Magnetic shielding for a PET detector system

Abstract

A positron emission tomography (PET) detector ring comprising: a radiation detector ring comprising scintillators (74) viewed by photomultiplier tubes (72); and a magnetic field shielding enclosure (83, 84) surrounding sides and a back side of the annular radiation detector ring so as to shield the photomultiplier tubes of the radiation detector ring. Secondary magnetic field shielding (76′) may also be provided, comprising a ferromagnetic material having higher magnetic permeability and lower magnetic saturation characteristics as compared with the magnetic field shielding enclosure, the second magnetic field shielding also arranged to shield the photomultiplier tubes of the radiation detector ring. The secondary magnetic field shielding may comprise a mu-metal. The PET detector ring may be part of a hybrid imaging system also including a magnetic resonance (MR) scanner, the PET detector ring being arranged respective to the MR scanner such that a stray magnetic field from the MR scanner impinges on the PET detector ring.

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.