Bimodal small animal molecular image imaging device

Abstract

The invention relates to the technical field of small animal imaging, and particularly discloses a bimodal small animal molecular image imaging device which comprises a rack; the rotating bracket is rotationally mounted on the rack; the rotating assembly is installed on the rack and used for driving the rotating support to rotate relative to the rack; the CT imaging assembly is mounted on one side of the rotating bracket; the SPECT imaging assembly is installed on the other side of the rotating support, and the imaging center of the SPECT imaging assembly and the imaging center of the CT imaging assembly are coaxial with the rotating axis of the rotating support; the animal bed assembly is installed on the rack and used for bearing a small animal to be imaged and driving the small animal to be imaged to move towards or away from the rotating support along the rotating shaft of the rotating support; the method can effectively solve the problems of registration error, attenuation correction failure, image fusion quality reduction and quantitative analysis misalignment when the SPECT image and the CT image are fused due to alignment error of the SPECT imaging assembly and the CT imaging assembly.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] The present invention belongs to the technical field of small animal imaging, and in particular relates to a dual-modality small animal molecular imaging device. Background Art

[0002] In the field of small animal imaging, related technologies utilize SPECT (single photon emission computed tomography / computed tomography) and CT (computed tomography) imaging components for image acquisition. Because these components utilize different inspection axes, alignment errors between the SPECT and CT components can lead to registration errors, attenuation correction failures, reduced image fusion quality, and inaccurate quantitative analysis when fusing SPECT and CT images. This can reduce the accuracy of clinical diagnoses.

[0003] Therefore, the prior art needs to be improved and developed. It should be noted that the above information disclosed in this section is only used to understand the background of the present invention, and therefore may contain information that does not constitute prior art. Summary of the Invention

[0004] The purpose of this application is to provide a dual-modal small animal molecular imaging device that can effectively solve the problems of registration errors, attenuation correction failure, image fusion quality degradation and quantitative analysis inaccuracy when fusing SPECT images and CT images due to alignment errors between SPECT imaging components and CT imaging components.

[0005] The present application provides a dual-modality small animal molecular imaging device, comprising: frame; Rotating bracket, rotatably mounted on the rack; A rotating assembly is mounted on the frame and is used to drive the rotating bracket to rotate relative to the frame; A CT imaging component is installed on one side of the rotating bracket; The SPECT imaging assembly is mounted on the other side of the rotating bracket, and the imaging center thereof and the imaging center of the CT imaging assembly are coaxial with the rotation axis of the rotating bracket; The animal bed assembly is mounted on the frame and is used to support the small animal to be imaged and drive the supported small animal to be imaged to move toward or away from the rotating bracket along the rotating axis of the rotating bracket.

[0006] The present application provides a dual-modal small animal molecular imaging device, which achieves the goal of making the CT imaging component and the SPECT imaging component share the same inspection axis by coaxially mounting the CT imaging component and the SPECT imaging component on the same rotating bracket, and making the imaging centers of the CT imaging component and the SPECT imaging component coaxial with the rotation axis of the rotating bracket. That is, the present application can make the anatomical information collected by the CT imaging component accurately correspond to the functional information collected by the SPECT imaging component. Therefore, the present application effectively solves the problems of registration error, attenuation correction failure, image fusion quality degradation and quantitative analysis inaccuracy when fusing SPECT images and CT images due to the positioning error between the SPECT imaging component and the CT imaging component, thereby effectively improving the accuracy of clinical diagnosis.

[0007] Furthermore, the CT imaging assembly includes several groups of emission sources and detectors, which are symmetrically installed on one side of the rotating bracket. When there are multiple groups of emission sources and detectors, multiple emission sources are arranged in a circular array on one side of the rotating bracket.

[0008] Furthermore, the emission source and the detector are both slidably mounted on a rotating bracket. The dual-modal small animal molecular imaging device also includes a first radial drive assembly, which is mounted on the rotating bracket. The first radial drive assembly is used to drive the same group of emission sources and detectors to move toward or away from the rotation axis of the rotating bracket.

[0009] This technical solution can achieve zoom imaging by adjusting the radial position of the emission source and the detector. Therefore, this technical solution can locally enlarge or reduce the area of ​​interest without changing the position of the small animal, so as to obtain high-resolution images of specific areas while ensuring overall imaging and adapt to small animals of different sizes to be imaged, thereby effectively improving the imaging flexibility and adaptability of the dual-modal small animal molecular imaging device and avoiding the problem of reduced imaging quality or inability to image due to mismatch of small animal sizes, thereby effectively improving the versatility and imaging effect of the dual-modal small animal molecular imaging device.

[0010] Furthermore, the focal size of the emission source is less than 5 μm, and the detector is a flat panel detector or a CCD camera.

[0011] This technical solution can effectively improve the spatial resolution of CT images by adopting an emission source with a focal size less than 5μm, so that micron-level structures and lesions can be clearly distinguished and identified. This technical solution can effectively improve the detail capture capability and signal-to-noise ratio of CT images by selecting a flat-panel detector or a CCD camera as a detector, so as to avoid image blur or information loss caused by insufficient detector performance. In other words, this technical solution can provide higher quality and more detailed CT images, providing more accurate imaging basis for early diagnosis of diseases, evaluation of treatment effects and drug development.

[0012] Furthermore, the SPECT imaging assembly includes a plurality of SPECT probes. When there are multiple SPECT probes, a circular array of the multiple SPECT probes is located on the other side of the rotating bracket.

[0013] This technical solution enables the SPECT imaging component to collect data from multiple angles or within a wider field of view simultaneously by placing multiple SPECT probes in a circular array on the other side of the rotating bracket, thereby significantly increasing the coverage and data acquisition throughput of the SPECT imaging component. When the rotating bracket rotates, each SPECT probe can scan different sides of the small animal to obtain more comprehensive projection data in a single scan. The parallel operation of multiple probes can effectively shorten the overall imaging time, effectively improve the SPECT imaging efficiency, and the signal-to-noise ratio and spatial resolution of the SPECT image.

[0014] Furthermore, the SPECT probe is slidably mounted on the other side of the rotating bracket. The dual-modality small animal molecular imaging device also includes a second radial drive assembly, which is used to drive the SPECT probe to move toward or away from the rotation axis of the rotating bracket.

[0015] Furthermore, the rotating assembly includes a motor, an output end of the motor is provided with a transmission gear, the rotating bracket is provided with a gear ring, and the transmission gear is meshed with the gear ring.

[0016] Furthermore, the animal bed assembly includes a linear drive assembly and a bed board, the linear drive assembly is mounted on the frame, the bed board is detachably mounted on the linear drive assembly, and the linear drive assembly is used to drive the bed board to move toward or away from the rotating bracket along the rotating axis of the rotating bracket.

[0017] Furthermore, the animal bed assembly further comprises a lifting assembly, the lifting assembly being mounted on the frame, the linear drive assembly being mounted on the lifting assembly, and the lifting assembly being used to drive the linear drive assembly to move toward or away from the center of the rotation axis between rotations.

[0018] Furthermore, a plurality of height-adjustable foot cups are installed at the bottom of the rack.

[0019] From the above, it can be seen that the present invention provides a dual-modal small animal molecular imaging device, which realizes that the CT imaging component and the SPECT imaging component share the same inspection axis by coaxially mounting the CT imaging component and the SPECT imaging component on the same rotating bracket, and making the imaging centers of the CT imaging component and the SPECT imaging component coaxial with the rotation axis of the rotating bracket. That is, the present application can make the anatomical information collected by the CT imaging component accurately correspond to the functional information collected by the SPECT imaging component. Therefore, the present application effectively solves the problems of registration error, attenuation correction failure, image fusion quality degradation and quantitative analysis inaccuracy when fusing SPECT images and CT images due to the alignment error between the SPECT imaging component and the CT imaging component, thereby effectively improving the accuracy of clinical diagnosis. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0020] Figure 1 A schematic structural diagram of a dual-modal small animal molecular imaging device provided in an embodiment of the present application.

[0021] Figure 2 This is a schematic diagram of the main structure of a dual-modal small animal molecular imaging device provided in an embodiment of the present application.

[0022] Figure 3 This is a schematic structural diagram of the rotating bracket, CT imaging assembly and rotating assembly provided in an embodiment of the present application.

[0023] Explanation of reference numbers: 1. Rack; 2. Rotating bracket; 3. Rotating assembly; 4. CT imaging assembly; 41. Emission source; 42. Detector; 5. SPECT imaging assembly; 6. Animal bed assembly; 61. Linear drive assembly; 62. Bed board; 63. Lifting assembly; 7. First radial drive assembly; 8. Second radial drive assembly; 9. Transmission gear; 10. Foot cup; 11. Gear ring. DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0024] The embodiments of the present invention are described in detail below. Examples of the embodiments are shown in the accompanying drawings, wherein the same or similar reference numerals throughout represent the same or similar elements or elements having the same or similar functions. The embodiments described below with reference to the accompanying drawings are exemplary and are only used to explain the present invention and are not to be construed as limiting the present invention.

[0025] The following disclosure provides many different embodiments or examples for implementing different structures of the present invention. To simplify the disclosure of the present invention, the components and configurations of specific examples are described below. Of course, these are merely examples and are not intended to limit the present invention. In addition, the present invention may repeat reference numbers and / or reference letters in different examples. Such repetition is for the purpose of simplicity and clarity and does not in itself indicate the relationship between the various embodiments and / or configurations discussed.

