High-resolution single photon planar and spect imaging of brain and neck employing a system of two co-registered opposed gamma imaging heads
Inventors
Majewski, Stanislaw • Proffitt, James
Assignees
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Publication Number
US-8071949-B2
Publication Date
2011-12-06
Expiration Date
2029-01-23
Abstract
A compact, mobile, dedicated SPECT brain imager that can be easily moved to the patient to provide in-situ imaging, especially when the patient cannot be moved to the Nuclear Medicine imaging center. As a result of the widespread availability of single photon labeled biomarkers, the SPECT brain imager can be used in many locations, including remote locations away from medical centers. The SPECT imager improves the detection of gamma emission from the patient's head and neck area with a large field of view. Two identical lightweight gamma imaging detector heads are mounted to a rotating gantry and precisely mechanically co-registered to each other at 180 degrees. A unique imaging algorithm combines the co-registered images from the detector heads and provides several SPECT tomographic reconstructions of the imaged object thereby improving the diagnostic quality especially in the case of imaging requiring higher spatial resolution and sensitivity at the same time.
Core Innovation
The invention provides a compact, mobile, dedicated Single Photon Emission Computed Tomography (SPECT) brain imager capable of being moved to the patient to provide in-situ imaging, particularly valuable when the patient cannot be moved to a Nuclear Medicine imaging center. This brain imager utilizes two identical lightweight gamma imaging detector heads mounted on a rotating gantry, precisely mechanically co-registered at 180 degrees opposite each other. The system covers the patient's head, brain, and neck with a large active field of view and employs a unique imaging algorithm that combines the co-registered images from both detector heads to produce multiple SPECT tomographic reconstructions that enhance diagnostic quality, especially where higher spatial resolution and sensitivity are required simultaneously.
The system addresses the problem of poor sensitivity and spatial resolution in conventional single photon imaging, especially when imaging small features such as lesions under 1 cm in diameter or sectors distant from the gamma camera. Conventional SPECT imagers suffer from substantial absorption and attenuation of gamma rays emitted from sectors away from the detector, which results in uneven signal detection and diminished image quality. The present invention mitigates these issues by using two co-registered detectors placed on opposite sides of the patient's head or neck, thereby minimizing the lesion-to-detector distance and combining their images pixel-by-pixel to produce a more uniform and higher sensitivity detection system.
Claims Coverage
The patent contains two independent claims describing distinct configurations of the brain imaging system, each emphasizing co-registered detector arrangements and their functional features.
Dual co-registered gamma imaging detector heads with pixel-by-pixel image multiplication
A compact and mobile high resolution SPECT brain imaging system comprising a rotating gantry with two identical gamma imaging detector heads mounted opposite at 180 degrees, mechanically co-registered to maintain alignment during rotation. The detector heads are geometrically aligned to provide one-to-one pixel correspondence and are positioned on opposite sides of the patient's head/neck for full field coverage. The system minimizes patient head movements and processes imaging data by multiplying corresponding pixel values from the two detector images obtained in the same time bin to produce single product images.
Rotating gantry with two pairs of co-registered gamma detector heads at adjustable angles
A compact and mobile high resolution SPECT brain imaging system featuring a rotating gantry with a ring plate mounting two pairs of co-registered gamma detector heads. Each pair is fixed at 180 degrees relative to each other with maintained co-registration during gantry rotation. The relative angles and positions between the pairs are adjustable. The system encompasses the patient's brain/neck with full active field coverage, minimizes patient head movements, and processes imaging data by pixel-by-pixel multiplication of images from each pair to produce combined images.
The claims focus on the inventive features of using mechanically co-registered gamma detector heads arranged opposite each other on a rotating gantry with precise pixel alignment, combined with processing the images through pixel-by-pixel multiplication to enhance uniformity and sensitivity of single photon planar and SPECT imaging for brain and neck applications. The claims also cover configurations using either two or four detector heads with adjustable angular positioning for improved imaging versatility.
Stated Advantages
Significantly improved field of view coverage of about 20 cm×15 cm encompassing the entire brain or neck with dual co-registered detector heads mounted opposite each other.
Increased detection sensitivity and uniformity of gamma emission detection from the head/neck by combining co-registered images via pixel-by-pixel multiplication that removes depth-dependent attenuation effects.
Enhanced spatial resolution (at least 5 mm) and improved lesion contrast and signal-to-noise ratio, especially for small lesions and regions located away from any single detector.
Capability for flexible patient positioning including lying down, sitting, or reclining with arrangements to minimize head movement to improve imaging accuracy.
Compact, mobile design allowing in-situ imaging at various clinical locations, including emergency rooms, outpatient centers, and remote sites away from conventional Nuclear Medicine imaging centers.
The system can incorporate advanced photodetectors such as silicon photomultipliers and MRI-compatible materials, enabling simultaneous dual-modality imaging including functional MRI combined with SPECT.
Documented Applications
High-resolution SPECT imaging of the head, brain, and neck for early detection and diagnosis of neurological diseases including Alzheimer's, Parkinson's, trauma, dementia, and brain cancer.
Use in settings where patients cannot be moved to Nuclear Medicine imaging centers, such as emergency rooms, intensive care units, hospital beds, outpatient centers, or remote locations.
Dynamic and planar single photon imaging with stereotactic viewing to provide complementary views enabling assessment of blood flow, perfusion, or other biomarker uptake distributions in brain and neck tissues.
Potential application to imaging other body parts such as extremities, thyroid, and breast when reconfigured with appropriate gantries and collimators.
Dual modality imaging in conjunction with MRI scanners, enabling simultaneous fMRI-SPECT to study brain function.
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