Collimator for radiation detectors and method of use

A collimator for a gamma camera imaging, said collimator comprising:

• a pair of bars for forming a slot substantially parallel to the axis of rotation of a scanner, wherein a width of said bars is adjustable;
• a plurality of plates distributed along said slot, each one of said plates being substantially perpendicular to said slot and also being substantially parallel to a transaxial direction of the scanner, wherein said plates are comprised of a radiation absorbing material;
• a low-density material for separating said plates from each other;
• and
• a detector associated with said slot and said plurality of plates such that, through any motion of the scanner, said slot, said plates and said detector retain their relative positional relationship.

A method for imaging a body part, said method comprising the steps of:

• providing a radiation source;
• providing a collimator including a radiation detector, a slot, and a plurality of plates separated from each other and arranged in space with the slot;
• providing the focus of the collimator between the body part and the slot;
• and
• scanning the body part using the collimator and radiation source, said scanning by concurrently detecting a plurality of parallel, rectangular slices of the body part, the geometry of said slices being defined by said arrangement and said separation, wherein
• said slices do not substantially overlap each other.

A collimator for gamma camera imaging, said collimator comprising:

• exactly one slot substantially parallel to the axis of rotation of a SPECT scanner;
• a plurality of plates distributed across said single slot, each one of said plates being perpendicular to said slot and also being parallel to a transaxial direction of the SPECT scanner;
• and
• a detector associated with said slot and said plurality of plates such that, through any motion of the scanner, said slot, said plates and said detector retain their relative positional relationship, and wherein
• said single slot illuminates said detector without using any sweeping action.

A collimator for a gamma camera imaging, said collimator comprising:

• a slot having a major length substantially parallel to the axis of rotation of a scanner;
• a plurality of plates distributed along said major length of said slot, each one of said plates being perpendicular to said slot and also being parallel to a transaxial direction of the scanner, wherein said plates are comprised of a radiation absorbing material;
• and
• a detector associated with said slot and said plurality of plates such that, through any motion of the scanner, said slot, said plates and said detector retain their relative positional relationship.