[0026] like Figure 1-Figure 3 As shown, the present application provides a dual-modality small animal molecular imaging device, which includes: Rack 1; The rotating bracket 2 is rotatably mounted on the frame 1; The rotating assembly 3 is mounted on the frame 1 and is used to drive the rotating bracket 2 to rotate relative to the frame 1; The CT imaging component 4 is installed on one side of the rotating bracket 2; The SPECT imaging assembly 5 is mounted on the other side of the rotating bracket 2, and its imaging center and the imaging center of the CT imaging assembly 4 are coaxial with the rotation axis of the rotating bracket 2; The animal bed assembly 6 is mounted on the frame 1 and is used to support the small animal to be imaged and drive the supported small animal to be imaged to move toward or away from the rotating support 2 along the rotating axis of the rotating support 2 .

[0027] The dual-modal small animal molecular imaging device of the present application is intended to solve the problem of inspection axis alignment error of the SPECT imaging component 5 and the CT imaging component 4 in the prior art. The present application achieves precise alignment and fusion of the two modal images, thereby improving the imaging quality and the accuracy of quantitative analysis by coaxially mounting the CT imaging component 4 and the SPECT imaging component 5 on the same rotating bracket 2 and making the imaging centers of the CT imaging component 4 and the SPECT imaging component 5 coaxial with the rotation axis of the rotating bracket 2.

[0028] Specifically, the dual-modality small animal molecular imaging device of the present application includes a frame 1, a rotating support 2, a rotating assembly 3, a CT imaging assembly 4, a SPECT imaging assembly 5, and an animal bed assembly 6. The frame 1 of this embodiment is the basic support structure of the entire device. The frame 1 is preferably welded from high-strength steel or aluminum alloy to provide sufficient rigidity and stability. The rotating support 2 of this embodiment is rotatably mounted on the frame 1. The rotating support 2 is used to carry the CT imaging assembly 4 and the SPECT imaging assembly 5 so that the CT imaging assembly 4 and the SPECT imaging assembly 5 can rotate around a common axis. The rotating support 2 preferably adopts an annular structure and is preferably connected to the frame 1 using precision bearings to ensure the rotational stability and rotational accuracy of the rotating support 2. The rotating assembly 3 of this embodiment is mounted on the frame 1. The rotating assembly 3 is used to drive the rotating support 2 to rotate relative to the frame 1. The rotating assembly 3 can be composed of a motor, a reducer, and a transmission mechanism. The rotation axis of the rotating support 2 is the core axis of the entire imaging device, and the imaging centers of the CT imaging assembly 4 and the SPECT imaging assembly 5 are both coaxial with the axis. The CT imaging assembly 4 of this embodiment is mounted on one side of the rotating support 2. This CT imaging assembly 4 is used to acquire anatomical information of the small animal. Specifically, this embodiment may include an X-ray source and an X-ray detector, which are symmetrically mounted on the rotating support 2 to form a CT imaging pair. The X-ray source may be a microfocus X-ray tube, and the X-ray detector may be a flat-panel detector or a CCD camera. It should be understood that when multi-angle or multi-energy imaging is required, this embodiment may include multiple sets of sources 41 and detectors 42, and these sets of sources 41 and detectors 42 may be arranged in a circular array on the same side of the rotating support 2. The SPECT imaging assembly 5 of this embodiment is mounted on the other side of the rotating support 2. This SPECT imaging assembly 5 is used to acquire functional information of the small animal. Specifically, the SPECT imaging assembly 5 may include one or more SPECT probes, which may be composed of a collimator, a scintillation crystal, and a photomultiplier tube. When sensitivity or field of view is required, this embodiment may include multiple SPECT probes, and these may be arranged in a circular array on the other side of the rotating support 2. Since the imaging centers of the SPECT imaging component 5 and the CT imaging component 4 of this embodiment are coaxial with the rotation axis of the rotating bracket 2, no matter how the rotating bracket 2 rotates or how the small animal molecular imaging device moves, the inspection axes of the SPECT imaging component 5 and the CT imaging component 4 always remain consistent, thereby fundamentally eliminating the alignment error existing in the traditional separate design and solving the problems caused by the alignment error.The animal bed assembly 6 of this embodiment is installed on the frame 1. The animal bed assembly 6 is used to support the small animal to be imaged (the small animal that needs to be imaged (such as a small mouse)) and drive the supported small animal to be imaged to move toward or away from the rotating bracket 2 along the rotation axis of the rotating bracket 2. Specifically, the animal bed assembly 6 may include a bed board 62 and a linear drive assembly 61. The bed board 62 can be made of a transparent material to facilitate observation of the small animal and can be detachably mounted on the linear drive assembly 61. The linear drive assembly 61 can be composed of a screw or belt drive mechanism driven by a stepper motor or a servo motor, which is used to realize axial movement of the bed board 62, thereby accurately sending the small animal into or out of the imaging area.

[0029] During imaging, the small animal to be imaged is placed on the bed board 62 of the animal bed assembly 6. The rotating assembly 3 drives the rotating support 2 to rotate, so that the CT imaging assembly 4 and the SPECT imaging assembly 5 rotate synchronously around the small animal. Since the imaging centers of the CT imaging assembly 4 and the SPECT imaging assembly 5 are coaxial with the rotation axis of the rotating support 2, the imaging areas of the two modalities always remain precisely aligned during the entire rotation process. The CT imaging assembly 4 collects X-ray projection data of the small animal during the rotation process for reconstructing high-resolution anatomical images. At the same time, the SPECT imaging assembly 5 collects gamma ray data emitted by the radioactive tracer in the small animal's body for reconstructing functional images. The animal bed assembly 6 can drive the small animal to move along the rotation axis according to imaging requirements to achieve scanning of different parts or multi-field imaging.

[0030] The present application provides a dual-modal small animal molecular imaging device, which achieves the goal of making the CT imaging component 4 and the SPECT imaging component 5 share the same inspection axis by coaxially mounting the CT imaging component 4 and the SPECT imaging component 5 on the same rotating bracket 2, and making the imaging centers of the CT imaging component 4 and the SPECT imaging component 5 coaxial with the rotation axis of the rotating bracket 2. That is, the present application can make the anatomical information collected by the CT imaging component 4 accurately correspond to the functional information collected by the SPECT imaging component 5. Therefore, the present application effectively solves the problems of registration error, attenuation correction failure, image fusion quality degradation and quantitative analysis inaccuracy when fusing SPECT images and CT images due to the alignment error between the SPECT imaging component 5 and the CT imaging component 4, thereby effectively improving the accuracy of clinical diagnosis.

[0031] In some preferred embodiments, the CT imaging assembly 4 includes several sets of emission sources 41 and detectors 42, which are symmetrically mounted on one side of the rotating support 2. When there are multiple sets of emission sources 41 and detectors 42, the multiple emission sources 41 are arranged in a circular array on one side of the rotating support 2. The CT imaging assembly 4 of this embodiment can be composed of one or more emission source 41 and detector 42 pairs. When the CT imaging assembly 4 includes only one set of emission sources 41 and detectors 42, the set of emission sources 41 and detectors 42 is configured to be symmetrically mounted on one side of the rotating support 2 to ensure balanced and accurate imaging. When the CT imaging assembly 4 includes multiple sets of emission sources 41 and detectors 42, the emission source 41 and detector 42 pairs are designed to be arranged in a circular array on one side of the rotating support 2. This circular array layout facilitates a wider scanning range and faster imaging speed. Specifically, the emission sources 41 of this embodiment are responsible for emitting X-rays, while the detectors 42 of this embodiment are responsible for receiving X-rays that penetrate the small animal, thereby acquiring CT image data. When the CT imaging assembly 4 includes multiple sets of emission sources 41 and detectors 42 and the rotating bracket 2 rotates, this embodiment can use multiple sets of emission sources 41 and detectors 42 to scan small animals simultaneously or sequentially to obtain more projection data in the same time. Therefore, this embodiment can effectively improve the efficiency and coverage of data acquisition, thereby effectively improving the speed and image quality of CT imaging. In addition, this embodiment can ensure the uniformity of the ray path by symmetrically installing the emission sources 41 and detectors 42 on one side of the rotating bracket 2, thereby reducing the possibility of image distortion.

[0032] Through the above-described technical solution, the CT imaging assembly 4 can achieve faster and more comprehensive data acquisition, significantly shortening imaging time and improving imaging efficiency. By configuring multiple sets of circular arrays of emission sources 41 and detectors 42, this solution can obtain richer projection data in a single rotational scan, thereby facilitating the reconstruction of higher-quality CT images and expanding the imaging field of view. This can effectively reduce animal motion artifacts for molecular imaging, which requires rapid acquisition of three-dimensional anatomical information, thereby further improving diagnostic accuracy.

[0033] In some preferred embodiments, the emission source 41 and the detector 42 are both slidably mounted on the rotating bracket 2, and the dual-modal small animal molecular imaging device further comprises a first radial drive assembly 7, which is mounted on the rotating bracket 2. The first radial drive assembly 7 is used to drive the same set of emission sources 41 and detectors 42 to move toward or away from the rotation axis of the rotating bracket 2. The emission source 41 and the detector 42 of this embodiment are slidably mounted on the rotating bracket 2, that is, the emission source 41 and the detector 42 of this embodiment are not fixed in a single position, but can be displaced along a preset radial path. This embodiment utilizes a mechanical structure such as a linear guide, a slider, or a ball screw to achieve the slidable mounting of the emission source 41 and the detector 42 on the rotating bracket 2. The first radial drive assembly 7 of this embodiment is a device capable of generating linear displacement to power and control the radial movement of the emission source 41 and detector 42. This first radial drive assembly 7 may include one or more motors (e.g., stepper motors, servo motors) and transmission mechanisms (e.g., screw nuts, gears, synchronous belts, etc.). This first radial drive assembly 7 precisely controls the rotation of the motors to drive the emission source 41 and detector 42 radially toward or away from the rotation axis of the rotating support 2. This embodiment dynamically adjusts the distance between the emission source 41 and detector 42, as well as their distance from the rotation axis, by slidably mounting the emission source 41 and detector 42 of the CT imaging assembly 4 on the rotating support 2 and driving their radial movement by the first radial drive assembly 7. When the emission source 41 and detector 42 approach the rotation axis, magnified imaging of a localized area of ​​a small animal is achieved, improving spatial resolution. When the emission source 41 and detector 42 move away from the rotation axis, the imaging field of view is expanded to accommodate larger animals. This adjustability enables the imaging device to flexibly optimize imaging parameters according to specific imaging requirements, overcoming the limitations of fixed-position imaging. This embodiment can achieve zoom imaging by adjusting the radial position of the emission source 41 and the detector 42. Therefore, this embodiment can locally magnify or reduce the region of interest without changing the position of the small animal, so as to obtain high-resolution images of specific areas while ensuring overall imaging and adapt to small animals of different sizes to be imaged, thereby effectively improving the imaging flexibility and adaptability of the dual-modal small animal molecular imaging device and avoiding the problem of reduced imaging quality or inability to image due to mismatch of small animal sizes, thereby effectively improving the versatility and imaging effect of the dual-modal small animal molecular imaging device. It should be understood that when there are multiple sets of emission sources 41 and detectors 42, each set of emission sources 41 and detectors 42 is connected to a first radial drive assembly 7.

[0034] In some preferred embodiments, the focal spot size of the emission source 41 is less than 5 μm, and the detector 42 is a flat-panel detector or a CCD camera. This embodiment is equivalent to using a microfocus X-ray tube or a nanofocus X-ray tube as the emission source 41. This embodiment can effectively reduce the geometric blur of the image by reducing the focal spot size of the X-ray source, thereby significantly improving the spatial resolution and detail resolution of the CT image, which is crucial for accurately imaging tiny structures or early lesions in small animals. The detector 42 of this embodiment is a flat-panel detector or a CCD camera. The flat-panel detector has the advantages of high spatial resolution and high quantum efficiency. The flat-panel detector can be an amorphous silicon flat-panel detector. Since the flat-panel detector has a large effective imaging area and a high frame rate and can quickly acquire high-quality image data, and the CCD camera has excellent low-noise performance and high sensitivity and performs well in microdose imaging or scenarios requiring extremely high signal-to-noise ratio, this embodiment can enable the detector 42 to provide data acquisition capabilities that meet the requirements of high-resolution small animal CT imaging by using a flat-panel detector or a CCD camera as the detector 42. This embodiment can effectively improve the spatial resolution of CT images by adopting an emission source 41 with a focal size less than 5 μm, so that micron-level structures and lesions can be clearly distinguished and identified. This embodiment can effectively improve the detail capture capability and signal-to-noise ratio of CT images by selecting a flat-panel detector or a CCD camera as the detector 42, so as to avoid image blur or information loss caused by insufficient performance of the detector 42. That is, this embodiment can provide higher quality and more detailed CT images, thereby providing more accurate imaging basis for early diagnosis of diseases, evaluation of treatment effects, and drug development.

