Spect imaging apparatus, spect imaging system, and diagnostic combination

Abstract

Provided in the present disclosure are an SPECT imaging apparatus, an SPECT imaging system, and a diagnostic combination. The SPECT imaging apparatus comprises a frame and a nuclear detector group. The frame is provided with a through hole for a subject to be examined to pass through, the through hole having a central axis. The nuclear detector group is arranged on an end surface of the frame; and the nuclear detector group comprises a plurality of longitudinal detectors arranged on the upper side and the lower side of the central axis and a plurality of transversal detectors arranged on the left side and the right side of the central axis, the plurality of longitudinal detectors being used for acquiring a longitudinal image of said subject, the plurality of transversal detectors being used for acquiring a transversal image of said subject, and the distance between the longitudinal detectors and the central axis being smaller than the distance between the transversal detectors and the central axis. The SPECT imaging apparatus provided in the present disclosure has improved collection efficiency and improved sensitivity, and involves improved resolution of examination images.

Description

SPECT imaging device, SPECT imaging system and diagnostic combination

[0001] CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

[0002] This disclosure is based on and claims priority to an application with CN application number 202310995766.7 and filing date August 9, 2023. The disclosure content of this CN application is hereby incorporated into this disclosure as a whole. Technical Field

[0003] The present disclosure relates to a SPECT imaging apparatus, a SPECT imaging system, and a diagnostic combination. Background Art

[0004] The SPECT imaging system (Single-Photon Emission Computed Tomography) is a single-photon emission computed tomography device that detects the absorption distribution of radioactive drugs in the patient's body, displays the metabolic activity of the examined organs or tissues, and realizes nuclear medicine clinical imaging judgment.

[0005] In related technologies, SPECT imaging systems include two detectors arranged symmetrically or adjacently. During a patient examination, the detectors must rotate around the patient's body once to obtain complete sampling data for image reconstruction. This results in long scan times and reduced examination efficiency.

[0006] It should be noted that the statements in this background technology section only provide background technology related to the present disclosure and do not necessarily constitute prior art.

[0007] Summary of the Invention

[0008] The present disclosure provides a SPECT imaging device, a SPECT imaging system, and a diagnostic combination to improve the resolution and detection sensitivity of detection images.

[0009] A first aspect of the present disclosure provides a SPECT imaging device, comprising:

[0010] a frame having a through hole for the object to be detected to pass through, the through hole having a central axis; and

[0011] The nuclear detector group is arranged on the end face of the frame, and the nuclear detector group includes multiple longitudinal detectors arranged on the upper and lower sides of the central axis and multiple transverse detectors arranged on the left and right sides of the central axis. The multiple longitudinal detectors are used to obtain longitudinal images of the object to be detected, and the multiple transverse detectors are used to obtain transverse images of the object to be detected. The distance between the longitudinal detector and the central axis is smaller than the distance between the transverse detector and the central axis.

[0012] In some embodiments, in the circumferential direction of the distribution of the nuclear detector group, the scanning range covered by the longitudinal detector is larger than the scanning range covered by the transverse detector.

[0013] In some embodiments, the number of longitudinal detectors is 2 to 10, preferably 2, 4, or 6; and / or the number of transverse detectors is 2 to 8, preferably 2 or 4.

[0014] In some embodiments, the gantry is configured not to rotate; or, the gantry is configured to rotate less than 90° around the central axis to complete the truncated scanning detection of the detected object.

[0015] In some embodiments, the longitudinal detector is configured to be movably disposed in a radial direction to approach the object to be detected; and / or the transverse detector is configured to be movably disposed in a radial direction to approach the object to be detected.

[0016] In some embodiments, the multiple longitudinal detectors include a first longitudinal detector and a second longitudinal detector, the working surface of the first longitudinal detector is parallel to or inclined relative to the transverse axis, the working surface of the second longitudinal detector is parallel to the transverse axis, and the transverse axis is perpendicular to the central axis and extends in the transverse direction.

[0017] In some embodiments, the angle between the working surface of the first longitudinal detector and the working surface of the second longitudinal detector is 0° to 60°, preferably 0° to 30°.

[0018] In some embodiments, the multiple transverse detectors include a first transverse detector and a second transverse detector, the working surface of the first transverse detector is parallel to or inclined relative to the longitudinal axis, and the working surface of the second transverse detector is inclined relative to the longitudinal axis, and the longitudinal axis is perpendicular to the central axis and extends in the longitudinal direction.

[0019] In some embodiments, the angle between the working surface of the first transverse detector and the working surface of the second transverse detector is 0° to 60°, preferably 0° to 30°.

[0020] In some embodiments, the plurality of longitudinal detectors include a first longitudinal detector and a second longitudinal detector, the working surface of the first longitudinal detector is tilted relative to the transverse axis, and the working surface of the second longitudinal detector is tilted relative to the transverse axis. The plurality of transverse detectors include a first transverse detector and a second transverse detector, the working surface of the first transverse detector is tilted relative to the longitudinal axis, wherein the working surface of the second transverse detector is tilted relative to the longitudinal axis, and the longitudinal axis, the transverse axis and the center axis are perpendicular to each other.

[0021] In some embodiments, the angle of the working surface of the longitudinal detector is adjustable; or the angle of the working surface of the transverse detector is adjustable.

