Directional radiation detector

Apparatus for imaging a body, comprising:

• a plurality of single photon counting detector modules, each of the single photon counting detector modules being configured to receive photons from a respective direction and to generate a signal in response thereto;
• a plurality of adjustable mounts respectively coupled to the single photon counting detector modules;
• and
• a processor which is configured to analyze an image so as to determine a location of a region of interest (ROI) within the body, to adjust each of the adjustable mounts so that the direction of the single photon counting detector module coupled thereto is aligned with respect to the location so as to receive radiation from the ROI, to operate each of the single photon counting detector modules to receive the photons from the ROI, and in response to the signal generated by each of the single photon counting detector modules, to generate a single photon counting image of the ROI.

Apparatus for imaging a region of interest (ROI) within a body having an outer surface, comprising:

• a single photon counting detector module comprising:
• a two-dimensional array of photon counting detectors, each of the detectors being configured to generate a signal indicative of a radio-isotope concentration in the ROI in response to a respective flux of photons received from the radio-isotope concentration;
• and
• a plurality of collimator channels respectively coupled and aligned with the photon counting detectors in the two-dimensional array so that each of the photon counting detectors is able to receive the respective flux of the photons via its coupled collimator channel, the plurality of collimator channels being connected together so as to form a module outer surface;
• and
• an adjustable mount to which the module is fixedly connected and which is configured to set an orientation of the module with respect to the ROI and to set a location of the module outer surface with respect to the outer surface of the body so that all of the photon counting detectors are able to simultaneously receive from the ROI the respective flux of the photons.

A method for imaging a region of interest (ROI) within a body having an outer surface, comprising:

• providing a single photon counting detector module comprising a two-dimensional array of photon counting detectors, each of the detectors being configured to generate a signal indicative of a radio-isotope concentration in the ROI in response to a respective flux of photons received from the radio-isotope concentration;
• coupling and aligning a plurality of collimator channels respectively with the photon counting detectors in the two-dimensional array so that each of the photon counting detectors is able to receive the respective flux of the photons via its coupled collimator channel;
• connecting the plurality of collimator channels together so as to form a module outer surface;
• fixedly connecting an adjustable mount to the module;
• and
• configuring the mount to set an orientation of the module with respect to the ROI and to set a location of the module outer surface with respect to the outer surface of the body so that all of the photon counting detectors are able to simultaneously receive from the ROI the respective flux of the photons.

A method for imaging, comprising:

• forming a first image of a region of interest (ROI);
• identifying a location in the first image of a source of radiation in the ROI;
• adjusting positions and orientations of radiation detectors in response to the location;
• and
• operating the radiation detectors to generate a second image of the ROI.

Apparatus for imaging, comprising:

• radiation detectors;
• and
• a processor which is configured to:
• form a first image of a region of interest (ROI),
• identify a location in the first image of a source of radiation in the ROI,
• adjust positions and orientations of the radiation detectors in response to the location, and
• operate the radiation detectors to generate a second image of the ROI.