Universal mounting system for calibration source for use in pet scanners
AssigneeRadQual, LLC
InventorKeith C. Allberg
Life of this patent
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Abstract
A universal mounting adapter is configured for interchangeably mounting a calibration source to two or more different imaging devices. The two imaging devices have different mounting brackets so they cannot be used with the same conventional calibration source. The present adapter includes mounting mechanisms for both types of bracket, allowing the attached calibration source to be moved from one imaging device to the other, while maintaining the calibration source in a prescribed geometry within the respective imaging device. This can be performed without the need for any tools.
Claims22
An assembly comprising:
- a calibration source which includes a radionuclide;
- and
- an adapter connected to the calibration source, the adapter comprising:
- a first mounting mechanism adapted for mounting the adapter to a first mounting bracket of a first imaging device whereby the calibration source is positioned for calibrating the first imaging device;
- and
- a second mounting mechanism adapted for mounting the adapter to a second mounting bracket of a second imaging device, the second mounting bracket being different from the first mounting bracket, whereby the calibration source is positioned for calibrating the second imaging device.
A universal mounting adapter for mounting an associated calibration source in associated first and second imaging devices, comprising:
- a plate including first and second opposed planar surfaces and a peripheral surface which connects the planar surfaces;
- a threaded shaft extending from a center of the first surface of the plate;
- two studs extending from the second surface of the plate;
- an arcuate slot defined in the peripheral surface which extends around at least a portion of the peripheral surface.
A method for calibrating two imaging devices, the first imaging device including a first mounting bracket and the second imaging device including a second mounting bracket different from the first mounting bracket, the method comprising:
- providing a calibration source which includes a radionuclide;
- mounting an adapter to the calibration source, the adapter comprising a first mounting mechanism adapted for mounting the adapter to the first mounting bracket and a second mounting mechanism adapted for mounting the adapter to the second mounting bracket;
- mounting the adapter to the first mounting bracket of the first imaging device using the first mounting mechanism but not the second mounting mechanism, whereby the calibration source is positioned for calibrating the first imaging device;
- thereafter, mounting the adapter to the second mounting bracket of the second imaging device using the second mounting mechanism but not the first mounting mechanism, whereby the calibration source is positioned for calibrating the second imaging device.
A method of making an assembly for calibrating two imaging devices, the first imaging device including a first mounting bracket and the second imaging device including a second mounting bracket different from the first mounting bracket, the method comprising:
- providing a calibration source which includes a container which holds a radionuclide, the container including a threaded bore in an end wall of the container;
- and
- mounting an adapter to the calibration source, the adapter comprising a first mounting mechanism adapted for mounting the adapter to the first mounting bracket and a second mounting mechanism adapted for mounting the adapter to the second mounting bracket and a threaded shaft which is received within the threaded bore.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.