[0022] In some embodiments, the detectors of the nuclear detector group include large-area continuous sodium iodide crystals or regular-volume cesium iodide crystals; or, the detectors of the nuclear detector group include sodium iodide crystals and coupled photoelectric devices, which are bonded to the back of the sodium iodide crystals, and the photoelectric devices include photomultiplier tube (PMT) arrays or silicon photomultiplier tubes; or, the detectors of the nuclear detector group include cesium iodide crystals and coupled photoelectric devices, which are bonded to the back of the sodium iodide crystals, and the photoelectric devices include photomultiplier tube (PMT) arrays or silicon photomultiplier tubes.

[0023] In some embodiments, the ratio between the width of the longitudinal detector and the width of the transverse detector is (1-3): (1-2); preferably (1.5-2.5): 1; or, the longitudinal detector includes a longitudinal probe array, and the longitudinal probe array is arranged in a (4-16)*(4-16) manner; preferably (8-12)*(8-12); or, the transverse detector includes a transverse probe array, and the transverse probe array is arranged in a (6-10)*(6-10) manner.

[0024] In some embodiments, the distance between the detector of the nuclear detector group and the object to be detected is 2 to 250 mm, preferably 2 to 10 mm or 10 to 180 mm; or, the distance between the projection point of the rotation center on the lateral detector and the center line of the lateral detector is 10-25 mm and 25-40 mm, respectively, and does not change with the angle.

[0025] In some embodiments, the gantry is configured to rotate in steps between -30° and 30° around the central axis. Preferably, the distance between the detectors of the nuclear detector group and the detected object is constantly set to 15 mm.

[0026] A second aspect of the present disclosure provides a SPECT imaging system, comprising the above-mentioned SPECT imaging device and a control system, wherein the control system comprises:

[0027] A self-check module, used for adapting to different protocols before diagnosis and for determining the collimator type, energy window combination, retrieval type, injection time and injection dose;

[0028] The detection module is used to control the starting angle and ending angle of the gantry and to select a fixed position mode or a closest-to-human-distance mode. The detection module is also configured to control the gantry to rotate to a set angle, control the detector to move to a set distance, control the detector to rotate to a set angle, and scan according to a preset scanning mode after the scan starts. The detection module is also configured to determine whether to end the scan based on a "time count," a "total event count," or a "gated count."

[0029] In some embodiments, the control system further includes a supplementary scanning module, which is used to verify the scanning effect, including the scanning completion degree and resolution. The supplementary scanning module is further used to determine whether a supplementary scan is required based on the verification result and to determine the supplementary scanning angle and supplementary scanning distance based on the verification result, and the supplementary scanning module is configured to control the detection module to perform a supplementary scan; alternatively, the control system further includes a reset module, which is used to move the detector to the maximum outer diameter and control the frame to rotate to the 0° position.

[0030] A third aspect of the present disclosure provides a diagnostic combination comprising the above-mentioned SPECT imaging system and a SPECT diagnostic drug.

[0031] In some embodiments, the administered dose of the SPECT diagnostic drug is 0.1-1 mCi / kg, preferably 0.1-0.5 mCi / kg, more preferably 0.1 mCi / kg, 0.2 mCi / kg, 0.3 mCi / kg, 0.4 mCi / kg, 0.5 mCi / kg; or, the single case detection time of the diagnostic combination is 5-60 minutes, preferably 5-50 minutes, 5-40 minutes, 5-45 minutes, 10-45 minutes, 15-45 minutes, 15-30 minutes, 15-20 minutes, more preferably 5 minutes, 10 minutes, 15 minutes, 20 minutes, 25 minutes.

[0032] Based on the technical solution provided in the present disclosure, a SPECT imaging device includes a gantry and a nuclear detector assembly. The gantry has a through hole for the object to be inspected to pass through. The through hole has a central axis. The nuclear detector assembly is disposed on an end face of the gantry and includes a plurality of longitudinal detectors disposed above and below the central axis and a plurality of transverse detectors disposed to the left and right of the central axis. The plurality of longitudinal detectors are used to acquire longitudinal images of the object to be inspected, and the plurality of transverse detectors are used to acquire transverse images of the object to be inspected. The distance between the longitudinal detectors and the central axis is less than the distance between the transverse detectors and the central axis. The SPECT imaging device of the embodiment of the present disclosure sets the distance between the upper and lower longitudinal detectors to be smaller and to have an included angle, and sets the distance between the left and right lateral detectors to be larger and to have an included angle. Such an asymmetric setting makes the circumferential distribution of multiple detectors roughly form an ellipse, which is consistent with the cross-sectional shape of the patient's body, thereby making the distance between the longitudinal detectors located on the upper and lower sides of the patient closer to the patient's body, and the irregular trapezoid formed by the upper and lower longitudinal detectors and the left and right lateral detectors can collect more photon counts in different directions; by adopting the upper and lower large longitudinal detectors as close to the human body as possible to obtain the best sensitivity, longitudinal non-truncation data is obtained, and by adopting the left and right small lateral detectors as auxiliary to supplement the resolution, lateral sampling angle data is obtained, thereby improving the resolution and detection sensitivity of the detection image.

