Positron emission tomography apparatus for head

Abstract

The invention discloses a positron emission tomography device for a head. The positron emission tomography equipment comprises a movable rack which is configured to move controllably, and a lifting mechanism and a rotating mechanism are arranged in the movable rack; the head detection module is connected with the movable rack; the lifting mechanism and the rotating mechanism are configured to controllably adjust the position and / or angle of the head detection module. The device can flexibly adapt to various body positions such as the standing posture, the sitting posture and the lying posture of a patient, so that examination of special patients becomes possible, and the application range of detection is widened.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] This invention relates to the field of medical device technology, and in particular to a positron emission tomography (PET) imaging device for the head. Background Technology

[0002] Positron emission tomography (PET) is an advanced medical imaging technique that uses the distribution of positron-emitting radiolabeled tracers within a living organism to visualize functional metabolism. PET equipment is of significant value in fields such as tumor diagnosis, neurodegenerative disease research, and cardiovascular disease assessment.

[0003] Currently, the PET equipment widely used in clinical practice is typically a large, floor-standing, fixed system. This type of equipment is designed to meet the versatility requirements of scanning multiple parts of the whole body; therefore, its scanning aperture is usually large to accommodate the patient's entire body or most of their torso within the scanning area. Consequently, the entire PET system has a large physical structure, requiring permanent installation in a dedicated room with radiation protection, resulting in a large footprint and high costs for equipment purchase, installation, and maintenance.

[0004] Under current technological conditions, patients undergoing PET scans typically lie supine, with a movable examination bed loading them into the annular scanning cavity of the device. This method is relatively simple, lacking flexibility in both patient positioning and device orientation. Especially when only specific scans of localized areas such as the head are required, the large scanning cavity and probe structure of existing whole-body PET devices exhibit significant physical redundancy and functional overkill. This not only reduces equipment utilization efficiency but also results in unnecessary space occupation and cost burden. Furthermore, the fixed installation mode limits the applicability of the device in special clinical scenarios (such as bedside examinations, operating room interventions, and intensive care units).

[0005] There are also some helmet-mounted PETs in the existing technology, which are used to study the metabolic changes of the brain in different states such as listening, speaking, reading and writing. For example, CN117796832A discloses a PET. Although such helmet-mounted PETs can change the position of the head detector, they are mostly fine-tuning and cannot meet the special applications such as multiple scenarios and large amplitude.

[0006] Therefore, there is an urgent need in the field for a dedicated PET imaging device that is compact, flexible and portable, and especially capable of efficient and high-quality imaging of local areas such as the head. Summary of the Invention

[0007] Therefore, it is necessary to provide a positron emission tomography (PET) device for the head to address at least one technical problem existing in traditional solutions.

[0008] The positron emission tomography (PET) imaging device for the head provided in this application includes: a movable frame configured to be controllably movable, wherein a lifting mechanism and a rotating mechanism are disposed within the movable frame; a head detection module connected to the movable frame; wherein the lifting mechanism and the rotating mechanism are configured to controllably adjust the position and / or angle of the head detection module.

[0009] According to one embodiment of this application, the movable frame includes a base, the bottom of which is provided with a sliding mechanism, the sliding mechanism being configured to slide controllably to move the movable frame.

[0010] According to one embodiment of this application, the movable frame includes a fixing mechanism connected to the head detection module, the fixing mechanism being configured to carry the head detection module, and a lifting mechanism connected to the fixing mechanism being configured to adjust the position of the head detection module by adjusting the position of the fixing mechanism in the vertical direction.

[0011] According to one embodiment of this application, the rotating mechanism includes a first rotating unit connected between the fixing mechanism and the head detection module. The first rotating unit is configured to controllably drive the head detection module to rotate in a first direction to adjust the angle of the head detection module in the horizontal direction.

[0012] According to one embodiment of this application, the rotating mechanism includes a second rotating unit configured to controllably move the head detection module in a second direction to adjust the position of the head detection module.

