Adjustable dual-detector image data acquisition system

An imaging system for acquiring imaging data of an object positioned about an axis to form a SPECT image, said system comprising:

• first and second gamma ray detectors;
• a first pair of rings, oriented substantially perpendicular to and approximately centered on the axis;
• a second pair of rings, oriented substantially perpendicular to and approximately centered on said axis;
• means for coupling said first detector to said first pair of rings with an imaging surface of the first detector facing the axis and disposed between said rings;
• means for coupling said second detector to said second pair of rings with an imaging surface of the second detector facing the axis and disposed between said rings;
• and
• means for independently rotating at least one pair of said first and second pairs of rings to adjust the angular displacement, relative to the axis, between said first and second detectors to a predetermined magnitude.

An imaging system for acquiring imaging data of an object positioned about an axis, said system comprising:

• first and second detectors, with the second detector being narrower than the first detector;
• means for rotating said first and second detectors in a circular path approximately centered at said axis and oriented perpendicularly to said axis, with the angular displacement of the detectors fixed at a selected magnitude of about 90°;
• and
• means for moving said detectors toward or away from the axis to decrease the distance between the detectors and the object to be imaged to improve resolution, where the narrower second detector facilitates minimizing the distance between the detectors and the body of a patient oriented along the axis.

An imaging system for acquiring imaging data of an object positioned about an axis, said system comprising:

• first and second detectors, with the second detector being narrower than the first detector;
• means for rotating said first and second detectors in a circular path approximately centered at said axis and oriented perpendicular to said axis with the angular displacement of the first and second detectors fixed at a selected magnitude between 180° and about 90°;
• and
• extended collimators, coupled to an imaging surface of each of said first and second detectors, for increasing the resolution of said imaging system.