Autocontouring device for gamma camera using radioactive source and transverse motion

A nuclear medicine gamma camera comprising:

• a rotating gantry which defines a receiving aperture in which a subject is positioned;
• a first detector head, a second detector head, and a third detector head movably attached to the rotating gantry and arranged on the rotating gantry spaced from one another around the receiving aperture, said first, second and third detector heads being rotated about the subject with rotation of the rotating gantry;
• translation means which translate the first, second and third detector heads laterally in directions tangential to the receiving aperture;
• a first radiation source mounted to the first detector head such that radiation from the first radiation source is directed toward and received by the second detector head positioned across the receiving aperture from the first radiation source;
• a second radiation source mounted to the second detector head such that radiation from the second radiation source is directed toward and received by the third detector head positioned across the receiving aperture from the second radiation source;
• a third radiation source mounted to the third detector head such that radiation from the third radiation source is directed toward and received by the first detector head positioned across the receiving aperture from the third radiation source;
• and,
• a contouring device which determines outer boundaries of the subject in response to radiation received by the detector heads.

A nuclear medicine gamma camera comprising:

• a rotating gantry which defines a receiving aperture in which a subject is positioned;
• a number of detector heads movably attached to the rotating gantry, said detector heads being rotated about the subject with rotation of the rotating gantry;
• a number of radiation sources mounted to the detector heads such that radiation from the radiation sources is directed toward and received by corresponding detector heads positioned across the subject receiving aperture from the radiation sources;
• translation means which translate the detector heads laterally in directions tangential to the receiving aperture and move the detector heads in radial directions relative to the receiving aperture;
• and,
• a contouring device which determines outer boundaries of the subject in response to radiation received by the detector heads.

A method of mapping outer boundaries of a subject being examined with a nuclear medicine gamma camera, the method comprising:

• (a) placing the subject in a subject receiving aperture;
• (b) positioning a number of radiation sources and corresponding radiation detectors about the subject receiving aperture such that the radiation sources are across the subject receiving aperture from their corresponding radiation detectors;
• (c) directing penetrating radiation from the radiation sources toward their corresponding radiation detectors positioned across the subject receiving aperture;
• (d) changing the relative positions of the radiation sources with respect to their corresponding radiation detectors;
• and,
• (e) measuring the outer boundaries of the subject in response to the radiation received by the radiation detectors.

A method of mapping an outer boundary of a subject, the method comprising:

• (a) placing the subject in a receiving aperture;
• (b) positioning a number of radiation sources and corresponding radiation detectors about the receiving aperture such that the radiation sources are across the receiving aperture from their corresponding radiation detectors;
• (c) directing radiation from the radiation sources toward their corresponding radiation detectors positioned across the receiving aperture;
• (d) translating at least one of the radiation sources and the radiation detectors laterally in directions tangential to the receiving aperture;
• and,
• (e) measuring the outer boundaries of the subject in response to radiation received by the radiation detectors.

A method of mapping an outer boundary of a subject, the method comprising:

• (a) placing the subject in a receiving aperture;
• (b) positioning a plurality of radiation sources and corresponding radiation detectors about the receiving aperture such that the radiation sources are across the receiving aperture from their corresponding radiation detectors;
• (c) directing radiation from the radiation sources toward their corresponding radiation detectors positioned across the receiving aperture;
• (d) translating two of the plurality of radiation sources laterally in directions opposite one another and tangential to the receiving aperture;
• and,
• (e) measuring the outer boundary of the subject in response to the radiation received by the radiation detectors.

A method of nuclear medical imaging, the method comprising:

• (a) Placing a subject in a receiving aperture;
• (b) positioning a number of radiation sources and corresponding radiation detectors about the receiving aperture such that the radiation sources are across the receiving aperture from their corresponding radiation detectors;
• (c) directing penetrating radiation from the radiation sources toward their corresponding radiation detectors positioned across the receiving aperture;
• (d) translating at least one of the radiation sources and the radiation detectors laterally in directions tangential to the receiving aperture;
• (e) measuring an outer boundary of the subject in response to the radiation received by the radiation detectors;
• (f) incrementally rotating the radiation sources and corresponding radiation detectors about the subject receiving aperture such that measurements of the outer boundary of the subject are taken at a number of angular orientations;
• (g) obtaining a contour of the subject from the measurements;
• and,
• (h) selectively moving the radiation sources and corresponding radiation detectors relative to the subject in response to the obtained contour.

A method of nuclear medical imaging, the method comprising:

• (a) placing a subject in a receiving aperture;
• positioning a number of radiation sources and corresponding radiation detectors about the receiving aperture such that the radiation sources are across the receiving aperture from their corresponding radiation detectors;
• (c) directing penetrating radiation from the radiation sources toward their corresponding radiation detectors positioned across the receiving aperture;
• (d) translating at least one of the radiation sources and the radiation detectors laterally in directions tangential to the receiving aperture;
• (e) measuring an outer boundary of the subject in response to the radiation received by the radiation detectors;
• (f) incrementally rotating the radiation sources and corresponding radiation detectors about the subject receiving aperture such that measurements of the outer boundary of the subject are taken at a number of angular orientations;
• (g) obtaining a contour of the subject from the measurements;
• and,
• (h) rotating the radiation sources and corresponding radiation detectors about the receiving aperture such that their orbit is determined in response to the obtained contour of the subject.