[0013] According to one embodiment of this application, the movable frame includes a first connector and a second connector, and the fixing mechanism, the first connector, the second connector, and the head detection module are sequentially connected; the second rotating unit is configured to controllably drive the first connector to rotate around the axis of the second rotating unit to adjust the position of the head detection module in the vertical direction; the second connector is configured to controllably rotate around its connection point with the first connector to adjust the angle of the head detection module.

[0014] According to one embodiment of this application, the first rotating unit is connected between the second connector and the head detection module.

[0015] According to one embodiment of this application, the fixing mechanism is provided with a through hole for the test object to enter when it is in a lying position.

[0016] According to one embodiment of this application, the fixing mechanism is a square frame that surrounds or partially surrounds the object, or a ring frame that surrounds or partially surrounds the object.

[0017] According to one embodiment of this application, the head detection module integrates several sensors for detecting forces from the head of the subject; the positron emission tomography (PET) device further includes a control mechanism configured to determine the movement tendency of the subject based on the forces collected by the several sensors and control the movable frame to move in accordance with the movement of the subject and / or control the rotation mechanism to adjust the head detection module to match the changes of the subject.

[0018] According to one embodiment of this application, the positron emission tomography (PET) device further includes a control module, wherein the lifting mechanism and the rotating mechanism are configured to move under the control of the control module.

[0019] According to one embodiment of this application, the rotating mechanism is formed as the wrist joint of a multi-axis robotic arm, the wrist joint being connected to the fixing mechanism and the head detection module to realize the attitude adjustment of the head detection module in multiple directions in space.

[0020] According to one embodiment of this application, the head detection module is configured with an opening corresponding to the face of the subject being tested.

[0021] The positron emission tomography (PET) imaging device for the head provided in this application employs a movable gantry, eliminating the need for fixed installation and allowing free movement within the examination room. This breaks away from the dependence of traditional fixed PET equipment on dedicated machine rooms and permanent space requirements, significantly improving space utilization efficiency and enabling bedside head PET examinations in various clinical settings such as operating rooms, ICUs, and wards. The device can be easily moved to the patient's location, and the control system quickly and accurately aligns the probe module with the patient's head, simplifying the workflow, increasing the throughput per unit time, and expanding the application range of the equipment.

[0022] Furthermore, the lifting and rotating mechanisms allow for precise, multi-degree-of-freedom adjustment of the head detection module's height, angle, and orientation within space. This enables the PET scanner to flexibly adapt to various patient positions, including standing, sitting, and lying down. For special patients, such as those with limited mobility or difficulty lying flat (e.g., some critically ill, orthopedic, or elderly patients), examinations can be performed in sitting or standing positions, improving patient comfort and cooperation, and expanding the applicability of the test. Attached Figure Description

[0023] To more clearly illustrate the technical solutions in the embodiments of this specification or the prior art, the drawings used in the description of the embodiments or the prior art will be briefly introduced below. Obviously, the drawings described below are only some embodiments recorded in this specification. For those skilled in the art, other drawings can be obtained from these drawings without creative effort.

[0024] Figure 1 This is a schematic diagram of the structure of a PET device for a head in one embodiment of this application; Figure 2 This is a schematic diagram of a PET device for the head serving a standing posture in one embodiment of this application; Figure 3 This is a schematic diagram of a PET device for the head serving a sitting posture in one embodiment of this application; Figure 4 This is a schematic diagram of the structure of a PET device for the head in one embodiment of this application, serving a lying posture; Figure 5 This is a schematic diagram of the internal structure of the head detection module of a PET device for use in one embodiment of this application. Detailed Implementation

[0025] To make the above-mentioned objectives, features, and advantages of this application more readily understood, the specific embodiments of this application are described in detail below with reference to the accompanying drawings. Many specific details are set forth in the following description to provide a thorough understanding of this application. However, this application can be implemented in many other ways different from those described herein, and those skilled in the art can make similar modifications without departing from the spirit of this application. Therefore, this application is not limited to the specific embodiments disclosed below.

[0026] It should be noted that when an element is said to be "fixed to" another element, it can be directly fixed to the other element or there may be an intervening element. When an element is said to be "connected to" another element, it can be directly connected to the other element or there may be an intervening element. The terms "substantially equal" or "substantially equal to" as used herein mean that the difference between the two lies within a range of errors considered equivalent in the art. The terms "vertical," "horizontal," "left," "right," and similar expressions used herein are for illustrative purposes only.

