Solid fiduciary marker for multimodality imaging
AssigneeSiemens Molecular Imaging, Inc.
InventorsStefan Siegel, Eric Arnsdorff, Xinli Liu
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A solid fiduciary marker for registering at least two images when imaging the same subject using distinct imaging devices is disclosed. The solid fiduciary marker is visible in at least two of a Positron Emission Tomography (PET), Single Photon Emission Computed Tomography (SPECT), Planar gamma camera, X-ray CT, planar X-ray, Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI), and optical imager. The marker includes at least two of various doping compounds to be detected by the various imaging systems. The doping compounds include a positron emitting nuclide, a gamma emitting nuclide, a doping compound, metal, and a silicone-based polymer is used in association with an MRI device.
Claims10
A solid fiduciary marker for registering at least two images of a subject using at least two distinct imaging devices, each of the imaging devices defining a patient gantry configured to receive a patient bed, said solid fiduciary marker comprising:
- a substrate configured to be carried by the patient bed and within the patient gantry of each of the imaging devices when the patient bed is received therein;
- and
- at least one marker embedded within said substrate, said at least one marker being formed of a first material capable of functioning as a contrast agent for a first imaging modality, and said first material being doped with a second material that functions as a contrast agent for a second imaging modality different from said first imaging modality.
An imaging system for registering at least two images of a subject positioned on a patient support, said imaging system comprising:
- a first imaging device selected from the group consisting of at least a Positron Emission Tomography (PET) scanner;
- a Single Photon Emission Computed Tomography (SPECT) scanner;
- a planar gamma camera;
- an X-ray CT scanner;
- a planar X-ray device;
- a Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI) device;
- and an optical imager, said first imaging device defining a patient gantry for receipt of said patient support and the patient therein;
- a second imaging device selected from the remaining of the group consisting of at least a PET scanner;
- a SPECT scanner;
- a planar gamma camera;
- an X-ray CT scanner;
- a planar X-ray device;
- an MRI device;
- and an optical imager, said second imaging device defining a patient gantry for receipt of said patient support and the patient therein;
- a substrate configured to be carried by the patient bed and within the patient gantry of each of the imaging devices when the patient bed is received therein;
- and
- at least one solid marker embedded within said substrate, said at least one marker being formed of a first material capable of functioning as a contrast agent for a MRI device, and said first material being doped with a second material that functions as a contrast agent for one of said PET scanner;
- said SPECT scanner;
- said planar gamma camera;
- said X-ray CT scanner;
- said planar X-ray device;
- and said optical imager.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.