# US 6,281,505 B1 · Adjustable dual-detector image data acquisition system > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 6,281,505 B1 - Document ID: US6281505B1 - Status: Granted - Kind: B1 - Application number: 09/738,803 - Filed: 2000-12-15 - Granted: 2001-08-28 - Earliest claimed: 1991-05-23 - Assignees: ADAC Laboratories - Inventors: Horace Hines; Paul Hug; Mark L. Lamp - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US6281505B1 ## CPC - G01T 1/166: involving relative movement between detector and subject {(scanners in general without using scintigraphy G01T1/2964)} - A61B 6/037: {Emission tomography} - 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 The imaging system has two detectors which can be rotated in a circular path about an object with the angular displacement between the detectors and their radial position with respect to the axis being adjustable. Preferably, the distance of the detectors from the lateral axis is adjustable to increase resolution of the system. A gantry has supports for drive gear rings for the detectors with radial motion mechanisms connecting one detector to the interior surface of a drive gear ring and the other to the exterior of its drive gear ring via a support arm. A drive gear and idler gear move one detector along the circular path and a radial drive motor moves the detectors radially with respect to the axis. ## Claims ### Claim 1 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 disposed so as to be rotatable about the axis; a second pair of rings, oriented substantially perpendicular to and disposed so as to be rotatable about 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 the first detector 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 the second detector disposed between said rings; and means for independently rotating said first pair of rings to adjust the angular displacement, about the axis, between said first and second detectors to a predetermined magnitude. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The imaging system of claim 1 further comprising: means for rotating both said first and second pairs of rings to rotate said first and second detectors about the axis while maintaining a constant angular displacement between said first and second detectors. ### Claim 3 (depends on 1) The imaging system of claim 1, wherein: said means for coupling said first detector to said first pair of rings includes means for moving said first detector toward and away from the lateral axis; and said means for coupling said second detector to said second pair of rings includes means for moving said second detector toward and away from the axis. ### Claim 4 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. ### Claim 5 (depends on 4) The imaging system of claim 4 wherein: said means for coupling said first detector to said first pair of rings includes means for moving said first detector toward and away from the axis; and said means for coupling said second detector to said second pair of rings includes means for moving said second detector toward and away from the axis. ### Claim 6 (depends on 4) The imaging system of claim 4 further comprising: means for rotating both said first and second pairs of rings to rotate said first and second detectors about the axis while maintaining a constant angular displacement between said first and second detectors. ### Claim 7 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. ### Claim 8 (depends on 7) The imaging system of claim 7, further comprising: a table for supporting the patient; means, coupled to said table to support said table and orient said table parallel to said axis, for displacing the table, horizontally and vertically relative to the axis, during an imaging session to improve the resolution of the imaging system. ### Claim 9 An imaging system for acquiring imaging data of an object positioned about a lateral axis, said system comprising: first and second detectors, with the second detector being narrower than the first detector; and means for rotating said first and second detectors in a circular path approximately centered at said lateral axis and oriented perpendicularly to the lateral axis, with the angular displacement of the first and second detectors fixed at a selected magnitude of about 90°. ### Claim 10 (depends on 9) The system of claim 9, further comprising: means for moving said first and second detectors toward or away from the lateral axis to decrease the distance between the first and second detectors and the object to be imaged to improve resolution, where the narrower second detector facilitates minimizing the distance between the first and second detectors and the body of a patient oriented along the lateral axis. ### Claim 11 (depends on 9) The system of claim 9, further comprising: a table for supporting a patient; means, coupled to said table to support said table and orient said table parallel to said lateral axis, for displacing the table, horizontally and vertically relative to the lateral axis, by a selected distance to increase the resolution of the imaging system. ### Claim 12 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.