[0027] Unless otherwise defined, all technical and scientific terms used herein have the same meaning as commonly understood by one of ordinary skill in the art to which this application belongs. The terminology used herein is for the purpose of describing particular embodiments only and is not intended to be limiting of this application. The terms “and / or” or “and / or” as used herein include any and all combinations of one or more of the associated listed items.

[0028] The following is a reference appendix Figures 1-5 Some preferred embodiments of this application will be described. It should be noted that the following description is for illustrative purposes only and is not intended to limit the scope of protection of this application.

[0029] In one embodiment, the positron emission tomography (PET) device for the head may include a movable frame 100 and a head detection module 200.

[0030] Specifically, the movable frame 100 is configured to move in a controlled manner, including movement in any direction on the horizontal plane. The movable frame 100 serves as the support and chassis for the PET equipment, and its core function is to achieve overall movement and positioning of the equipment, as well as multi-degree-of-freedom precision adjustment of the head detection module 200.

[0031] Optionally, the horizontal movement can be achieved by a sliding mechanism 121 at the bottom of the frame. The base 120 serves as the base of the movable frame 100, and the sliding mechanism 121 can be mounted on the base 120 of the movable frame 100. It is configured to slide controllably to move the movable frame 100 horizontally. The sliding mechanism 121 can employ a high-precision linear guide, a pulley system, or a motor-driven roller system, and is preferably equipped with a locking device. By controlling the drive motor in the sliding mechanism 121 through an external control system, the entire movable frame 100 can be driven to move smoothly horizontally along the ground, thereby enabling flexible positioning of the equipment within the examination room and facilitating adaptation to different examination environments or patient positions.

[0032] Preferably, the sliding mechanism 121 is configured to move via a remote control system or remote controller, thereby preventing doctors from entering the radiation environment.

[0033] Furthermore, the movable frame 100 is equipped with a lifting mechanism 110 and a rotating mechanism. The head detection module 200 is connected to the movable frame 100. The lifting mechanism 110 and the rotating mechanism are configured to controllably adjust the position of the head detection module 200. Optionally, the lifting mechanism 110 can be configured to adjust the position of the head detection module 200 by extending or retracting in the vertical direction. The rotating mechanism can be configured to directly adjust the head detection module 200 or adjust the position and / or angle of the head detection module 200 in the horizontal direction, or the position and / or angle in the vertical direction, by adjusting the movable frame 100, so that the head detection module 200 can adapt to the standing posture of the object under test 300. Figure 2 Sitting posture Figure 3 ) and / or lying position ( Figure 4 ).

[0034] Specifically, in one example of this application, the movable frame 100 includes a fixing mechanism 130 connected to the head detection module 200. The fixing mechanism 130 is configured to support and mount the head detection module 200. The fixing mechanism 130 is a frame with high structural strength, and its specific form can be a surrounding or semi-surrounding square frame, or a surrounding or semi-surrounding annular frame. More importantly, a through hole is provided at the center or corresponding position of the fixing mechanism 130. The design of this through hole provides clearance space for the head detection module 200 when the patient needs to be examined in a lying position. Those skilled in the art will understand that when two objects are connected, the connection stability and connection strength are highest when one is directly below the other. In conjunction with this application, when performing head detection in a lying position, the head detection module 200 inevitably has to bear the weight of the head of the object under test 300. Therefore, the through hole is provided to provide clearance space for the head detection module 200, allowing the head detection module 200 to move substantially within the through hole (when the fixing mechanism 130 adopts a fully enclosed structure, the head detection module 200 is substantially located at the center inside the fixing mechanism 130). This makes the fixing mechanism 130, the head detection module 200, and their connection point 151 substantially on a straight line in the vertical direction. At this time, the connection between the two is the most stable, which can better support the head of the object under test 300 and avoid image artifacts caused by shaking during detection.