[0033] The asymmetric detector design disclosed herein and the flexible adjustment of detector angles and distances provide a better fit with the patient's contours, enabling single-bed scanning without the need for a full 360-degree rotation, or even without rotation. This allows for the goal of fully sampling the distribution of radioactive drugs, enabling dynamic rapid tomography, and shortening the detection time for whole-body scans to less than 15 minutes, significantly shortening clinical detection time and improving the overall operating efficiency of the equipment. This avoids the frequent radial movement and rotation of detectors during the detection process, as well as the problems of insufficient detector utilization and low detection efficiency caused by gaps between different detectors. This effectively improves detector utilization efficiency and can effectively address the problem of sodium iodide or cesium iodide crystal detectors being thick and unable to fully rotate at all angles in actual production. This saves costs and improves detection sensitivity and resolution.

[0034] Based on the above structure and the beneficial effects produced, the SPECT imaging system disclosed in the present invention significantly reduces the detection time and the amount of nuclear medicine administered for a single case in clinical applications, reduces the systemic toxic side effects on patients, reduces the detection cost, and improves the application accessibility of the detection equipment.

[0035] Other features and advantages of the present disclosure will become apparent from the following detailed description of exemplary embodiments of the present disclosure with reference to the accompanying drawings. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0036] The drawings described herein are used to provide a further understanding of the present disclosure and constitute a part of this application. The illustrative embodiments of the present disclosure and their descriptions are used to explain the present disclosure and do not constitute an improper limitation of the present disclosure. In the drawings:

[0037] FIG1 is a schematic diagram of the three-dimensional structure of a SPECT device according to some embodiments of the present disclosure.

[0038] FIG2 is a simplified schematic diagram of the structure of a SPECT device according to some embodiments of the present disclosure.

[0039] FIG3 is a schematic diagram of a gantry of a SPECT device in an initial detection position according to some embodiments of the present disclosure.

[0040] FIG4 is a schematic diagram of a gantry of a SPECT device in a detection end position according to some embodiments of the present disclosure.

[0041] FIG5 is a front view of a SPECT device according to some embodiments of the present disclosure.

[0042] FIG6 is a schematic diagram of detector deflection of a SPECT device according to a specific embodiment of the present disclosure.

[0043] FIG7 is a process diagram of a SPECT device from an initial detection position to an end detection position according to some embodiments of the present disclosure.

[0044] FIG8 is a diagram illustrating the detection process of a SPECT device according to some embodiments of the present disclosure. DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0045] The following will be combined with the drawings in the embodiments of the present disclosure to clearly and completely describe the technical solutions in the embodiments of the present disclosure. Obviously, the described embodiments are only part of the embodiments of the present disclosure, rather than all the embodiments. The following description of at least one exemplary embodiment is actually only illustrative and is in no way intended to limit the present disclosure and its application or use. Based on the embodiments in the present disclosure, all other embodiments obtained by ordinary technicians in this field without making creative work are within the scope of protection of the present disclosure.

[0046] Unless otherwise specifically stated, the relative arrangement of the parts and steps, numerical expressions and numerical values ​​set forth in these embodiments do not limit the scope of the present disclosure. At the same time, it should be understood that, for ease of description, the sizes of the various parts shown in the drawings are not drawn according to actual proportional relationships. The technology, methods and equipment known to those of ordinary skill in the relevant art may not be discussed in detail, but in appropriate cases, the technology, methods and equipment should be considered as part of the specification. In all examples shown and discussed here, any specific value should be interpreted as being merely exemplary, rather than as a limitation. Therefore, other examples of the exemplary embodiments may have different values. It should be noted that similar numbers and letters represent similar items in the following figures, and therefore, once an item is defined in one figure, it does not need to be further discussed in subsequent figures.

[0047] For ease of description, spatially relative terms such as "above", "above", "on the upper surface of", "above", etc. may be used herein to describe the spatial positional relationship of a device or feature to other devices or features as shown in the figures. It should be understood that spatially relative terms are intended to include different orientations of the device in use or operation in addition to the orientation described in the figures. For example, if the device in the drawings is inverted, the device described as "above other devices or structures" or "above other devices or structures" will be subsequently positioned as "below other devices or structures" or "below other devices or structures". Thus, the exemplary term "above" can include both "above" and "below". The device may also be positioned in other different ways, and the spatially relative descriptions used herein are interpreted accordingly.

[0048] As mentioned above, the detectors of existing SPECT imaging systems are all arranged symmetrically or adjacently. Therefore, in order to ensure the integrity of data sampling, the detectors need to surround the patient's body by at least 180° or 360°.

[0049] However, during the research process, the inventors of the present application discovered that when the patient is in the detection position, that is, when the patient is in a supine position, the cross-sectional shape of the body contour is approximately an ellipse. In other words, the width of the patient's body contour is greater than its thickness. The thickness refers to the distance from the front chest to the back of the body, and the width refers to the distance from the left shoulder to the right shoulder of the body. If a symmetrically arranged detector is used, the distance between the detector and the patient's body will be relatively far when detecting one side of the patient's body in the thickness direction, which will cause the acquired detection image to be unclear and waste part of the detector in the width direction of the body.

