curved panels, and elliptical or circular rings.
Claims28
An imaging method, comprising:
- receiving information regarding a gamma camera application, wherein the information identifies application requirements and performance requirements;
- designing a gamma camera architecture for the gamma camera application, wherein the gamma camera comprises a collimator and at least one sparse tiled array of gamma detectors and wherein the gamma camera architecture comprises a collimator scheme and a pattern of the at least one tiled array of gamma detectors, wherein the collimator scheme compensates for a gamma camera motion and missing detectors in the at least one sparse tiled array;
- the designing comprising:
- selecting a collimator scheme for the collimator from a plurality of collimator schemes;
- selecting a pattern of the at least one tiled array;
- simulating an object of the gamma camera application, wherein the object comprises at least one gamma emission source;
- modeling a response of the selected collimator scheme and selected pattern of the at least one tiled array to gamma emissions from the simulated object;
- receiving a simulated data set for the model and identifying a performance figure of merit for the model from the simulated data set;
- and
- identifying a gamma camera architecture for the gamma camera application by (i) iteratively performing the selecting a collimator scheme, selecting a pattern, simulating, modeling, and receiving by varying at least one of:
- collimator scheme and pattern, and (ii) selecting a gamma camera architecture for the gamma camera application based upon the performance figure of merit of the respective gamma camera architecture.
8 more elements
A gamma camera, comprising:
- a collimator;
- at least one tiled array of gamma detectors;
- a memory device that stores instructions executable by the processor to:
- receive information regarding a gamma camera application, wherein the information identifies application requirements and performance requirements;
- design a gamma camera architecture for the gamma camera application, wherein the gamma camera architecture comprises at least one collimator scheme and a pattern of the at least one sparse tiled array of gamma detectors, wherein the at least one collimator scheme is selected from a plurality of collimator schemes, wherein the collimator scheme compensates for a gamma camera motion and missing detectors in the at least one sparse tiled array;
- the designing comprising:
- selecting a pattern of the at least one tiled array;
- simulating an object of the gamma camera application, wherein the object comprises at least one gamma emission source;
- modeling a response of the selected collimator scheme and selected pattern of the at least one tiled array to gamma emissions from the simulated object;
- receiving a simulated data set for the model and identifying a performance figure of merit for the model from the simulated data set;
- and
- identifying a gamma camera architecture for the gamma camera application by (i) iteratively performing the selecting a collimator scheme, selecting a pattern, simulating, modeling, and receiving by varying at least one of:
- collimator scheme and pattern, and (ii) selecting a gamma camera architecture for the gamma camera application based upon the performance figure of merit of the respective gamma camera architecture.
10 more elements
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.