[0035] Furthermore, in one example of this application, the lifting mechanism 110 is connected to the fixing mechanism 130, and the lifting mechanism 110 is configured to adjust the position of the head detection module 200 by adjusting the vertical position of the fixing mechanism 130. The lifting mechanism 110 can be an electric push rod, a servo motor-driven screw and nut mechanism, or a hydraulic lifting column, etc. The lifting mechanism 110 operates under the command of the control system and can precisely adjust the vertical height of the fixing mechanism 130, thereby synchronously raising and lowering the entire head detection module 200. The control system can be the same as the control system of the sliding mechanism 121, or the two can be integrated together.

[0036] Specifically, in one example of this application, the rotating mechanism is used to further finely adjust the spatial attitude of the head detection module 200, and the rotating mechanism specifically includes a first rotating unit 141 and a second rotating unit 142.

[0037] More specifically, the first rotating unit 141 is connected between the fixing mechanism 130 and the head detection module 200. The first rotating unit 141 is configured to controllably rotate the head detection module 200 in a first direction, such as the horizontal direction, to adjust the angle of the head detection module 200 in the horizontal direction. The head detection module 200 is provided with an opening, which generally corresponds to the face of the subject 300, and the face is exposed during detection. The first rotating unit 141 may include a rotary bearing and a drive motor, which is configured to drive the head detection module 200 to rotate 360° around the central axis of the bearing, so that the face of the subject 300 can face any angle in the horizontal plane, so as to optimize the circumference of the detector 220, perform data acquisition at a specific angle, or avoid external interference.

[0038] More specifically, the second rotating unit 142 is configured to controllably move the head detection module 200 in a second direction, such as the circumferential direction of the fixing mechanism 130, to adjust the position of the head detection module 200 in the vertical direction. The rotation axis of the second rotating unit 142 is arranged horizontally, and when rotating, it drives the head detection module 200 to rotate around the rotation axis. It can be understood that this rotation can be a rotation around a point or a rotation in a vertical plane with the help of a connecting member.

[0039] More specifically, the movable frame 100 includes a first connector 150 and a second connector 160. The fixing mechanism 130, the first connector 150, the second connector 160, and the head detection module 200 are sequentially connected, and these structures can be connected by hinges or bearings. The second rotation unit 142 is configured to controllably drive the first connector 150 to rotate around the second direction, thereby adjusting the position of the head detection module 200 in the vertical direction. The second connector 160 is configured to controllably rotate around its connection point 151 with the first connector 150, thereby adjusting the angle of the head detection module 200 in the vertical direction. Under the action of the second rotation unit 142, the position of the head detection module 200 in the vertical direction changes. Under the relative rotation of the second connector 160 and the first connector 150, the angle of the head detection module 200 in the vertical direction changes. The combined effect of these two factors allows the head detection module 200 to adapt to different postures of the object under test 300.

[0040] More specifically, the first rotating unit 141 is connected between the second connector 160 and the head detection module 200.

[0041] It should be noted that the rotation of the first rotating unit 141, the rotation of the second rotating unit 142, and the relative rotation of the first connecting member 150 and the second connecting member 160 can all be achieved by controlling the corresponding motor through the control system. This control system can be the same as or integrated with the control system of the sliding mechanism 121.

[0042] More specifically, as an alternative to the first connector 150 and the second connector 160 mentioned above, the second rotating unit 142 is integrated into the wrist joint of a multi-axis robotic arm. The wrist joint is connected to the fixing mechanism 130 and the head detection module 200 through a linkage. By controlling the wrist joint, the posture adjustment of the head detection module 200 in multiple directions in space can be achieved more flexibly and accurately, and the movement trajectory is smoother, which is particularly suitable for scientific research scenarios that require complex angle positioning.