[0050] To address this issue, with reference to FIG1 and FIG2 , a SPECT imaging device provided in an embodiment of the present application includes a gantry 12 and a nuclear detector group 20. The gantry 12 has a through hole for the object to be detected to pass through. The through hole has a central axis. The nuclear detector group 20 is arranged on the end face of the gantry 12, and the nuclear detector group 20 includes a plurality of longitudinal detectors arranged on the upper and lower sides of the central axis and a plurality of transverse detectors arranged on the left and right sides of the central axis. The plurality of longitudinal detectors are used to obtain longitudinal images of the object to be detected, and the plurality of transverse detectors are used to obtain transverse images of the object to be detected. The distance between the longitudinal detector and the central axis is smaller than the distance between the transverse detector and the central axis. The SPECT imaging device of the embodiment of the present disclosure sets the distance between the upper and lower longitudinal detectors to be smaller and to have an angle therebetween, and sets the distance between the left and right lateral detectors to be larger and to have an angle therebetween. Such an asymmetric setting enables the multiple detectors to form an irregular quadrilateral, and the circumferential distribution when rotated during the examination roughly forms an ellipse, which is consistent with the cross-sectional shape of the patient's body, thereby making the distance between the longitudinal detectors located on the upper and lower sides of the patient closer to the patient's body. By using the upper and lower large longitudinal detectors as close to the human body as possible to obtain the best sensitivity, longitudinal non-truncation data is obtained. By using the left and right small lateral detectors as auxiliary to supplement the resolution, lateral sampling angle data is obtained, thereby improving the resolution and detection sensitivity of the detection image.

[0051] Referring to Figure 1 , in some embodiments, the frame 12 is cylindrical. The frame 12 has a through hole extending axially therethrough. A bed plate extends through the through hole, allowing the subject to lie flat. A nuclear detector assembly 20 is mounted on the axial front end of the frame 12.

[0052] Specifically, the gantry 12 includes a gantry stator 11 and a gantry rotor. Driven by a driver, the gantry rotor rotates relative to the gantry stator 11 about a central axis. A nuclear detector assembly 20 is mounted on the gantry rotor and rotates with the rotor's drive. The nuclear detector assembly 20 is used to collect radiopharmaceuticals absorbed and distributed within the patient's body.

[0053] In some embodiments, the number of longitudinal detectors is 2 to 10, preferably 2, 4, or 6. The number of transverse detectors is 2 to 8, preferably 2 or 4. If the number of longitudinal detectors is 4 or more, and the number of transverse detectors is also 4 or more, multiple detectors are provided in the upper and lower or left and right directions, so that the multiple detectors of the nuclear detector group are distributed in an irregular and multi-deformed manner, increasingly fitting a complete ellipse, better fitting the contours of the human body.

[0054] In a specific embodiment shown in Figures 1 and 2, the nuclear detector assembly 20 comprises two longitudinal detectors, one above and one below the central axis, and two transverse detectors, one to the left and right of the central axis. The two longitudinal detectors are used to acquire longitudinal images of the object being inspected. The two transverse detectors are used to acquire transverse images of the object being inspected. The distance between the longitudinal detectors and the central axis is smaller than the distance between the transverse detectors and the central axis.

[0055] In some embodiments, the detector comprises sodium iodide crystals or cesium iodide crystals. For example, the detector is a flat-panel detector of different sizes composed of sodium iodide crystals or cesium iodide crystals and coupled optoelectronic devices.

[0056] Specifically, the detectors of the nuclear detector group 20 include large-area sodium iodide (NaI) continuous crystals or regular-volume cesium iodide (CsI) crystals.

[0057] The detector of the nuclear detector group 20 includes a sodium iodide crystal and a coupled photoelectric device. The photoelectric device is attached to the back of the sodium iodide crystal. The photoelectric device includes a photomultiplier tube (PMT) array or a silicon photomultiplier tube.

[0058] The detector of the nuclear detector assembly 20 includes a cesium iodide crystal and a coupled photoelectric device. The photoelectric device is bonded to the back of the sodium iodide crystal. The photoelectric device includes a photomultiplier tube (PMT) array or a silicon photomultiplier tube.

[0059] The ratio between the width of the longitudinal detector and the width of the transverse detector is (1-3):(1-2), preferably (1.5-2.5):1. In other words, the width of the longitudinal detector is greater than the width of the transverse detector, where the width refers to the dimension of the detector in the direction extending from the central axis.

[0060] In some embodiments, the longitudinal detector includes a longitudinal probe array, and the longitudinal probe array is arranged in a (4-16)*(4-16) manner; preferably (8-12)*(8-12).

[0061] In some embodiments, the transverse detector includes a transverse probe array, and the transverse probe array is arranged in a (6-10)*(6-10) manner.

[0062] The nuclear detector group 20 includes a first longitudinal detector 21, a second longitudinal detector 22, a first transverse detector 23, and a second transverse detector 24 arranged in the circumferential direction. The first longitudinal detector 21 is arranged above the object being detected, the second longitudinal detector 22 is arranged below the object being detected, the first transverse detector 23 is arranged on the left side of the object being detected, and the second transverse detector 24 is arranged on the right side of the object being detected.

[0063] The distance between each of the above detectors and the detected object is 2 to 250 mm, preferably 2 to 10 mm or 10 to 180 mm.

[0064] In other embodiments, the distances between the projection point of the rotation center on the left lateral detector and the center line of the right lateral detector are 10-25 mm and 25-40 mm, respectively, and do not change with angle changes.

[0065] In order to expand the detection range of the nuclear detector group 20 and thereby reduce the angle at which the rack 12 rotates during the detection process, in some embodiments, in the circumferential direction of the distribution of the nuclear detector group 20, the scanning range covered by the longitudinal detector is greater than the scanning range covered by the transverse detector. Referring to FIG2 , from the perspective of the cross-sectional shape, the coverage range of the longitudinal detector is greater than the coverage range of the transverse detector. In this way, by providing four detectors, it is possible to basically achieve full coverage of the circumference of the object being inspected. In this way, when inspecting the object being inspected, the rack 12 can obtain a full-scale inspection of the object being inspected without rotating or by rotating a small angle, thereby obtaining a complete image and improving inspection efficiency.

[0066] In some embodiments, the gantry 12 is configured to be non-rotating. Since four detectors can substantially cover the entire body, an algorithm can compensate for missed acquisitions at the corners of the irregular quadrilateral formed by the four detectors, thereby enabling static or dynamic scanning without rotating the gantry.

[0067] In other embodiments, the gantry 12 is configured to rotate less than 90° about its central axis to perform truncated scanning inspection of the inspected object. Because the present embodiment of the application includes four detectors positioned circumferentially around the inspected object, with the two longitudinal detectors having larger scanning ranges and the two transverse detectors having smaller scanning ranges, these four detectors can essentially achieve full circumferential coverage of the inspected object. Therefore, simply rotating the gantry 12 by a smaller angle can achieve detection of missing angles.

[0068] Referring to Figures 3, 4, and 7, in some embodiments, the frame 12 has an initial detection position and an end detection position. Figure 3 illustrates the initial detection position. Figure 4 illustrates the end detection position. The frame 12 is configured to rotate counterclockwise to reach the initial detection position. Figure 7 illustrates the positions of the frame 12 relative to the rotation center at five angles: -30°, -15°, 0°, +15°, and +30°.

[0069] As shown in FIG7 , the initial detection position of the gantry 12 is at -30°. The final detection position of the gantry 12 is at +30°. The gantry 12 is configured to rotate in steps between -30° and 30° about the central axis. Preferably, the distance between the detectors of the nuclear detector assembly 20 and the object being detected is set to a constant 15 mm.

[0070] To improve the adaptability of the SPECT imaging system of the disclosed embodiments, in some embodiments, the longitudinal detector is configured to be movable in a radial direction to approach the subject. The radial direction refers to the radial direction of the through-hole. For different subjects, such as those with different weights, the longitudinal detector can be moved in the radial direction to be as close to the subject as possible, thereby obtaining a clearer detection image.

[0071] Furthermore, in some other embodiments, the transverse detector is configured to be movable in the radial direction to be closer to the object being inspected. For example, in the case of children and adults, where the transverse width of a child is narrower than that of an adult, the transverse detector can be moved in the radial direction to be as close to the object being inspected as possible to obtain a clearer inspection image.

[0072] In some embodiments, a servo motor drives a lead screw or a synchronous belt to drive the detector to move radially to push or pull the detector closer to the human body contour to improve the resolution and sensitivity of key parameters.

[0073] In some embodiments, the two longitudinal detectors include a first longitudinal detector 21 and a second longitudinal detector 22. The detection surface of the first longitudinal detector 21 is tilted relative to the transverse axis x, and the detection surface of the second longitudinal detector 22 is parallel to the transverse axis. The transverse axis x is perpendicular to the central axis and extends in the transverse direction.

[0074] In the embodiment of the present disclosure, the detection surface of the first longitudinal detector 21 is arranged to be inclined relative to the transverse axis, and the detection surface of the second longitudinal detector 22 is arranged to be parallel to the transverse direction. That is, the first longitudinal detector 21 and the second longitudinal detector 22 are arranged asymmetrically, thereby expanding the detection range of the first longitudinal detector 21, so that the rack 12 does not need to rotate 360° or even does not need to rotate at all to achieve the goal of fully sampling the distribution of radioactive drugs, thereby improving the sampling efficiency.

[0075] It should be noted that the detection surface of a detector refers to the side of the detector that is close to the object being detected and is used to receive radiation. For example, in the embodiment shown in Figure 5, the detector has a square structure. The detection surface refers to the side of the square structure that is close to the object being detected. With respect to the state shown in Figure 5, for the first longitudinal detector 21, its detection surface is its bottom surface. For the second longitudinal detector 22, its detection surface is its top surface. For the first transverse detector 23, its detection surface is its right side surface. For the second transverse detector 24, its detection surface is its left side surface.

[0076] In some embodiments, the angle α between the detection surface of the first longitudinal detector 21 and the detection surface of the second longitudinal detector 22 is 0° to 60°. Preferably, α is 0° to 30°.

[0077] In some other embodiments not shown in the drawings, the detection surface of the second longitudinal detector 22 has an angle with the transverse axis x. In this case, the angle γ between the detection surface of the first longitudinal detector 21 and the second longitudinal detector 22 is greater than α.

[0078] In some embodiments, the two transverse detectors include a first transverse detector 23 and a second transverse detector 24. The detection surface of the first transverse detector 23 is tilted relative to the longitudinal axis y, and the detection surface of the second transverse detector 24 is tilted relative to the longitudinal axis y, which is perpendicular to the central axis and extends in the longitudinal direction.

[0079] 5 , the angle β between the detection surface of the first transverse detector 23 and the longitudinal axis y is greater than the angle b between the detection surface of the second transverse detector 24 and the longitudinal axis y. The angle θ between the detection surface of the first transverse detector 23 and the detection surface of the second transverse detector 24 is β+b.

[0080] In some embodiments, the angle β between the detection surface of the first transverse detector 23 and the second transverse detector 24 is 0° to 60°. β is 0° to 30°.

[0081] Preferably, the angle α between the detection surface of the first longitudinal detector 21 and the transverse axis x is 2 to 10°. The angle β between the detection surface of the first transverse detector 23 and the longitudinal axis y is 6 to 14°. The angle b between the detection surface of the second transverse detector 24 and the longitudinal axis y is 1 to 6°.

[0082] In one specific embodiment, as shown in Figures 5 and 6, the two longitudinal detectors include a first longitudinal detector 21 and a second longitudinal detector 22. The detection surface of the first longitudinal detector 21 is tilted relative to the transverse axis, while the detection surface of the second longitudinal detector 22 is parallel to the transverse axis. The two transverse detectors include a first transverse detector 23 and a second transverse detector 24. The detection surface of the first transverse detector 23 is tilted relative to the longitudinal axis, while the detection surface of the second transverse detector 24 is tilted relative to the longitudinal axis. The transverse axis x, the longitudinal axis y, and the central axis are perpendicular to each other. The angle α between the detection surface of the first longitudinal detector 21 and the transverse axis x is 6°. The angle β between the detection surface of the first transverse detector 23 and the longitudinal axis y is 8°. The angle b between the detection surface of the second transverse detector 24 and the longitudinal axis y is 2°. At these preferred angles, each detector can achieve minimal clearance from the human body contour, improving parameter resolution and sensitivity. At these preferred angles, the rotation of the gantry 12 allows the detectors to cover as many angles as possible, rather than only obtaining redundant data.

[0083] In some embodiments, the angle of the longitudinal detector's working surface is adjustable. Adjusting the angle of the longitudinal detector's working surface allows for acquisition of photon detection images from a wider range of angles, particularly non-overlapping angles, thereby achieving more comprehensive examination results. Adjusting the angle of the longitudinal detector's working surface allows for coverage of gaps left at the angles between adjacent detectors, maximizing coverage for clinical scans of a single bed's entire body section without requiring any changes in the bed's rotation angle.

[0084] Specifically, a servo motor or stepper motor drives a lead screw or synchronous belt and mechanical mechanisms such as gears to make the detector swing left and right around the center line at a small angle to adjust the reception of gamma photons from different angles and maximize data collection.

[0085] Specifically, the longitudinal detector is configured to be rotatable around its own axis to adjust the angle of its working surface.

[0086] In other embodiments, the angle of the lateral detector's working surface is adjustable. Similarly, the adjustable angle of the lateral detector's working surface enables the SPECT imaging system of the disclosed embodiments to selectively acquire photon detection images at a wider range of angles. Adjusting the angle of the lateral detector's working surface allows coverage of gaps left at the angles between adjacent detectors, maximizing coverage of a single bed's entire human body for clinical scans without changing any rotation angle.

[0087] In some other embodiments, the angle of the working surface of the transverse detector is fixed. Alternatively, the angle of the working surface of the longitudinal detector is fixed.

[0088] High-sensitivity collimators can be optionally installed on each of the four detectors. In the reconstruction algorithm, different weights are applied to the data from different detectors, enabling the acquisition of low-noise or high-resolution images based on different clinical needs. The SPECT imaging system of the disclosed embodiment automatically adjusts the data weights of collimators of different resolutions to meet the different imaging requirements of different organs, thereby achieving a balance between field of view, sensitivity, and resolution.

[0089] In some embodiments, as shown in FIG6 , the distances between the projection points of the rotation center on the left and right lateral detectors and the center lines of the left and right lateral detectors are 16.72 mm and 33.33 mm, respectively, and do not change with angle changes.

[0090] As shown in FIG8 , the present disclosure further provides a SPECT imaging system, comprising the above-mentioned SPECT imaging device and a control system, wherein the control system comprises:

[0091] A self-check module, used for adapting to different protocols before diagnosis and for determining the collimator type, energy window combination, retrieval type, injection time and injection dose;

[0092] The detection module is used to control the starting angle and ending angle of the gantry and to select a fixed position mode or a closest-to-human-distance mode. The detection module is also configured to control the gantry to rotate to a set angle, control the detector to move to a set distance, control the detector to rotate to a set angle, and scan according to a preset scanning mode after the scan starts. The detection module is also configured to determine whether to end the scan based on a "time count," a "total event count," or a "gated count."

[0093] In some embodiments, the control system further includes a supplemental scan module. The supplemental scan module is used to verify the scanning effect, including the scanning completion degree and resolution. The supplemental scan module is further used to determine whether a supplemental scan is required based on the verification result and to determine the supplemental scan angle and distance based on the verification result. The supplemental scan module is also configured to control the detection module to perform the supplemental scan. The SPECT imaging system of the disclosed embodiment performs a supplemental scan when it is determined that a supplemental scan is required by providing the supplemental scan module, and determines the supplemental scan angle and distance based on the verification result during the supplemental scan. This avoids all-round scanning and further improves efficiency.

[0094] The control system further includes a reset module, which is used for moving the detector to the maximum outer diameter and controlling the rack to rotate to the 0° position.

[0095] The present disclosure also provides a diagnostic combination comprising the above-mentioned SPECT imaging system and a SPECT diagnostic drug.

[0096] In some embodiments, the administered dose of the SPECT diagnostic drug is 0.1-1 mCi / kg, preferably 0.1-0.5 mCi / kg, more preferably 0.1 mCi / kg, 0.2 mCi / kg, 0.3 mCi / kg, 0.4 mCi / kg, 0.5 mCi / kg; or, the single case detection time of the diagnostic combination is 5-60 minutes, preferably 5-50 minutes, 5-40 minutes, 5-45 minutes, 10-45 minutes, 15-45 minutes, 15-30 minutes, 15-20 minutes, more preferably 5 minutes, 10 minutes, 15 minutes, 20 minutes, 25 minutes.

