# US 11,998,377 B2 · Air cooled PET scanner gantry > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 11,998,377 B2 - Document ID: US11998377B2 - Status: Granted - Kind: B2 - Application number: 17/757,152 - Filed: 2020-05-19 - Published: 2022-12-29 - Granted: 2024-06-04 - Earliest claimed: 2020-05-19 - Assignees: Siemens Medical Solutions USA, Inc. - Applicants: Siemens Medical Solutions USA, Inc. - Inventors: John Keller; James L. Corbeil; Ziad Burbar - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US11998377B2 ## CPC - A61B 6/4488: {Means for cooling (A61B6/045 takes precedence)} - A61B 6/037: {Emission tomography} - A61B 6/4258: {for detecting non x-ray radiation, e.g. gamma radiation (A61B6/037 takes precedence)} - G01T 1/2985: {In depth localisation, e.g. using positron emitters; Tomographic imaging (longitudinal and transverse section imaging; apparatus for radiation diagnosis sequentially in different planes, steroscopic radiation diagnosis); (using external radiation sources A61B6/02)} - A61B 6/4417: {related to combined acquisition of different diagnostic modalities} - A61B: DIAGNOSIS; SURGERY; IDENTIFICATION (usefulness limited to only animals A61D) - G01T: MEASUREMENT OF NUCLEAR OR X-RADIATION (radiation analysis of materials, mass spectrometry G01N23/00; tubes for determining the presence, intensity, density or energy of radiation or particles H01J47/00) ## Abstract Provided is a PET scanner system having a PET scanner gantry that is configured for delivering a uniformly distributed cooling air to a plurality of detectors housed in the PET scanner gantry. The PET scanner gantry includes a cooling air delivery manifold that includes a patient tunnel portion; and a front funnel portion. The front funnel portion includes an annular interior wall defining an entry opening of the patient tunnel portion; and an air plenum has an annular structure for carrying a flow of pressurized cooling air received from a remote source supplements the pressurized cooling air with a supply of ambient air and directs it to the plurality of detectors. ## Claims ### Claim 1 A medical image scanner gantry comprising: cooling air delivery manifold comprising: a patient tunnel portion; and a front funnel portion; a plurality of gamma detectors housed inside the medical image scanner gantry and positioned behind the front funnel portion that comprises: an annular interior wall defining an entry opening of the patient tunnel portion; and an air plenum comprising an annular structure for carrying a flow of pressurized air received from a remote source, wherein the air plenum comprising an annular nozzle configured for directing the flow of pressurized air toward the plurality of gamma detectors as a flow of high-velocity air for cooling the plurality of gamma detectors and their associated electronic components; wherein the annular interior wall is nested inside the annular structure of the air plenum, whereby a supplemental air inlet is formed between the annular interior wall and the air plenum, whereby when the flow of high-velocity air flows out of the annular nozzle, ambient air is drawn through the supplemental air inlet and merges with the flow of high-velocity air exiting the annular nozzle and flows toward the plurality of gamma detectors as cooling air flow. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The medical image scanner gantry of claim 1, wherein the air plenum further comprises an airfoil surface located adjacent to and downstream of the annular nozzle for directing the flow of high-velocity air toward the detectors. ### Claim 3 (depends on 2) The medical image scanner gantry of claim 2, further comprising a plurality of fins connecting the air plenum to the annular interior wall. ### Claim 4 (depends on 3) The medical image scanner gantry of claim 3, wherein the plurality of fins maintain a desired spacing between the air plenum and the annular interior wall which forms the supplemental air inlet. ### Claim 5 (depends on 2) The medical image scanner gantry of claim 2, wherein the air plenum comprises an air inlet for receiving the flow of pressurized air from a remote source. ### Claim 6 (depends on 1) The medical image scanner gantry of claim 1, further comprising a plurality of fins connecting the air plenum to the annular interior wall. ### Claim 7 (depends on 6) The medical image scanner gantry of claim 6, wherein the plurality of fins maintain a desired spacing between the air plenum and the annular interior wall which forms the supplemental air inlet. ### Claim 8 (depends on 1) The medical image scanner gantry of claim 1, wherein the air plenum comprises an air inlet for receiving the flow of pressurized air from a remote source. ### Claim 9 (depends on 1) The medical image scanner gantry of claim 1, wherein the annular interior wall comprises a first annular surface facing the opening of the patient tunnel portion and a second annular surface facing the air plenum and further comprising an annular ridge provided on the second annular surface and located downstream of the annular nozzle. ### Claim 10 (depends on 1) The medical image scanner gantry of claim 1, wherein the air plenum comprises: a cooling air duct portion for carrying the flow of pressurized air, wherein the cooling air duct portion includes the annular nozzle; and an exhaust air duct portion for receiving a flow of exhaust air and directing the exhaust air away from the medical image scanner, wherein the flow of exhaust air is said cooling air flow after said cooling air flow has flown over the plurality of gamma detectors. ### Claim 11 A medical image scanner gantry comprising: cooling air delivery manifold comprising: a patient tunnel portion; and a front funnel portion; a plurality of gamma detectors housed inside the medical image scanner gantry and positioned behind the front funnel portion that comprises: an annular interior wall defining an entry opening of the patient tunnel portion; and an assembly of two or more air plenums, wherein each of the two or more air plenums has a curved structure that together form an annular assembly, wherein each of the two or more air plenums comprising a structure for carrying a flow of pressurized air received from a remote source, wherein each of the two or more air plenums comprising a curved nozzle configured for directing the flow of pressurized air toward the plurality of gamma detectors as a flow of high-velocity air for cooling the plurality of gamma detectors and their associated electronic components; wherein the annular interior wall is nested inside the annular assembly formed by the two or more air plenums, whereby a supplemental air inlet is formed between