[0043] Preferably, in one example of this application, the head detection module 200 integrates several sensors for detecting forces acting from the head of the object under test 300. These sensors are generally located within the lining of the head detection module 200 or near the contact surface of the object under test 300, and are preferably distributed pressure sensors, piezoelectric sensors, or micro-force sensor arrays. They are used to detect forces acting from the head of the object under test 300 in real time during the scanning process, including but not limited to static pressure distribution, dynamic pressure changes, and minute force trends. The positron emission tomography (PET) device also includes a control mechanism configured to determine the movement tendency of the object under test 300 based on the forces collected by the sensors and control the movable frame 100 to move in accordance with the movement of the object under test 300 and / or control the rotation mechanism to adjust the head detection module 200 to match the changes in the object under test 300. It is understood that the control mechanism may be the same as or integrated with the control system mentioned in the above examples. The control mechanism is connected to the plurality of sensors, the sliding mechanism 121, the lifting mechanism 110 and the rotating mechanism. The control mechanism performs real-time processing and analysis based on the real-time force data stream collected by the plurality of sensors through a built-in algorithm model (such as a trend analysis algorithm based on a pre-trained model or a threshold judgment logic) to perform movement tendency judgment and active following, posture adaptive adjustment, etc.

[0044] Regarding the specific implementation of movement tendency judgment and active following, the following logic can be adopted: When a patient is examined in a standing or sitting position, even if asked to remain still, their head may still exhibit a slight, slow displacement tendency due to fatigue, unconsciousness, or physiological reasons. The sensor will capture the resulting asymmetrical or directional force change pattern. The control mechanism analyzes this pattern to determine the movement tendency of the subject's head 300 (e.g., starting to slowly shift to the left and forward). Once the displacement trend is determined to exceed a preset stability threshold, to prevent the patient from leaving the optimal scanning field of view or to avoid fluctuations in the test results caused by unexpected prompts stimulating the subject's brain to generate additional activity, the control mechanism will not require the patient to reposition themselves. Instead, it will actively generate a control command, which controls the sliding mechanism 121, the lifting mechanism 110, and / or the rotating mechanism, so that the entire device moves synchronously (fine-tunes) with the patient's head movement trend at a smooth speed. This dynamically maintains the scanning center of the head detection module 200 at the actual position of the subject's head 300, achieving active scanning where "the device follows the person's movement." By combining sensors with a closed-loop control system, the device can sense and respond to unconscious micro-movements of the patient's head in real time. Through the following movement of the movable gantry 100 and the posture adaptive adjustment of the detection module 200, patient movement is dynamically compensated at the physical level, rather than being corrected post-processed by software algorithms during image reconstruction. This fundamentally reduces image blurring and artifacts caused by patient movement, significantly improving image clarity, quantitative accuracy, and scan success rate, especially for dynamic PET imaging of the brain or studies of neural activity requiring long-term acquisition. Furthermore, traditional static scans require patients to maintain an absolutely fixed posture for extended periods, easily leading to fatigue and discomfort, which in turn induces further movement, creating a vicious cycle. This application allows patients to make unconscious micro-adjustments within a limited range, and the device automatically adapts accordingly, reducing the patient's mental and physical burden and making the examination process more comfortable and natural. This is particularly beneficial for children, Parkinson's disease patients, and other special populations who cannot remain completely still to complete high-quality scans.

[0045] The specific implementation of posture adaptive adjustment can be achieved using the following logic: When the patient's head undergoes an angular change (such as nodding or slight tilting), the control mechanism detects a change in the force distribution map obtained by the sensors and determines the change in head posture based on this change. Subsequently, the control mechanism generates control commands to drive the rotation mechanism. Specifically, the second rotation unit 142 (e.g., adjusting the pitch of the second connector 160) and / or the first rotation unit 141 can be controlled to make minute, real-time adjustments to the circumferential angle of the head detection module 200, so that the axis of its internal detection ring is re-aligned with the changed posture of the patient's head, ensuring optimal detection geometry and guaranteeing that the imaging quality is not affected by the patient's minor movements.

[0046] Specifically, in one example of this application, the PET device further includes a seat 400 and / or an examination bed 500, the seat 400 for holding the subject 300 in a sitting position and the examination bed 500 for holding the subject 300 in a lying position.

