# US 11,109,824 B2 · Multimodal system for obtaining senological images by means of X-ray and MBI techniques > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 11,109,824 B2 - Document ID: US11109824B2 - Status: Granted - Kind: B2 - Application number: 16/759,302 - Filed: 2018-10-26 - Published: 2020-09-24 - Granted: 2021-09-07 - Earliest claimed: 2017-10-26 - Assignees: Metaltronica S.P.A. - Applicants: Metaltronica S.P.A - Inventors: Giovanni B. Peretta; Stefano Gioia - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US11109824B2 ## CPC - A61B 6/4417: {related to combined acquisition of different diagnostic modalities} - A61B 6/0414: {with compression means} - A61B 6/4216: {using storage phosphor screens} - A61B 6/4258: {for detecting non x-ray radiation, e.g. gamma radiation (A61B6/037 takes precedence)} - A61B 6/4291: {the detector being combined with a grid or grating} - A61B 6/502: {for diagnosis of breast, i.e. mammography} - A61B 6/025: {Tomosynthesis} - A61B 6/4057: {by using radiation sources located in the interior of the body (A61B6/037 takes precedence)} - A61B 6/5247: {combining images from an ionising-radiation diagnostic technique and a non-ionising radiation diagnostic technique, e.g. X-ray and ultrasound} - A61B: DIAGNOSIS; SURGERY; IDENTIFICATION (usefulness limited to only animals A61D) ## Abstract The present invention relates to a multimodal system for obtaining senological images by means of X-ray and MBI techniques. Said multimodal system comprises: a supporting plane (1) for the breast, a gamma ray detector (2A) for obtaining at least a molecular image, a detection module (10) comprising inside said gamma ray detector (2A), where said gamma ray detector (2A) is arranged on a first plane, parallel to said supporting plane, as well as: at least one between an X-ray detector (4) for obtaining at least an X-ray image and a scintigraphic collimator (2B); said scintigraphic collimator (2B), when in use, being coupled with said gamma ray detector (2A) and forming with said gamma ray detector (2A) a first gamma camera (2); a compartment (3) configured for receiving one at time said X-ray detector (4) or said scintigraphic collimator (2B), where said compartment (3) is arranged between said supporting plane (1) and said gamma ray detector (2A) on a second plane, parallel to said supporting plane (1), different from said first plane. ## Claims ### Claim 1 A multimodal system for obtaining senological images by means of X-ray and MBI techniques, comprising: a supporting plane (1) for the breast, a gamma ray detector (2A) for obtaining at least a molecular image, a detection module (10) comprising inside said gamma ray detector (2A), wherein said gamma ray detector (2A) is arranged on a first plane, parallel to said supporting plane, and further comprising: one of a X-ray detector (4) for obtaining at least an X-ray image and a scintigraphic collimator (2B); said scintigraphic collimator (2B), when in use, being coupled with said gamma ray detector (2A) and forming with said gamma ray detector (2A) a first gamma camera (2); and a compartment (3) configured for receiving one at time said X-ray detector (4) or said scintigraphic collimator (2B), wherein said compartment (3) is arranged between said supporting plane (1) and said gamma ray detector (2A) on a second plane, parallel to said supporting plane (1), different from said first plane, and wherein said compartment (3) comprises first guiding means (3A, 3B) for inserting said X-ray detector (4) or said scintigraphic collimator (2B), wherein said detection module (10) being configured to allow the extraction of said X-ray detector (4) from the detection module (10) to insert said scintigraphic collimator (2B) or the extraction of said scintigraphic collimator (2B) to insert said X-ray detector (10). ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The multimodal system according to claim 1, characterized in that said first guiding means (3A, 3B) comprise a first guiding element (3A), arranged on a first side of said compartment (3), and a second guiding element (3B), arranged on a second side of said compartment (3), opposite said first side. ### Claim 3 (depends on 1) The multimodal system according to claim 1, characterized in that said detection module (10) comprises said supporting plane (1) and said supporting plane (1) is a first surface of said detection module (10), or said supporting plane (1) is coupled with a first surface of said detection module (10) in a removable manner. ### Claim 4 (depends on 3) The multimodal system according to claim 3, characterized