the annular interior wall and the two or more air plenums, whereby when the flow of high-velocity air flows out of the curved nozzles, ambient air is drawn through the supplemental air inlet and merges with the flow of high-velocity air exiting the curved nozzles and flows toward the plurality of gamma detectors as cooling air flow. ### Claim 12 (depends on 11) The medical image scanner gantry of claim 11, wherein each of the two or more air plenums further comprises an airfoil surface located adjacent to and downstream of the curved nozzle for directing the flow of high-velocity air toward the detectors. ### Claim 13 (depends on 11) The medical image scanner gantry of claim 11, further comprising a plurality of fins connecting the two or more air plenums to the annular interior wall. ### Claim 14 (depends on 11) The medical image scanner gantry of claim 11, wherein each of the two or more air plenums comprises: a cooling air duct portion for carrying the flow of pressurized air, wherein the cooling air duct portion includes the curved nozzle; and an exhaust air duct portion for receiving a flow of exhaust air and directing the exhaust air away from the medical image scanner, wherein the flow of exhaust air is said cooling air flow after said cooling air flow has flown over the plurality of gamma detectors. ### Claim 15 A medical image scanner system comprising: a medical image scanner gantry comprising: cooling air delivery manifold comprising: a patient tunnel portion; and a front funnel portion; a plurality of gamma detectors housed inside the medical image scanner gantry and positioned behind the front funnel portion that comprises: an annular interior wall defining an entry opening of the patient tunnel portion; and an air plenum comprising an annular structure for carrying a flow of pressurized air received from a remote source, wherein the air plenum comprising an annular nozzle configured for directing the flow of pressurized air toward the plurality of gamma detectors as a flow of high-velocity air for cooling the plurality of gamma detectors and their associated electronic components; wherein the annular interior wall is nested inside the annular structure of the air plenum, whereby a supplemental air inlet is formed between the annular interior wall and the air plenum, whereby when the flow of high-velocity air flows out of the annular nozzle, ambient air is drawn through the supplemental air inlet and merges with the flow of high-velocity air exiting the annular nozzle and flows toward the plurality of gamma detectors as cooling air flow. ### Claim 16 (depends on 15) The medical image scanner system of claim 15, wherein the air plenum further comprises an annular airfoil surface located adjacent to and downstream of the annular nozzle. ### Claim 17 (depends on 16) The medical image scanner system of claim 16, further comprising a plurality of fins connecting the air plenum to the annular interior wall. ### Claim 18 (depends on 17) The medical image scanner system claim 17, wherein the plurality of fins maintain a desired spacing between the air plenum and the annular interior wall which forms the supplemental air inlet. ### Claim 19 (depends on 15) The medical image scanner system of claim 15, further comprising a plurality of fins connecting the air plenum to the annular interior wall. ### Claim 20 (depends on 19) The medical image scanner system of claim 19, wherein the plurality of fins maintain a desired spacing between the air plenum and the annular interior wall which forms the supplemental air inlet. ### Claim 21 (depends on 15) The medical image scanner system of claim 15, wherein the air plenum comprises an air inlet for receiving the flow of pressurized air from the remote source. ### Claim 22 (depends on 15) The medical image scanner system of claim 15, wherein the annular interior wall comprises a first annular surface facing the opening of the patient tunnel portion and a second annular surface facing the air plenum and further comprising an annular ridge provided on the second annular surface and located downstream of the annular nozzle. ### Claim 23 (depends on 15) The medical image scanner system of claim 15, wherein the air plenum comprises: a cooling air duct portion for carrying the flow of pressurized air, wherein the cooling air duct portion includes the annular nozzle; and an exhaust air duct portion for receiving flow of exhaust air and directing the exhaust air away from the medical image scanner, wherein the flow of exhaust air is said cooling air flow after said cooling air flow has flown over the plurality of gamma detectors. ### Claim 24 (depends on 15) The medical image scanner system of claim 15, wherein the ambient air drawn through the supplemental air inlet and merging with the flow of high-velocity air exiting the annular nozzle does not generate additional noise. ### Claim 25 (depends on 24) The medical image scanner system of claim 24, wherein the ambient air drawn through the supplemental air inlet and merging with the flow of high-velocity air exiting the annular nozzle does not generate additional noise due to a lack of a requirement for additional fans or impellers. ### Claim 26 (depends on 15) The medical image scanner system of claim 15, wherein the provision of the remote source for the pressurized air minimizes noise at the medical image scanner system. ### Claim 27 (depends on 15) The medical image scanner system of claim 15, wherein the medical image scanner system further comprises a plurality of remote sources for providing the flow of pressurized air received by the air plenum, whereby the provision of the plurality of remote sources minimizes noise at the medical image scanner system. ### Claim 28 (depends on 15) The medical image scanner system of claim 15, wherein the remote source is distant to the medical image scanner system. ### Claim 29 (depends on 15) The medical image scanner system of claim 15, wherein the remote source comprises at least one of pressurized plant air, one or more fans or one or more impellers. ### Claim 30 (depends on 29) The medical image scanner system of claim 29, wherein the remote source comprising at least two sources allows for the one or more fans to operate at a reduced speed. ### Claim 31 (depends on 30) The medical image scanner system of claim 30, wherein noise is further reduced due to the reduced speed of the one or more fans. ### Claim 32 (depends on 15) The medical image scanner system of claim 15, wherein the remote source is located within the gantry. ### Claim 33 (depends on 32) The medical image scanner system of claim 32, wherein the remote source is provided with sound proofing to minimize noise.