[0097] An example of clinical testing using the diagnostic combination of embodiments of the present disclosure is shown below.

[0098] The patient is 184cm tall and weighs 85kg. With his arms raised, the widest part of his shoulders is about 410mm and his chest is about 250mm thick.

[0099] When testing, refer to Figure 8.

[0100] When the SPECT system is powered on, the main control and image processing computers start automatically; the user or operating technician can choose patients for pre-registration and register the patient information to be examined in advance, or choose patient registration and register the patient's basic information on site; then the SPECT scan data collection will be formally carried out.

[0101] First, start the self-check module, select the corresponding organ protocol and bed position, enter the system inspection interface, and for different protocols such as static scan acquisition, click on its parameter interface to set the installed collimator type such as high-energy general, energy window combination, the type of radionuclide injected by the patient such as Tc-99m, injection time and injection dose, and other information.

[0102] Then the detection module is started, and the starting and ending angles of the SPECT gantry rotation are set, and the proximity mode of the detector is set. For example, the FD mode (Fixed Distance) is defined as a fixed distance between the detector and the human body contour, such as 10-180 mm, and the AB mode (As close as possible to body) is defined as the closest distance between the detector and the human body contour, such as 2-10 mm; the starting and ending positions of the bed are set, the bed move button is executed to send the patient to the scanning bed, and the start scan is clicked. The SPECT gantry rotates to the set angle and the detector moves to the set distance; if it has a variable angle, the detector swings to the set angle, such as 0-30°. The above speeds can be configured through the lower computer firmware; finally, the SPECT acquisition is stopped or ended according to different counting methods such as time counting, total event counting or gated counting.

[0103] After the acquisition is completed, it is determined whether additional scanning angles are needed based on the scanning effect. This can be done by starting the supplementary scanning module, calling the detection module to rescan, or automatically supplementing the missing angles based on dynamic acquisition to achieve sufficient data acquisition.

[0104] Finally, the reset module automatically resets the lower computer to the reset state, first moving the detector to the maximum outer diameter position, and then rotating the SPECT gantry to the set 0° position.

[0105] Using this SPECT imaging system, the total detection time is 15 minutes. Compared with traditional equipment, it is highly integrated and intelligent, more convenient to operate, and fits the patient's contours better. The intelligent judgment of the integrated supplementary scanning module effectively reduces the total detection time, reduces the use of SPECT diagnostic drugs, and effectively reduces the burden on patients.

[0106] Finally, it should be noted that the above embodiments are only used to illustrate the technical solutions of the present disclosure and not to limit it. Although the present disclosure has been described in detail with reference to the preferred embodiments, ordinary technicians in the relevant field should understand that the specific implementation methods of the present disclosure can still be modified or some technical features can be replaced by equivalents without departing from the spirit of the technical solutions of the present disclosure, which should all be included in the scope of the technical solutions requested for protection in the present disclosure.

Claims

1. A SPECT imaging device, comprising: A frame (12), the frame (12) having a through hole for the detected object to pass through, the through hole having a central axis; and A nuclear detector group (20) is arranged on the end surface of the frame (12), and the nuclear detector group (20) includes a plurality of longitudinal detectors (21, 22) arranged on the upper and lower sides of the central axis and a plurality of transverse detectors (23, 24) arranged on the left and right sides of the central axis, the plurality of longitudinal detectors (21, 22) are used to obtain longitudinal images of the detected object, the plurality of transverse detectors (23, 24) are used to obtain transverse images of the detected object, and the distance between the longitudinal detector and the central axis is smaller than the distance between the transverse detector and the central axis.

2. The SPECT imaging device according to claim 1, wherein: In the circumferential direction of the distribution of the nuclear detector group (20), the scanning range covered by the longitudinal detector is greater than the scanning range covered by the transverse detector.

3. The SPECT imaging device according to claim 1 or 2, wherein: The number of the longitudinal detectors is 2 to 10, preferably 2, 4, or 6; and / or the number of the transverse detectors is 2 to 8, preferably 2 or 4.

4. The SPECT imaging device according to any one of claims 1 to 3, characterized in that: The frame (12) is configured not to rotate; or, the frame (12) is configured to rotate less than 90° around the central axis to complete truncated scanning detection of the detected object.

5. The SPECT imaging device according to any one of claims 1 to 4, wherein: The longitudinal detector is configured to be movably disposed in a radial direction to approach the object to be detected; and / or the transverse detector is configured to be movably disposed in a radial direction to approach the object to be detected.

6. The SPECT imaging device according to any one of claims 1 to 5, wherein: The plurality of longitudinal detectors include a first longitudinal detector (21) and a second longitudinal detector (22), wherein the working surface of the first longitudinal detector (21) is arranged parallel to or inclined relative to a transverse axis (x), and the working surface of the second longitudinal detector (22) is parallel to the transverse axis, and the transverse axis (x) is perpendicular to the central axis and extends in a transverse direction.

7. The SPECT imaging device according to claim 6, wherein: The angle (α) between the working surface of the first longitudinal detector (21) and the working surface of the second longitudinal detector (22) is 0° to 60°, preferably 0° to 30°.