[0035] In some preferred embodiments, the SPECT imaging assembly 5 includes several SPECT probes. When there are multiple SPECT probes, the multiple SPECT probes are arranged in a circular array on the other side of the rotating support 2. The SPECT probes in this embodiment preferably include semiconductor detectors or scintillation crystal detectors. The semiconductor detectors are preferably cadmium zinc telluride (CZNTe) semiconductor detectors, which have the advantage of directly converting gamma photons into electrical signals, reducing energy loss. The scintillation crystal detectors are preferably a combination of high-light-output scintillation crystals (such as lutetium yttrium silicate (LYSO) or sodium iodide (NaI)) with photomultiplier tubes or silicon photodiodes, which have excellent photon capture efficiency. The SPECT probes preferably utilize a multi-pinhole collimator, which selectively receives gamma rays through multiple microscopic pinholes (tens of micrometers in diameter), thereby narrowing the SPECT probe's detection field of view to the size of small animals and improving spatial resolution. By arranging multiple SPECT probes in a circular array on the other side of the rotating support 2, this embodiment enables surround or multi-angle detection of small animals, improving SPECT data acquisition efficiency and imaging quality. This embodiment enables the SPECT imaging assembly 5 to simultaneously acquire data from multiple angles or within a wider field of view by arranging multiple SPECT probes in a circular array on the other side of the rotating bracket 2, thereby significantly increasing the coverage and data acquisition throughput of the SPECT imaging assembly 5. When the rotating bracket 2 rotates, each SPECT probe can scan different sides of the small animal to obtain more comprehensive projection data in a single scan. The parallel operation of multiple probes can effectively shorten the overall imaging time, effectively improve the SPECT imaging efficiency, and the signal-to-noise ratio and spatial resolution of the SPECT image.

[0036] In some preferred embodiments, the SPECT probe is slidably mounted on the other side of the rotating bracket 2, and the dual-modality small animal molecular imaging apparatus further comprises a second radial drive assembly 8, which is used to drive the SPECT probe to move toward or away from the rotation axis of the rotating bracket 2. This embodiment enables the SPECT probe to be displaced in the radial direction of the rotating bracket 2 by slidingly mounting the SPECT probe on the other side of the rotating bracket 2. This embodiment enables the SPECT probe to be slidably mounted on the other side of the rotating bracket 2 by providing a guide rail or a slide groove on the rotating bracket 2 and mounting the SPECT probe on the guide rail or the slide groove. The second radial drive assembly 8 of this embodiment is preferably the same as the first radial drive assembly 7 of the above-mentioned embodiment. This embodiment enables the distance between the SPECT probe and the rotation axis of the rotating bracket 2 to be changed by utilizing the second radial drive assembly 8 to drive the SPECT probe to move toward or away from the rotation axis of the rotating bracket 2. This embodiment addresses the imaging limitations caused by the fixed distance between the SPECT probe and the imaging center by slidably mounting the SPECT probe on the rotating support 2 and driving its radial movement via the second radial drive assembly 8. This also enables the SPECT imaging assembly 5 to adapt to small animals of varying sizes and optimize imaging parameters. For example, when high-sensitivity imaging of smaller animals is required, the SPECT probe can be driven closer to the rotation axis; when imaging larger animals or obtaining a wider field of view, the SPECT probe can be driven farther from the rotation axis. This embodiment provides radial adjustability for the SPECT imaging assembly 5 of the dual-modality small animal molecular imaging device. Therefore, this embodiment effectively improves the flexibility and adaptability of the SPECT imaging assembly, enabling precise adjustment based on the size of the imaged animal, the imaging target, and the required imaging quality (e.g., resolution or sensitivity), thereby optimizing the imaging effect and obtaining higher-quality molecular imaging data. It should be understood that when there are multiple SPECT probes, each SPECT probe is connected to a second radial drive assembly 8.

[0037] In some preferred embodiments, the rotating assembly 3 includes a motor, a transmission gear 9 is provided at the output end of the motor, a gear ring 11 is provided on the rotating bracket 2, and the transmission gear 9 is meshed with the gear ring 11. The motor of this embodiment can be an existing stepper motor, servo motor or DC motor. This embodiment can select a stepper motor, servo motor or DC motor according to the required rotation accuracy, speed or torque. The transmission gear 9 of this embodiment is a mechanical component installed on the output shaft of the motor. The transmission gear 9 is used to transmit the rotational motion of the motor to the rotating bracket 2. The transmission gear 9 is meshed with the gear ring 11 on the rotating bracket 2, that is, this embodiment is equivalent to achieving precise rotation of the rotating bracket 2 by gear transmission, so as to ensure the stability and reliability of power transmission, thereby effectively improving the angular displacement control accuracy. This embodiment achieves precise driving of the rotating bracket 2 by combining the motor with the transmission gear 9 and making the transmission gear 9 mesh with the gear ring 11 on the rotating bracket 2. When the motor is started, its output shaft drives the transmission gear 9 to rotate. Due to the meshing relationship between the transmission gear 9 and the gear ring 11 on the rotating bracket 2, the rotational power of the motor is effectively transmitted to the rotating bracket 2, thereby driving the rotating bracket 2 to perform stable and controllable rotational motion relative to the frame 1. This transmission method can provide sufficient torque to overcome the rotational resistance and ensure the smoothness of the rotation process.

