Patent US5936247A successfully refreshed from Google Patents.
US5936247A
Expired / Lapsed
US
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Imaging attenuation correction mechanism
Assignee: General Electric Co
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Filing: 1997-06-27
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Granted: 1999-08-10
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Expires: 2017-06-27
Abstract
Abstract An apparatus for generating gamma transmission and gamma emission images simultaneously including two emission cameras disposed on opposite sides of an imaging area so as to oppose each other, a gamma line transmission source and a line detector positioned between the two emission cameras on opposite sides of the imaging area, at least one of the source or line detector being movable along a path that substantially traverses the distance between the two emission cameras. The two emission cameras, line source and line detector are all secured to the same gantry for rotation about the imaging area so that transmission and emission images can be generated simultaneously.
Inventors
- 👤 Kai Lange
- 👤 J.o slashed.rn-Erik Jensen
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-08 11:43
CPC Classifications
G; G01; G01T; G01T1/00; G01T1/16; G01T1/161; G01T1/1615; A; A61; A61B; A61B6/00; A61B6/02; A61B6/03; A61B6/037; G01T1/164; G01T1/1641; G01T1/1642; G01T1/1648
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 18
Claim 1
Independent Claim
213 words
An apparatus to be used with a planar imaging system including an annular gantry mounted for rotation about a rotation axis, first and second two dimensional detectors mounted on the gantry so as to oppose each other defining an imaging area therebetween, the first and second detectors positioned on first and second sides of the imaging area, respectively, the apparatus for generating and gathering transmission data while the first and second cameras gather emission data, the apparatus comprising: a detector including an array of N by P photomultiplier tubes where P is less than 5, the detector positioned between the first and second detectors on a third side of the imaging area; a source positioned between the first and second detectors on a fourth side of the imaging area opposite the detector, the source generating a gamma transmission that is directed at the detector at all times, the detector and source each being correction components, at least one of the correction components being a mobile component; a motivator for moving the mobile component along a path essentially parallel to the P dimension of the detector and along the side of the imaging area occupied by the mobile component; and a controller for controlling the motivator as a function of gantry angle and time.
Claim 2
Independent Claim
213 words
An apparatus to be used with a planar imaging system including an annular gantry mounted for rotation about a rotation axis, first and second two dimensional detectors mounted on the gantry so as to oppose each other defining an imaging area therebetween, the first and second detectors positioned on first and second sides of the imaging area, respectively, the apparatus for generating and gathering transmission data while the first and second cameras gather emission data, the apparatus comprising: a detector including an array of N by P photomultiplier tubes where P is less than 5, the detector positioned between the first and second detectors on a third side of the imaging area; a source positioned between the first and second detectors on a fourth side of the imaging area opposite the detector, the source generating a gamma transmission that is directed at the detector at all times, the detector and source each being correction components, at least one of the correction components being a mobile component; a motivator for moving the mobile component along a path essentially parallel to the P dimension of the detector and along the side of the imaging area occupied by the mobile component; and a controller for controlling the motivator as a function of gantry angle and time.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
12 words
The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the detector is a line detector.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
30 words
The apparatus of claim 2 wherein the source is a line source and is arranged so that the emission therefrom is parallel to the N dimension of the line detector.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
12 words
The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the source is a point source.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
27 words
The apparatus of claim 4 wherein the source includes a collimator which collimates the gamma emission to form a fan beam which is directed at the detector.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
14 words
The apparatus of claim 5 wherein the collimator is an asymmetric fan beam collimator.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
19 words
The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the P dimension of the detector includes only a single row of detectors.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
19 words
The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the first and second detectors are dual head gamma and positron emission detectors.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
44 words
The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the first and second detectors detect emissions at a first energy level, the detector detects gamma transmissions at a second energy level appreciably different than the first level, and the source generates transmissions at the second energy level.
Claim 11
Independent Claim
268 words
An apparatus to be used with a planar imaging system including an annular gantry mounted for rotation about a rotation axis, first and second two dimensional detectors mounted on the gantry so as to oppose each other defining an imaging area therebetween, the first and second detectors positioned on first and second sides of the imaging area, respectively, the apparatus for generating and gathering transmission data while the first and second cameras gather emission data, the apparatus comprising: a line detector including an array of N by P photomultiplier tubes where P is less than 5, the detector positioned between the first and second detectors on a third side of the imaging area; a line source positioned between the first and second detectors on a fourth side of the imaging area opposite the detector, the source generating a gamma transmission that is directed at the detector at all times and is parallel to the N dimension of the line detector, the detector and source each being correction components, at least one of the correction components being a mobile component; a motivator for moving the mobile component along a path essentially parallel to the P dimension of the detector and along the side of the imaging area occupied by the mobile component; a controller for controlling the motivator as a function of gantry angle and time; and wherein, one of the correction components is stationary and the apparatus further includes an aligner for rotating the source as the mobile component is moved along the path so as to direct the line transmission toward the line detector at all times.