8. The SPECT imaging device according to any one of claims 1 to 7, wherein: The multiple transverse detectors include a first transverse detector (23) and a second transverse detector (24), wherein the working surface of the first transverse detector (23) is arranged parallel to or inclined relative to the longitudinal axis (y), and the working surface of the second transverse detector (24) is arranged inclined relative to the longitudinal axis (y), and the longitudinal axis (y) is perpendicular to the central axis and extends in the longitudinal direction.

9. The SPECT imaging device according to claim 8, wherein: The angle (β) between the working surface of the first transverse detector (23) and the working surface of the second transverse detector (24) is 0° to 60°, preferably 0° to 30°.

10. The SPECT imaging device according to any one of claims 1 to 9, wherein: The multiple longitudinal detectors include a first longitudinal detector (21) and a second longitudinal detector (22), wherein the working surface of the first longitudinal detector (21) is tilted relative to the transverse axis, and the working surface of the second longitudinal detector (22) is tilted relative to the transverse axis (x); the multiple transverse detectors include a first transverse detector (23) and a second transverse detector (24), wherein the working surface of the first transverse detector (23) is tilted relative to the longitudinal axis (y), wherein the working surface of the second transverse detector (24) is tilted relative to the longitudinal axis (y), and the longitudinal axis, the transverse axis and the central axis are perpendicular to each other.

11. The SPECT imaging device according to any one of claims 1 to 10, wherein: The angle of the working surface of the longitudinal detector is adjustable; or the angle of the working surface of the transverse detector is adjustable.

12. The SPECT imaging device according to any one of claims 1 to 11, wherein: The detector of the nuclear detector group (20) comprises a large-area sodium iodide (NaI) continuous crystal or a regular-volume cesium iodide (Csl) crystal; or, the detector of the nuclear detector group (20) comprises a sodium iodide crystal and a coupled photoelectric device, the photoelectric device is bonded to the back of the sodium iodide crystal, and the photoelectric device comprises a photomultiplier tube (PMT) array or a silicon photomultiplier tube; or, the detector of the nuclear detector group (20) comprises a cesium iodide crystal and a coupled photoelectric device, the photoelectric device is bonded to the back of the sodium iodide crystal, and the photoelectric device comprises a photomultiplier tube (PMT) array or a silicon photomultiplier tube.

13. The SPECT imaging device according to any one of claims 1 to 12, wherein: The ratio between the width of the longitudinal detector and the width of the transverse detector is (1-3):(1-2); preferably (1.5-2.5):1; and / or, the longitudinal detector includes a longitudinal probe array, and the longitudinal probe array is arranged in a (4-16)*(4-16) manner; preferably (8-12)*(8-12); and / or, the transverse detector includes a transverse probe array, and the transverse probe array is arranged in a (6-10)*(6-10) manner.

14. The SPECT imaging device according to any one of claims 1 to 13, wherein: The distance between the detector of the nuclear detector group (20) and the detected object is 2-250 mm, preferably 2-10 mm or 10-180 mm; or, the distance between the projection point of the rotation center on the left lateral detector and the center line of the right lateral detector is 10-25 mm, 25-40 mm, respectively, and does not change with the angle.

15. The SPECT imaging device according to any one of claims 1 to 14, wherein: The frame (12) is configured to rotate in steps between -30° and 30° around the central axis. Preferably, the distance between the detectors of the nuclear detector group (20) and the detected object is constantly set to 15 mm.

16. A SPECT imaging system, comprising the SPECT imaging device according to any one of claims 1 to 15 and a control system, wherein the control system comprises: A self-check module, used for adapting to different protocols before diagnosis and for determining the collimator type, energy window combination, retrieval type, injection time and injection dose; The detection module is used to control the starting angle and the ending angle of the rack, and is used to select a fixed position mode or a closest human distance mode. The detection module is also configured to control the rack to rotate to a set angle, control the detector to move to a set distance, control the detector to rotate to a set angle and scan according to a preset scanning mode after the scanning starts. The detection module is also configured to determine whether to end the scanning according to "time count" or "total event count" or "gated count".

17. The SPECT imaging system according to claim 16, wherein: The control system also includes a supplementary scanning module, which is used to verify the scanning effect, and the scanning effect includes the scanning completion degree and the resolution. The supplementary scanning module is also used to determine whether to perform supplementary scanning according to the verification result and determine the supplementary scanning angle and the supplementary scanning distance according to the verification result, and the supplementary scanning module is configured to control the detection module to perform supplementary scanning; or, the control system also includes a reset module, which is used to move the detector to the maximum outer diameter and control the frame to rotate to the 0° position.

18. A diagnostic combination comprising the SPECT imaging system according to claim 16 or 17 and a SPECT diagnostic drug.

19. The diagnostic combination according to claim 18, wherein the administration dosage of the SPECT diagnostic drug is 0.1-1 mCi / kg, preferably 0.1-0.5 mCi / kg, more preferably 0.1 mCi / kg, 0.2 mCi / kg, 0.3 mCi / kg, 0.4 mCi / kg, 0.5 mCi / kg; or, the single case detection time of the diagnostic combination is 5-60 minutes, preferably 5-50 minutes, 5-40 minutes, 5-45 minutes, 10-45 minutes, 15-45 minutes, 15-30 minutes, 15-20 minutes, more preferably 5 minutes, 10 minutes, 15 minutes, 20 minutes, 25 minutes.

Images