[0047] Specifically, the head detection module 200 includes a base plate 210 and detectors 220 located on the base plate 210. The base plate 210 is helmet-shaped, and the detectors 220 are arranged sequentially on the base plate 210. Preferably, the physical dimensions and scanning field of view of the head detection module 200 can be precisely matched to the head size, completely eliminating the huge structural redundancy and functional excess of traditional whole-body PET equipment during head examination. This not only makes the equipment structure more compact and lightweight, but also directly leads to a significant reduction in the amount of core hardware materials used, such as detector 220 crystals and electronic channels, thereby greatly reducing the manufacturing cost, maintenance cost, and consumable cost during operation of the equipment.

[0048] More specifically, each of the detectors 220 includes a scintillation crystal and a photoelectric converter. The scintillation crystal can be made of NaI, CsI, LYSO, YSO, LaBr3:Ce, BGO, etc., preferably LYSO. The photoelectric converter can be made of photomultiplier tube (PMT), photodiode, avalanche photodiode (APD), silicon photomultiplier (SiPM), etc., preferably SiPM. The function of the scintillation crystal is to convert X-rays (e.g., 511 keV gamma rays in PET applications) into visible light signals, and then the photoelectric converter converts the visible light signals into scintillation pulses.

[0049] Furthermore, the detector 220 also includes an output electronics section connected to the photoelectric conversion device. In the embodiments of this application, the readout electronics section operates using a multi-voltage threshold sampling method. Multi-voltage threshold sampling methods and their variations, data processing methods, and image reconstruction methods have been extensively described in the prior art and will not be elaborated upon here.

[0050] In one example of this application, the PET device for the head also includes an imaging module, which includes multiple units such as pulse fitting, event matching, and image reconstruction. The pulse fitting unit combines prior information about the scintillation pulse with the sampled data to restore the original information of the pulse through fitting, thereby obtaining the pulse's time, energy, and position. The event matching unit performs event matching based on this information, and the image reconstruction unit performs image reconstruction based on the matching events obtained after matching, thereby obtaining a head image.

[0051] To illustrate this application in more detail, a specific operating procedure is shown below.

[0052] 1. The PET equipment is moved to the testing area via a sliding mechanism; 2. Determine the testing posture of the object to be tested; 3. If the detection posture is standing or sitting, adjust the vertical height of the head detection module through the lifting mechanism to match the standing or sitting height of the object to be tested. Adjust the horizontal angle of the head detection module through the first rotating unit to indicate that the object to be tested enters the detection area and places its head into the head detection module. Finely adjust the height of the head detection module through the second rotating unit. Adjust the angle of the head detection module through the relative rotation of the first connecting piece and the second connecting piece to match the angle of the head of the object to be tested, and start the detection. 4. If the detection posture is lying down, adjust the vertical height of the head detection module through the lifting mechanism to match the height of the examination bed, adjust the head detection module through the second rotating unit to position it in the through hole, adjust the angle of the head detection module to make it horizontal through the relative rotation of the first connecting piece and the second connecting piece, adjust the horizontal angle of the head detection module through the first rotating unit to indicate that the object to be tested enters the detection area, and place the head into the head detection module to start the detection. 5. During the detection process, the control system monitors the force acquired by the sensor in real time, judges the movement tendency of the object under test, and adjusts the movable frame, rotating mechanism, etc. in real time as needed to keep the scanning center of the head detection module at the actual position of the head of the object under test. 6. Reconstruct the image based on the data obtained from the detection.

[0053] The PET scanner for the head provided in this application employs a movable frame, eliminating the need for fixed installation and allowing free movement within the examination room. This breaks away from the reliance of traditional fixed PET scanners on dedicated rooms and permanent space, significantly improving space utilization efficiency. It also enables bedside head PET examinations in various clinical settings such as operating rooms, ICUs, and wards. The scanner can be easily moved to the patient's location, and the control system quickly and accurately aligns the probe module with the patient's head, simplifying the workflow, increasing the throughput per unit time, and expanding the application range of the equipment.

[0054] Furthermore, the lifting and rotating mechanisms allow for precise, multi-degree-of-freedom adjustment of the head detection module's height, angle, and orientation within space. This enables the PET scanner to flexibly adapt to various patient positions, including standing, sitting, and lying down. For patients with limited mobility or difficulty lying flat (such as some critically ill, orthopedic, or elderly patients), examinations in sitting or standing positions become possible, lowering the examination threshold and improving patient comfort and cooperation.