Claim 12
Independent Claim
268 words
An apparatus to be used with a planar imaging system including an annular gantry mounted for rotation about a rotation axis, first and second two dimensional detectors mounted on the gantry so as to oppose each other defining an imaging area therebetween, the first and second detectors positioned on first and second sides of the imaging area, respectively, the apparatus for generating and gathering transmission data while the first and second cameras gather emission data, the apparatus comprising: a line detector including an array of N by P photomultiplier tubes where P is less than 5, the detector positioned between the first and second detectors on a third side of the imaging area; a line source positioned between the first and second detectors on a fourth side of the imaging area opposite the detector, the source generating a gamma transmission that is directed at the detector at all times and is parallel to the N dimension of the line detector, the detector and source each being correction components, at least one of the correction components being a mobile component; a motivator for moving the mobile component along a path essentially parallel to the P dimension of the detector and along the side of the imaging area occupied by the mobile component; a controller for controlling the motivator as a function of gantry angle and time; and wherein, one of the correction components is stationary and the apparatus further includes an aligner for rotating the source as the mobile component is moved along the path so as to direct the line transmission toward the line detector at all times.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
18 words
The apparatus of claim 10 wherein the mobile component is the source and the line detector is stationary.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
17 words
The apparatus of claim 11 wherein the line detector is positioned parallel to the axis of rotation.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
42 words
The apparatus of claim 12 wherein the first and second detectors are centered along an imaging axis perpendicular to the axis of rotation and the line detector is positioned along an axis that makes a 90 degree angle with the imaging axis.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
32 words
The apparatus of claim 13 wherein the path is straight and substantially traverses the distance between the first and second detectors along the side of the imaging area occupied by the source.
Claim 17
Independent Claim
235 words
An apparatus to be used with a planar imaging system including an annular gantry mounted for rotation about a rotation axis, first and second two dimensional detectors mounted on the gantry so as to oppose each other defining an imaging area therebetween, the first and second detectors positioned on first and second sides of the imaging area, respectively, the apparatus for generating and gathering transmission data while the first and second cameras gather emission data, the apparatus comprising: a detector including an array of N by P photomultiplier tubes where P is less than 5, the detector positioned between the first and second detectors on a third side of the imaging area; a source positioned between the first and second detectors on a fourth side of the imaging area opposite the detector. the source generating a gamma transmission that is directed at the detector at all times, the detector and source each being correction components, at least one of the correction components being a mobile component; a motivator for moving the mobile component along a path essentially parallel to the P dimension of the detector and along the side of the imaging area occupied by the mobile component; a controller for controlling the motivator as a function of gantry angle and time; and wherein, both of the correction components are moveable and the motivator is capable of moving one or both of the correction components.
Claim 18
Independent Claim
235 words
An apparatus to be used with a planar imaging system including an annular gantry mounted for rotation about a rotation axis, first and second two dimensional detectors mounted on the gantry so as to oppose each other defining an imaging area therebetween, the first and second detectors positioned on first and second sides of the imaging area, respectively, the apparatus for generating and gathering transmission data while the first and second cameras gather emission data, the apparatus comprising: a detector including an array of N by P photomultiplier tubes where P is less than 5, the detector positioned between the first and second detectors on a third side of the imaging area; a source positioned between the first and second detectors on a fourth side of the imaging area opposite the detector. the source generating a gamma transmission that is directed at the detector at all times, the detector and source each being correction components, at least one of the correction components being a mobile component; a motivator for moving the mobile component along a path essentially parallel to the P dimension of the detector and along the side of the imaging area occupied by the mobile component; a controller for controlling the motivator as a function of gantry angle and time; and wherein, both of the correction components are moveable and the motivator is capable of moving one or both of the correction components.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
US5376795A
Cited
US5629971A
Cited
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 2002-08-09 | 2003-02-08 | 2003-08-10 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 2006-08-09 | 2007-02-08 | 2007-08-10 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 2010-08-09 | 2011-02-08 | 2011-08-10 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |