# US 2017/0285191 A1 · Sparse Acquisition Gamma Cameras > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 2017/0285191 A1 - Document ID: US20170285191A1 - Status: Published application - Kind: A1 - Application number: 15/473,336 - Filed: 2017-03-29 - Published: 2017-10-05 - Earliest claimed: 2016-03-29 - Assignees: Kromek Goup, PLC - Applicants: Kromek Goup, PLC - Inventors: James Hugg; Brian Harris - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US20170285191A1 ## CPC - G01T 1/249: {specially adapted for use in SPECT or PET (SPECT imaging G01T1/1642; PET imaging G01T1/2985; detecting prohibited goods, e.g. weapons, explosives, hazardous substances, contraband or smuggled objects G01V5/20)} - A61B 6/037: {Emission tomography} - G01T 1/243: {Modular detectors, e.g. arrays formed from self contained units (constructional or manufacturing details H10W90/00)} - A61B 6/4275: {using a detector unit almost surrounding the patient, e.g. more than 180°} - A61B 6/483: {involving scattered radiation} - 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) - A61B: DIAGNOSIS; SURGERY; IDENTIFICATION (usefulness limited to only animals A61D) ## Abstract An imaging method and device are described for improving the performance of a gamma camera by optimizing a figure of merit that depends upon cost, efficiency, and spatial resolution. In a modular gamma camera comprising a tiled array of gamma detector modules, the performance figure of merit can be optimized by sparsely placing gamma detector modules within the gamma camera, optimizing collimation, and providing means for detector and/or collimator motion. Sparse gamma cameras can be constructed as flat or curved panels, and elliptical or circular rings. ## Claims ### Claim 1 An imaging method for improving a performance figure of merit of a gamma camera, the performance figure of merit comprising at least one variable related to at least one of cost, efficiency, and spatial resolution and the gamma camera comprising a collimator and at least one tiled array of gamma detectors, the collimator having a performance, the method comprising at least one of the steps of: sparsely placing a gamma detector within the gamma camera, optimizing the collimator performance, and moving at least one of the gamma detector and the collimator. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The imaging method of claim 1, further comprising a step of predetermining at least one performance requirement for at least one application, the at least one performance requirement defining an improvement of the performance figure of merit. ### Claim 3 (depends on 1) The imaging method of claim 1, wherein the at least one tiled array of gamma detectors comprises at least one of a flat panel, a curved panel, a circular ring, and an elliptical ring. ### Claim 4 (depends on 1) The imaging method of claim 1, wherein the optimizing the collimator performance step comprises using at least one of a parallel hole collimator, a focused hole collimator, a slit-slat collimator, a rotating slat collimator, a multiple pinhole collimator, a coded aperture collimator, and a Compton scatter collimator. ### Claim 5 (depends on 1) The imaging method of claim 1, wherein the at least one tiled array of gamma detectors comprise tileable gamma photon detectors having an area less than 400 cm2. ### Claim 6 (depends on 1) The imaging method of claim 1, wherein the at least one tiled array of gamma detectors comprises at least one of: a scintillator with an optically-coupled photodetector and a semiconductor direct conversion detector. ### Claim 7 (depends on 1) The imaging method of claim 1, further comprising a step of iteratively searching for an optimal performance figure of merit by: generating a simulated numerical distribution of a gamma emission radioactive material; modeling an imaging system and a data acquisition sequence, the imaging system comprising a means to move the gamma camera; generating a simulated acquisition of imaging data using the simulated numeral distribution, the modeled imaging system, and the modeled data acquisition sequence; iteratively reconstructing the imaging data to obtain an imaged distribution; calculating the performance figure of merit for each iteration; and incrementally changing at least one of the imaging system and the data acquisition sequence. ### Claim 8 (depends on 1) The imaging method of claim 1, wherein the sparsely placing a gamma detector within the gamma camera step comprises using at least one scintillator gamma camera and at least one semiconductor gamma camera. ### Claim 9 (depends on 1) The imaging method of claim 1, wherein the sparsely placing a gamma detector within the gamma camera step comprises removing at least one gamma detector from the at least one tiled array. ### Claim 10 (depends on 1) The imaging method of claim 1, wherein the sparsely placing a gamma detector within the gamma camera step comprises removing at least one column or row of gamma detectors from the at least one tiled array. ### Claim 11 (depends on 1) The imaging method of claim 1, wherein the sparsely placing a gamma detector within the gamma camera step comprises removing gamma detectors in a checkerboard pattern from the at least one tiled array. ### Claim 12 (depends on 