Medical imaging apparatus for detection of gamma rays and reflected ultrasonic waves

A medical imaging apparatus comprising:

• a linear gamma ray information-detecting unit for detecting, at a position external to an examinee, gamma rays from a radioisotope administered to said examinee, to obtain a first tomographic image of said examinee from a distribution of said radioisotope;
• a linear ultrasonic wave information-detecting unit for detecting, at a position external to said examinee, reflected waves caused by ultrasonic waves emitted to said examinee to obtain a second tomographic image of said examinee;
• and
• an image-combining/displaying unit for combining and displaying said first tomographic image and said second tomographic image,
• wherein said linear gamma ray information-detecting unit includes a plurality of gamma ray-detecting elements all of which are arranged one-dimensionally in a single linear array, and a coded aperture plate arranged between said examinee and said plurality of gamma ray-detecting elements, said coded aperture plate having a plurality of apertures all of which are arranged one-dimensionally in a single linear array, said linear gamma ray information-detecting unit having a planar imaging area wherein said gamma ray-detecting elements lie on the planar imaging area;
• and
• wherein said linear ultrasonic wave information-detecting unit includes a plurality of ultrasonic wave-transmitting/receiving elements all of which are arranged one-dimensionally in a single linear array, said linear ultrasonic wave information-detecting unit having a planar imaging area wherein said ultrasonic wave-transmitting/receiving elements lie on the planar imaging area.