US 12,611,148 B2 · Systems and methods for SPECT detector calibration

Abstract

Methods and systems are provided for calibrating a single photon emission computed tomography (SPECT) imaging system. In one example, a collimated line source for calibrating a SPECT system comprises a radioactive material aligned along a central axis of the collimated line source and a plurality of collimator plates arranged perpendicularly around the central axis, the collimator plates including a material that substantially absorbs photons striking the collimator plates. The collimator plates may absorb photons emitted by the radioactive material in non-perpendicular directions, which are not used for calibrating the SPECT imaging system, thereby reducing an amount of radiation released in an environment of the SPECT imaging system during calibration. Due to the reduced amount of radiation to which people in the environment are exposed, short time increments between patient examinations may be advantageously used to collect calibration data, reducing an overall amount of time used for calibration.

Claims18

Dependent claims

A collimated line source for calibrating a single photon emission computed tomography (SPECT) imaging system, the collimated line source comprising a radioactive material aligned along a central axis of the collimated line source and a plurality of collimator plates arranged perpendicularly around the central axis, the collimator plates including a material with an atomic number and a density to substantially absorb photons striking the collimator plates;

wherein the collimator plates have a circular, disc shape, and the collimated line source has a cylindrical shape.

A single photon emission computed tomography (SPECT) imaging system, comprising:

a collimated line source stored in a compartment of the SPECT imaging system, the collimated line source having a cylindrical shape including a radioactive material aligned along a central axis of the collimated line source and a plurality of circular, disc-shaped collimator plates arranged perpendicularly around the central axis that absorb photons emitted by the radioactive material;
a controller including instructions stored in a memory of the SPECT imaging system, that when executed, cause the controller to:
in response to a user input from an operator of the SPECT imaging system, extract the collimated line source from a compartment of the SPECT imaging system and position the collimated line source within a gantry of the SPECT imaging system;
collect calibration data of the SPECT imaging system using the collimated line source;
retract the collimated line source into the compartment after collecting the calibration data;
and
calibrate the SPECT imaging system based on the collected calibration data.

4 more elements

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.

Systems and methods for SPECT detector calibration

Life of this patent

Systems and methods for SPECT detector calibration

Life of this patent

Abstract

Claims18