1) The imaging method of claim 1, wherein the collimator has design parameters and wherein the optimizing collimator performance step comprises adjusting the collimator design parameters to affect at least one of efficiency and spatial resolution. ### Claim 13 (depends on 1) The imaging method of claim 1, further comprising a step of acquiring imaging data during a period of time, wherein the moving at least one of the gamma detector and the collimator step comprises at least one of moving the gamma detector from a first detector position to a second detector position and moving the collimator from a first collimator position to a second collimator position during the acquiring imaging data step. ### Claim 14 (depends on 1) The imaging method of claim 1, wherein the performance figure of merit comprises a ratio of efficiency divided by spatial resolution squared divided by gamma camera cost. ### Claim 15 A gamma camera with an improved performance figure of merit, the performance figure of merit comprising at least one variable related to at least one of cost, efficiency, and spatial resolution and the gamma camera comprising an electrical power input, a control input, a data output, a collimator, the collimator having a performance, and at least one tiled array of gamma detectors and further comprising at least one of: a sparsely placed gamma detector within the gamma camera, an optimized performance collimator; and a means for at least one of a gamma detector motion and a collimator motion. ### Claim 16 (depends on 15) The gamma camera of claim 15, further comprising at least one application with at least one predetermined performance requirement defining the improved performance figure of merit. ### Claim 17 (depends on 15) The gamma camera of claim 15, wherein the at least one tiled array of gamma detectors comprises at least one of a flat panel, a curved panel, a circular ring, and an elliptical ring. ### Claim 18 (depends on 15) The gamma camera of claim 15, wherein the optimized performance collimator comprises at least one of a parallel hole collimator, a focused hole collimator, a slit-slat collimator, a rotating slat collimator, a multiple pinhole collimator, a coded aperture collimator, and a Compton scatter collimator. ### Claim 19 (depends on 15) The gamma camera of claim 15, wherein the at least one tiled array of gamma detectors comprise tileable gamma photon detectors having an area less than 400 cm2. ### Claim 20 (depends on 15) The gamma camera of claim 15, wherein the at least one tiled array of gamma detectors comprise at least one of: a scintillator with an optically-coupled photodetector, and a semiconductor direct conversion detector. ### Claim 21 (depends on 15) The gamma camera of claim 15, wherein the improved performance figure of merit is found by iteratively searching for an optimal performance figure of merit by: generating a simulated numerical distribution of a gamma emission radioactive material; modeling an imaging system and a data acquisition sequence, the imaging system comprising a means to move the gamma camera; generating a simulated acquisition of imaging data using the simulated numeral distribution, the modeled imaging system, and the modeled data acquisition sequence; iteratively reconstructing the imaging data to obtain an imaged distribution; calculating the performance figure of merit for each iteration; and incrementally changing at least one of the imaging system and the data acquisition sequence. ### Claim 22 (depends on 15) The gamma camera of claim 15, wherein the sparsely placed gamma detectors within the gamma camera comprises using at least one scintillator gamma camera and at least one semiconductor gamma camera. ### Claim 23 (depends on 15) The gamma camera of claim 15, wherein the sparsely placed gamma detectors within the gamma camera are removable or can be left out from the at least one tiled array. ### Claim 24 (depends on 15) The gamma camera of claim 15, wherein the sparsely placed gamma detectors within the gamma camera comprise at least one column or row of gamma detectors removed or left out from the at least one tiled array. ### Claim 25 (depends on 15) The gamma camera of claim 15, wherein the sparsely placed gamma detectors within the gamma camera are removed or left out in a checkerboard pattern from the at least one tiled array. ### Claim 26 (depends on 15) The gamma camera of claim 15, wherein the collimator has design parameters and wherein the optimized performance collimator has adjusted collimator design parameters that affect at least one of efficiency and spatial resolution. ### Claim 27 (depends on 15) The gamma camera of claim 15, the camera capable of acquiring imaging data during a period of time, wherein the means for at least one of a gamma detector motion and a collimator motion comprises means for at least one of moving the gamma detector from a first detector position to a second detector position and moving the collimator from a first collimator position to a second collimator position during a period of acquiring imaging data. ### Claim 28 (depends on 15) The gamma camera of claim 15, wherein the performance figure of merit comprises a ratio of efficiency divided by spatial resolution squared divided by gamma camera cost.