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Assignees
Member
Kromek Group plcKromek Group plc develops advanced detection technologies for radiological, nuclear, and biological threats using Cadmium Zinc Telluride (CZT) solid-state detectors. The company offers manufacturing and R&D for high-resolution gamma and neutron detectors, networked and wearable monitoring devices, and automated pathogen detection platforms. Its solutions serve the civil nuclear, medical, environmental, defense, and public health sectors worldwide, enhancing safety, operational efficiency, and health security.
Kromek Group plc develops advanced detection technologies for radiological, nuclear, and biological threats using Cadmium Zinc Telluride (CZT) solid-state detectors. The company offers manufacturing and R&D for high-resolution gamma and neutron detectors, networked and wearable monitoring devices, and automated pathogen detection platforms. Its solutions serve the civil nuclear, medical, environmental, defense, and public health sectors worldwide, enhancing safety, operational efficiency, and health security.
Publication Number
US-10371832-B1
Publication Date
2019-08-06
Expiration Date
Abstract
One embodiment provides a method for imaging photons, including: receiving a dataset associated with a plurality of photon events, the photon events corresponding to photons interacting with a photon imaging device, wherein the photon imaging device comprises a photon guide assembly and a detector array; the photon guide assembly comprising a plurality of photon guides positioned at an oblique angle with respect to the detector array; and producing an oblique planar projection image of the plurality of photon events by processing the dataset. Other aspects are described and claimed.
Core Innovation
One embodiment provides a method for imaging photons comprising receiving a dataset associated with a plurality of photon events corresponding to photons interacting with a photon imaging device that comprises a photon guide assembly and a detector array, the photon guide assembly comprising a plurality of photon guides positioned at an oblique angle with respect to the detector array, and producing an oblique planar projection image of the plurality of photon events by processing the dataset. Other aspects include a photon imaging device comprising a photon guide assembly and a detector array with a processor and memory to receive the dataset and produce an oblique planar projection image, and a product comprising code stored on a storage device to receive the dataset and produce an oblique planar projection image. The photon guide assembly comprising photon guides positioned at an oblique angle is a recurring element of the embodiments.
The background describes a need for a gamma camera that performs well for both diagnostic imaging applications and therapeutic monitoring applications because standard detector thicknesses (for example, 5 mm CZT) are not thick enough to efficiently image therapeutic 131I (364 keV) and thicker CZT would be more expensive. The patent states that the obvious solution of thicker CZT increases cost and that what is needed is a novel solution that is not obvious. The described inventive solution uses oblique incidence photon trajectories to increase the maximum path length in the detector and thereby increase stopping power and detection efficiency.
The detailed description explains use of a parallel slant-hole collimator assembly or other photon guide embodiments (for example, pinhole apertures, obliquely slanted coded apertures, or focused collimators) to select obliquely incident photons so that the photons have a longer maximum path length in the detector, increasing absorption and detection efficiency. The disclosure further describes processing the dataset with pixel charge-sharing corrections, depth-of-interaction estimation, and combining Compton scattering events, and notes that paired slanted collimators on opposed cameras can provide stereo information that may improve three-dimensional image reconstruction. The embodiments are described as providing technical improvements that can reduce imaging time, lower radiological dose, avoid thicker CZT detectors, and improve imaging performance for theranostic applications.
Claims Coverage
Independent claims: three independent claims (claims 1, 11, and 20). Extracted main inventive features: three core features related to oblique photon guides, oblique planar projection image with depth-of-interaction based positioning, and receipt/processing of a photon-event dataset.
Photon guides positioned at an oblique angle
The photon guide assembly comprising a plurality of photon guides positioned at an oblique angle with respect to the detector array, wherein the photon guides positioned at an oblique angle create a longer incident path of a photon event compared to a length of an incident path of a perpendicularly incident photon event.
Oblique planar projection image with depth-of-interaction based positioning
Producing an oblique planar projection image of the plurality of photon events by processing the dataset and assigning a position of each photon event to a point of incidence on the detector array, wherein the assigning is based upon a measured depth of interaction along the longer incident path.
Receiving a dataset associated with a plurality of photon events
Receiving a dataset associated with a plurality of photon events, the photon events corresponding to photons interacting with a photon imaging device and each of the photon events having an incident path, and, in device and product claims, storing or executing instructions/code that receive the dataset and produce the oblique planar projection image as described.
The independent claims consistently cover a photon guide assembly with photon guides positioned at an oblique angle to increase incident path length, producing oblique planar projection images with positions assigned using measured depth of interaction, and receiving/processing a dataset associated with photon events; these features are claimed in method (claim 1), device (claim 11), and product/code (claim 20) forms.
Stated Advantages
Increased stopping power (absorption) and therefore increased detection efficiency by using oblique incidence photon trajectories.
Avoiding thicker, more expensive CZT detectors by obtaining a longer effective photon path length through oblique incidence.
Reduced imaging time and/or lower radiological dose to patients due to improved detection efficiency.
Improved diagnostic imaging and patient outcomes and provision of better imaging data to healthcare professionals.
Documented Applications
Medical imaging, including theranostic imaging with CZT gamma cameras, SPECT, PET, and other nuclear medicine imaging systems.
Security screening, for example airport or port of entry devices and baggage screening.
First responder and environmental assessment use cases.
Manufacturing and non-destructive testing applications.
Photon transmission modalities such as x-ray CT, x-ray fluorescence, x-ray mammography, and x-ray radiography.
Use in consumer devices such as smart phones and tablets with pixelated optical cameras.
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