[0038] In some preferred embodiments, the animal bed assembly 6 includes a linear drive assembly 61 and a bed board 62. The linear drive assembly 61 is mounted on the frame 1, and the bed board 62 is detachably mounted on the linear drive assembly 61. The linear drive assembly 61 is used to drive the bed board 62 to move toward or away from the rotating support 2 along the rotation axis of the rotating support 2. The linear drive assembly 61 of this embodiment is a mechanical device capable of providing linear motion. The linear drive assembly 61 can be a screw drive mechanism, a gear mechanism, a synchronous belt drive mechanism, or a linear motor. The linear drive assembly 61 is used to drive the bed board 62 to move along the rotation axis of the rotating support 2, so that the bed board 62 can move closer to or farther from the imaging center along the rotation axis of the rotating support 2 during imaging, thereby meeting different imaging requirements. The bed board 62 of this embodiment is used to carry small animals to be imaged. By making the bed board 62 detachable from the linear drive assembly 61, this embodiment can effectively improve the placement or removal of small animals to be imaged, as well as the cleaning or replacement of the bed board 62.

[0039] This embodiment enables the animal bed assembly 6 to achieve precise movement along the rotation axis of the rotating support 2 by mounting a linear drive assembly 61 on the gantry 1 and detachably mounting a bed plate 62 on the linear drive assembly 61. When the linear drive assembly 61 is activated, the linear motion generated by it is transmitted to the bed plate 62, thereby driving the bed plate 62 carrying the small animal to move along a preset axial path. This design allows the small animal to be precisely positioned at the imaging center of the CT imaging assembly 4 and the SPECT imaging assembly 5 during imaging, or to smoothly pass through the imaging area during axial scanning.

[0040] In some preferred embodiments, the animal bed assembly 6 further includes a lifting assembly 63 mounted on the frame 1, and the linear drive assembly 61 mounted on the lifting assembly 63. The lifting assembly 63 is used to drive the linear drive assembly 61 toward or away from the center of the rotation axis between rotations. The lifting assembly 63 in this embodiment is a mechanical structure capable of providing vertical displacement. In this embodiment, the lifting assembly 63 can be used to adjust the radial height position of the linear drive assembly 61 and the bed plate 62 supported by it. The lifting assembly 63 can be implemented in various ways. For example, the lifting assembly 63 can be composed of one or more vertical guide rails, a drive motor (such as a stepper motor or servo motor), and a corresponding transmission mechanism (such as a lead screw, gear, or hydraulic / pneumatic cylinder). In this embodiment, the drive motor drives the transmission mechanism to achieve precise vertical lifting of the linear drive assembly 61, so that the bed plate 62 supporting the small animal to be imaged can be moved toward or away from the center of the rotation axis of the rotating support 2. This radial movement capability enables the dual-modality small animal molecular imaging device to accommodate small animals of different sizes to be imaged and allows for more precise positioning and imaging of specific parts of the small animal. This embodiment introduces a lifting assembly 63 into the animal bed assembly 6, so that the linear drive assembly 61 and the bed board 62 it supports can not only move axially along the rotation axis of the rotating bracket 2, but also when the radial position of the small animal to be imaged needs to be adjusted, the lifting assembly 63 is activated to drive the linear drive assembly 61 mounted thereon to move upward or downward as a whole. At this time, the height position of the bed board 62 supporting the small animal to be imaged is changed, so that the small animal to be imaged can be accurately aligned with the imaging center of the CT imaging assembly 4 and the SPECT imaging assembly 5 or adjusted to the optimal imaging field of view and focal plane. This radial adjustment capability greatly enhances the flexibility and adaptability of the imaging device, ensuring that high-quality images can be obtained under various imaging conditions.

[0041] In some preferred embodiments, a plurality of height-adjustable foot cups 10 are mounted at the bottom of the frame 1. The height-adjustable foot cups 10 in this embodiment refer to support components capable of varying their height through mechanical adjustment. These foot cups 10 are preferably arranged in a rectangular array at the bottom of the frame 1 to provide a stable support point. In this embodiment, the height of the foot cups 10 can be adjusted through threaded in / out, hydraulic lifting, or wedge adjustment. This embodiment effectively compensates for any unevenness in the installation surface by adjusting the height of the foot cups 10, ensuring that the entire dual-modal small animal molecular imaging device can be precisely leveled and maintained stable. This embodiment enables precise horizontal calibration of the device in different installation environments by providing multiple height-adjustable foot cups 10 at the bottom of the frame 1. When the device is placed on an uneven ground, the operator can independently adjust the height of each foot cup 10 as needed, thereby eliminating the gap between the frame 1 and the ground and allowing the frame 1 to reach an ideal horizontal state. Therefore, this embodiment can maintain the structural stability of the dual-modality small animal molecular imaging device and ensure that the imaging centers of the CT imaging component 4 and the SPECT imaging component 5 always remain coaxial with the rotation axis of the rotating component 3, thereby ensuring the accuracy and quality of imaging.

