Hybrid imaging system and method for intraoperative, interventional, and diagnostic applications

A combined nuclear and ultrasonic system for hybrid imaging, comprising:

• a hand-held nuclear radiation detector,
• a hand-held ultrasonic probe,
• a nuclear tracking system for tracking the nuclear radiation detector while measuring a nuclear radiation and obtaining nuclear radiation detector coordinates representing a position of the tracked nuclear radiation detector in relation to an image coordinate system of a hybrid image,
• an ultrasonic tracking system for tracking of the ultrasonic probe during the receiving of ultrasonic signals so that ultrasonic probe coordinates are obtained which represent a position of the tracked ultrasonic probe in relation to an image coordinate system of the hybrid image, and
• a data acquisition module, which gathers the nuclear radiation detector measurements, nuclear radiation detector coordinates, ultrasonic signals from the ultrasonic probe, and ultrasonic probe coordinates, and matches them with an image coordinate system of a hybrid image,
• a nuclear image reconstruction module for reconstructing a nuclear image from nuclear radiation detector measurements, ultrasonic signals, nuclear radiation detector coordinates and ultrasonic probe coordinates in the image coordinate system of the hybrid image, and
• an evaluation system, which calculates a nuclear-image-quality-value of nuclear radiation detector measurements and nuclear radiation detector coordinates.

A method for hybrid imaging, comprising:

• detection of nuclear radiation,
• tracking of a nuclear radiation detector while measuring a nuclear radiation, such that nuclear radiation detector coordinates are obtained, representing a position of the tracked nuclear radiation detector in relation to an image coordinate system of a hybrid image,
• receiving ultrasonic signals,
• tracking of an ultrasonic probe during receiving ultrasonic signals, such that ultrasonic signal coordinates are obtained, representing a position of the tracked ultrasonic probe in relation to an image coordinate system of the hybrid image,
• acquisition of nuclear radiation detector measurements, nuclear radiation detector coordinates, ultrasonic signals and the ultrasonic probe coordinates, and matching with the image coordinate system of the hybrid image,
• reconstructing a nuclear image from nuclear radiation detector measurements, ultrasonic signals, nuclear radiation detector coordinates and ultrasonic probe coordinates in the image coordinate system of the hybrid image, and
• calculating a nuclear-image-quality-value from previous nuclear radiation detector measurements and nuclear radiation detector coordinates.