in that X-ray detector (4) comprises inside an anti-diffusion grid (40C). ### Claim 5 (depends on 4) The multimodal system according to claim 4, characterized in that said X-ray detector (4) comprises first moving means for moving said anti-diffusion grid (40C) along an axis lying on a third plane parallel to said supporting plane (1); said first moving means being manual or motorized. ### Claim 6 (depends on 1) The multimodal system according to claim 1, characterized in that said gamma ray detector (2A) is arranged in a fixed position or movable on said first plane. ### Claim 7 (depends on 1) The multimodal system according to claim 1, characterized in that said gamma ray detector (2A) and said scintigraphic collimator (2B) have dimensions equal to each other and smaller to the dimensions of said compartment (3), in that said first gamma camera (2) is movable on said first plane. ### Claim 8 (depends on 7) The multimodal system according to claim 7, characterized in that said first gamma camera (2) is configured to translate along a first axis (A1), and along a second axis (A2), perpendicular to said first axis (A1), wherein said first axis (A1) and said second axis (A2) lie on said first plane. ### Claim 9 (depends on 8) The multimodal system according to claim 8, characterized in that said detection module (10) comprises inside second moving means for moving said first gamma camera (2) along said first axis (A1) and said second axis (A2), wherein said second moving means are connected to said gamma ray detector (2A); said second moving means being manual or motorized. ### Claim 10 (depends on 1) The multimodal system according to claim 1, characterized in that said multimodal system comprises: a body (C), an arm (B) connected to said body (C) in such a way as to rotate with respect to said body (C) of a predetermined angle, and a second gamma camera (5), supporting and connecting means (71, 72) for supporting said second gamma camera (5) and connecting said second gamma camera (5) to said arm (B) so that said second gamma camera (5) is movable along a third axis (A3), perpendicular to said support plane (1), said supporting and connecting means (71, 72) comprising: a first element (71), connected to said second camera chamber (5), and a second element (72) connected to said first element (71) and to said arm (B) so as to slide along said third axis (A3), wherein said first element (71) is rotatably connected to said second element (72) so as to rotate about a fourth axis (A4) perpendicular to said support plane (1), and said second gamma camera (5) is connected to said first element (71) so as to rotate in the space around a point. ### Claim 11 (depends on 10) The multimodal system according to claim 10, characterized in that said second gamma camera (5) is connected to said first element (71) by means of a spherical joint. ### Claim 12 (depends on 11) The multimodal system according to claim 11, characterized in that said second gamma camera (5) comprises rotating means for rotating said second gamma camera (5) around said spherical joint; said rotating means being manual or motorized. ### Claim 13 (depends on 10) The multimodal system according to claim 10, characterized in that said first element (71) comprises a first surface (71A) and said second gamma camera (5) slides on said first surface (71A) along a fifth axis (A5), perpendicular to said third axis (A3). ### Claim 14 (depends on 13) The multimodal system according to claim 13, characterized in that said first surface (71A) is provided with third guiding means (71B) to allow the sliding of the second gamma camera (5) along said first surface (71A). ### Claim 15 (depends on 13) The multimodal system according to claim 13, characterized in that said multimodal system comprises third moving means for moving said second gamma camera (5) along said first surface (71A), wherein said third moving means are manual or motorized, and fourth moving means for rotating said first element (71) with respect to said second element (72), and wherein said fourth moving means are manual or motorized. ### Claim 16 (depends on 10) The multimodal system according to claim 10, characterized in that said multimodal system comprises a compressor (6), coupable to said second element (72), said compressor (6) being provided with an opening (6A) to allow said second gamma camera (5) to contact a breast portion at said opening (6A), in that said second element (72) is provided with coupling means (72A, 72B) to allow said compressor (6) to be coupled with said second element (72) in a removable manner.