[0055] In the description of this specification, the references to "one embodiment," "an embodiment," and / or "some embodiments," "some embodiments," "other embodiments," "ideal embodiments," etc., refer to specific features, structures, materials, or characteristics described in connection with that embodiment or example, which are included in at least one embodiment or example of the present invention. In this specification, the illustrative descriptions of the above terms do not necessarily refer to the same embodiment or example, and certain features, structures, or characteristics in one or more embodiments of this specification may be appropriately combined.

[0056] The technical features of the above embodiments can be combined in any way. For the sake of brevity, not all possible combinations of the technical features in the above embodiments are described. However, as long as there is no contradiction in the combination of these technical features, they should be considered to be within the scope of this specification.

[0057] The above-described embodiments are merely illustrative of several implementations of the present invention, and while the descriptions are relatively specific and detailed, they should not be construed as limiting the scope of the invention patent. It should be noted that those skilled in the art can make various modifications and improvements without departing from the inventive concept. For example, the control mechanism may not be connected to the rotating unit, but may rely solely on the movement of the subject or external force to drive the head detection module, while simultaneously fixing the position of the head detection module through an external mechanical limiting device. These all fall within the protection scope of the present invention. Therefore, the protection scope of this invention patent should be determined by the appended claims.

[0058] The basic concepts have been described herein. It is obvious that the detailed disclosure above is merely illustrative and does not constitute a limitation of this specification. Although not explicitly stated herein, various modifications, improvements, and corrections may be made to this specification by those skilled in the art. Such modifications, improvements, and corrections are suggested in this specification and therefore remain within the spirit and scope of the exemplary embodiments described herein.

[0059] Furthermore, those skilled in the art will understand that various aspects of this specification can be described and illustrated in several patentable ways, including any new and useful combinations of processes, machines, products, or substances, or any new and useful improvements thereof. Accordingly, various aspects of this specification can be implemented entirely by hardware, entirely by software (including firmware, resident software, microcode, etc.), or by a combination of hardware and software. All of the above hardware or software may be referred to as a “data block,” “module,” “engine,” “module,” “component,” or “system.”

[0060] Furthermore, unless expressly stated in the claims, the order of processing elements and sequences, the use of numbers and letters, or other names described in this specification are not intended to limit the order of the processes and methods described herein. Although various examples have been discussed in the foregoing disclosure of some embodiments of the invention that are currently considered useful, it should be understood that such details are for illustrative purposes only, and the appended claims are not limited to the disclosed embodiments; rather, the claims are intended to cover all modifications and equivalent combinations that conform to the spirit and scope of the embodiments described herein. For example, while the system components described above can be implemented using hardware devices, they can also be implemented solely using software solutions, such as installing the described system on existing servers or mobile devices.

[0061] Similarly, it should be noted that, in order to simplify the description disclosed herein and thus aid in the understanding of one or more embodiments of the invention, the foregoing description of embodiments in this specification may sometimes combine multiple features into a single embodiment, drawing, or description thereof. However, this method of disclosure does not imply that the subject matter of this specification requires more features than those mentioned in the claims. In fact, the embodiments contain fewer features than all the features of a single embodiment disclosed above.

[0062] In some embodiments, numbers describing the quantity of components and attributes are used. It should be understood that such numbers used in the description of embodiments are modified in some examples with the terms "approximately," "approximately," or "generally." Unless otherwise stated, "approximately," "approximately," or "generally" indicates that the numbers are allowed to vary by ±20%. Accordingly, in some embodiments, the numerical parameters used in the specification and claims are approximate values, which may be changed depending on the characteristics required by individual embodiments. In some embodiments, numerical parameters should take into account specified significant digits and employ a general method of digit reservation. Although the numerical ranges and parameters used to confirm their breadth of range in some embodiments of this specification are approximate values, in specific embodiments, such values ​​are set as precisely as feasible.