[0042] As can be seen from the above, the present invention provides a dual-modal small animal molecular imaging device, which achieves the goal of making the CT imaging component 4 and the SPECT imaging component 5 share the same inspection axis by coaxially mounting the CT imaging component 4 and the SPECT imaging component 5 on the same rotating bracket 2, and making the imaging centers of the CT imaging component 4 and the SPECT imaging component 5 coaxial with the rotation axis of the rotating bracket 2. That is, the present application can make the anatomical information collected by the CT imaging component 4 accurately correspond to the functional information collected by the SPECT imaging component 5. Therefore, the present application effectively solves the problems of registration error, attenuation correction failure, image fusion quality degradation and quantitative analysis inaccuracy when fusing SPECT images and CT images due to the alignment error between the SPECT imaging component 5 and the CT imaging component 4, thereby effectively improving the accuracy of clinical diagnosis.

[0043] Throughout this specification, reference to terms such as "one embodiment," "certain embodiments," "illustrative embodiments," "examples," "specific examples," or "some examples" means that a specific feature, structure, material, or characteristic described in conjunction with an embodiment or example is included in at least one embodiment or example of the present invention. In this specification, illustrative descriptions of the above terms do not necessarily refer to the same embodiment or example. Furthermore, the specific features, structures, materials, or characteristics described may be combined in any suitable manner in any one or more embodiments or examples.

[0044] The above are only some embodiments of the present invention. For those skilled in the art, several modifications and improvements can be made without departing from the inventive concept of the present invention, which all fall within the scope of protection of the present invention.

Claims

1. A dual-modal small animal molecular imaging device, characterized in that: The dual-modality small animal molecular imaging device includes: frame; A rotating bracket is rotatably mounted on the frame; a rotating assembly, mounted on the frame, and configured to drive the rotating bracket to rotate relative to the frame; A CT imaging assembly is mounted on one side of the rotating bracket; A SPECT imaging assembly is mounted on the other side of the rotating support, and an imaging center thereof and an imaging center of the CT imaging assembly are coaxial with the rotation axis of the rotating support; The animal bed assembly is mounted on the frame and is used for supporting the small animal to be imaged and driving the supported small animal to be imaged to move toward or away from the rotating support along the rotating axis of the rotating support.

2. The dual-modality small animal molecular imaging device according to claim 1, characterized in that: The CT imaging assembly includes several groups of emission sources and detectors, which are symmetrically installed on one side of the rotating bracket. When there are multiple groups of emission sources and detectors, multiple emission sources are arranged in a circular array on one side of the rotating bracket.

3. The dual-modality small animal molecular imaging device according to claim 2, characterized in that: The emission source and the detector are both slidably mounted on the rotating bracket. The dual-modal small animal molecular imaging device also includes a first radial drive component, which is mounted on the rotating bracket. The first radial drive component is used to drive the same group of the emission source and the detector to move toward or away from the rotation axis of the rotating bracket.

4. The dual-modality small animal molecular imaging device according to claim 2, characterized in that: The focal size of the emission source is less than 5 μm, and the detector is a flat panel detector or a CCD camera.

5. The dual-modality small animal molecular imaging device according to claim 1, characterized in that: The SPECT imaging assembly includes a plurality of SPECT probes. When there are multiple SPECT probes, a circular array of the multiple SPECT probes is located on the other side of the rotating bracket.

6. The dual-modality small animal molecular imaging device according to claim 5, characterized in that: The SPECT probe is slidably mounted on the other side of the rotating bracket. The dual-modality small animal molecular imaging device further includes a second radial drive assembly, which is used to drive the SPECT probe to move toward or away from the rotation axis of the rotating bracket.

7. The dual-modality small animal molecular imaging device according to claim 1, characterized in that: The rotating assembly includes a motor, an output end of the motor is provided with a transmission gear, a gear ring is provided on the rotating bracket, and the transmission gear is meshed with the gear ring.

8. The dual-modality small animal molecular imaging device according to claim 1, characterized in that: The animal bed assembly includes a linear drive assembly and a bed board, wherein the linear drive assembly is mounted on the frame, and the bed board is detachably mounted on the linear drive assembly, and the linear drive assembly is used to drive the bed board to move toward or away from the rotating bracket along the rotating axis of the rotating bracket.

9. The dual-modality small animal molecular imaging device according to claim 8, characterized in that: The animal bed assembly further comprises a lifting assembly, wherein the lifting assembly is mounted on the frame, and the linear drive assembly is mounted on the lifting assembly, wherein the lifting assembly is used to drive the linear drive assembly to move toward or away from the center of the rotation axis between the rotation axes.

10. The dual-modality small animal molecular imaging device according to claim 1, characterized in that: A plurality of height-adjustable foot cups are installed at the bottom of the rack.

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