[0063] For each patent, patent application, patent application publication, and other material such as articles, books, specifications, publications, and documents referenced in this specification, the entire contents of which are incorporated herein by reference. This excludes historical application documents that are inconsistent with or conflict with the content of this specification, as well as documents that limit the broadest scope of the claims in this specification (currently or subsequently appended to this specification). It should be noted that in the event of any inconsistency or conflict between the descriptions, definitions, and / or terminology used in the supplementary materials to this specification and the content of this specification, the descriptions, definitions, and / or terminology used in this specification shall prevail.

[0064] Finally, it should be understood that the embodiments described in this specification are merely illustrative of the principles of the embodiments described herein. Other variations may also fall within the scope of this specification. Therefore, alternative configurations of the embodiments described herein are intended to be illustrative rather than limiting, and should be considered consistent with the teachings of this specification. Accordingly, the embodiments described herein are not limited to those explicitly introduced and described herein.

Claims

1. A positron emission tomography (PET) imaging device, characterized in that, include: A movable frame, configured to move in a controlled manner, wherein a lifting mechanism and a rotating mechanism are provided within the movable frame; A head detection module is connected to the movable frame; The lifting mechanism and the rotating mechanism are configured to controllably adjust the position and / or angle of the head detection module.

2. The positron emission tomography (PET) imaging device according to claim 1, characterized in that, The movable frame includes a base, and a sliding mechanism is disposed at the bottom of the base. The sliding mechanism is configured to slide in a controllable manner to move the movable frame.

3. The positron emission tomography (PET) imaging device according to claim 1, characterized in that, The movable frame includes a fixing mechanism connected to the head detection module. The fixing mechanism is configured to support the head detection module. The lifting mechanism is connected to the fixing mechanism and is configured to adjust the position of the head detection module by adjusting the position of the fixing mechanism in the vertical direction.

4. The positron emission tomography (PET) imaging device according to claim 3, characterized in that, The rotating mechanism includes a first rotating unit connected between the fixing mechanism and the head detection module. The first rotating unit is configured to controllably rotate the head detection module in a first direction to adjust the angle of the head detection module.

5. The positron emission tomography (PET) imaging device according to claim 3, characterized in that, The rotating mechanism includes a second rotating unit configured to controllably move the head detection module in a second direction to adjust the position of the head detection module.

6. The positron emission tomography (PET) imaging device according to claim 5, characterized in that, The movable frame includes a first connector and a second connector, and the fixing mechanism, the first connector, the second connector, and the head detection module are connected in sequence. The second rotating unit is configured to controllably drive the first connector to rotate about the axis of the second rotating unit in order to adjust the position of the head detection module; The second connector is configured to rotate controllably around its connection point with the first connector to adjust the angle of the head detection module.

7. The positron emission tomography (PET) imaging device according to claim 6, characterized in that, The first rotating unit is connected between the second connector and the head detection module.

8. The positron emission tomography (PET) imaging device according to claim 3, characterized in that, The fixing mechanism is provided with a through hole, which is used for the test object to enter when it is in a lying position.

9. The positron emission tomography (PET) imaging device according to claim 8, characterized in that, The fixing mechanism is a square frame that surrounds or partially surrounds another square frame, or a ring frame that surrounds or partially surrounds another square frame.

10. The positron emission tomography (PET) imaging device according to claim 1, characterized in that, The head detection module integrates several sensors, which are used to detect the force from the head of the object being tested. The positron emission tomography (PET) device further includes a control mechanism, which is configured to determine the movement tendency of the subject based on the forces collected by the plurality of sensors and control the movable frame to move in accordance with the movement of the subject and / or control the rotation mechanism to adjust the head detection module to match the changes of the subject.

11. The positron emission tomography (PET) imaging device according to claim 1, characterized in that, It also includes a control module, wherein the lifting mechanism and the rotating mechanism are configured to move under the control of the control module.

12. The positron emission tomography (PET) imaging device according to claim 1, characterized in that, The rotating mechanism is formed as the wrist joint of a multi-axis robotic arm. The wrist joint is connected to the fixing mechanism and the head detection module to realize the posture adjustment of the head detection module in multiple directions in space.

13. The positron emission tomography (PET) imaging device according to claim 1, characterized in that, The head detection module is equipped with an opening that corresponds to the face of the subject being tested.

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