59 results about "Compton camera" patented technology

The invention consists in structuring scintillation radiation detectors as Photonic Bandgap Crystals or 3D layers of thin filaments, thus enabling extremely high spatial resolutions and achieving virtual voxellation of the radiation detector without physical separating walls. The ability to precisely measure the recoil electron track in a Compton camera enables to assess the directions of the gamma rays hitting the detector and consequently dispensing with collimators that strongly reduce the intensity of radiation detected by gamma cameras. The invention enables great enhancements of the capabilities of gamma cameras, SPECT, PET, CT and DR machines as well as their use in Homeland Security applications. Methods of fabrication of such radiation detectors are decribed.

The invention provides novel Compton camera detector designs and systems for enhanced radiographic imaging with integrated detector systems which incorporate Compton and nuclear medicine imaging, PET imaging and x-ray CT imaging capabilities. Compton camera detector designs employ one or more layers of detector modules comprised of edge-on or face-on detectors or a combination of edge-on and face-on detectors which may employ gas, scintillator, semiconductor, low temperature (such as Ge and superconductor) and structured detectors. Detectors may implement tracking capabilities and may operate in a non-coincidence or coincidence detection mode.

The invention consists in structuring scintillation radiation detectors as Photonic Bandgap Crystals or 3D layers of thin filaments, thus enabling extremely high spatial resolutions and achieving virtual voxellation of the radiation detector without physical separating walls. The ability to precisely measure the recoil electron track in a Compton camera enables to assess the directions of the gamma rays hitting the detector and consequently dispensing with collimators that strongly reduce the intensity of radiation detected by gamma cameras. The invention enables great enhancements of the capabilities of gamma cameras, SPECT, PET, CT and DR machines as well as their use in Homeland Security applications. Methods of fabrication of such radiation detectors are described.

An approach for the selection of Compton camera shapes, configurations, positions, orientations, trajectory paths, and detector element sets is provided for collecting data for analysis using the surface integral and integral-of-line-integral methods of reconstruction Compton data. Methods are introduced for (1) selecting one or more imaging lines through a radioactive distribution for which approximations of integrals of radioactivity are to be derived, (2) selecting and using Compton camera relative positions, relative orientations, and detector element sets that “correspond to” the selected imaging lines to collect the needed data; and (3) deriving approximations of integrals of radioactivity along those imaging lines. This methodological approach is used to reconstruct line integrals, cross-sections, local volumes, parallel projections, and cone-beam projections of radioactive distributions.

A single plane Compton telescope uses a coplanar array of detectors to determine the direction of a radiation source. Detector materials and dimensions may have comparable Compton scattering and photoelectric absorption probabilities, so scattered photons have a high probability of escape from the detector in which the initial interaction occurs, while being absorbed in adjacent detectors. Energy information from coincident interactions between two detectors defines a bearing plane that contains the radiation source; by comparing these interactions in two non-parallel directions, the source is localized to a line representing the intersection of two bearing planes. Energies may be summed to determine the initial photon energy. The array may be of a single detector type or an arrangement of different detector types. The array may be a stationary, planar configuration of at least three detectors, or a linear array of at least two detectors that is rotatable within a selected plane.

The invention discloses a multi-gamma photon coincidence imaging system and a multi-gamma photon coincidence imaging method, and belongs to the technical field of emission computed tomography. The system comprises a time coincidence module, a computer platform, at least one first probe consisting of a collimator and a gamma photon detector as well as at least one second probe consisting of front and back Compton camera detectors; and each probe detects multiple gamma photons radiated by radionuclide to form a multi-gamma photon coincidence event. According to the imaging method, the range of the position where the radionuclide decays is shrunk into a plurality of intersection points of a projection line determined by the gamma photon event detected by the first probe in the multi-gamma photon coincidence event as well as a protection conical surface determined by the gamma photon event detected by the second probe, and a certain number of multi-gamma photon coincidence events are accumulated to obtain the images, distributed in the detected range, of the radionuclide. The reconstruction algorithm is simplified, the detection efficiency is improved, the signal-to-noise ratio of thereconstructed image is increased, and demand on the total count of the gamma photons is reduced.

The present invention provides methods and apparatuses for constructing observed data from a Compton camera in order to provide a three-dimensional image of a radiopharmaceutical source distribution within a patient. No intermediate two-dimensional images are formed. Observed data may be analyzed by a processor in order to construct a three-dimensional image representing the source distribution. An idealized mathematical model may express the observed Compton camera data in terms of an integral over the source distribution. An exact analytic inversion is then found for this idealized model. The new analytic solutions arise from a generalization of the integral equation used to model the Compton camera. The kernel of the integral equation is modified by the introduction of an index p that describes the effect of source distance from the camera.

An approach for the selection of Compton camera shapes, configurations, positions, orientations, trajectory paths, and detector element sets is provided for collecting data for analysis using the surface integral and integral-of-line-integral methods of reconstruction Compton data. Methods are introduced for (1) selecting one or more imaging lines through a radioactive distribution for which approximations of integrals of radioactivity are to be derived, (2) selecting and using Compton camera relative positions, relative orientations, and detector element sets that “correspond to” the selected imaging lines to collect the needed data; and (3) deriving approximations of integrals of radioactivity along those imaging lines. This methodological approach is used to reconstruct line integrals, cross-sections, local volumes, parallel projections, and cone-beam projections of radioactive distributions.

A method for the conversion of Compton camera data into a 2D image of the incident-radiation flux on the celestial sphere includes detecting coincident gamma radiation flux arriving from various directions of a 2-sphere. These events are mapped by back-projection onto the 2-sphere to produce a convolution integral that is subsequently stereographically projected onto a 2-plane to produce a second convolution integral which is deconvolved by the Fourier method to produce an image that is then projected onto the 2-sphere.

The invention discloses a scintillator array detector and a three-dimensional position resolution method in Compton scattering imaging. The method comprises the following steps: 1) enabling gamma photons to be incident to the scintillator array detector; 2) determining two-dimensional coordinate information (X, Y) of the action position of the gamma photons in the scintillator array according to the number of the responded photodetector pixel in the photodetector array; and 3) determining third-dimensional coordinate information Z of the action position of the gamma photons in the scintillatorarray according to the amplitude ratio f=X1 / (X1+X2) of output signals (X1, X2) of the responded light detector and a lookup table obtain three-dimensional coordinates (X, Y, Z) of the action positionof the gamma photons, wherein X1 and X2 are corresponding top surface and bottom surface optical detector output signals when gamma photons act on the scintillator strip detection unit i. According to the invention, the detection efficiency of a Compton camera and the imaging precision of the nuclear radiation hot spot are improved.

A method for the conversion of Compton camera data into a 2D image of the incident-radiation flux on the celestial sphere includes detecting coincident gamma radiation flux arriving from various directions of a 2-sphere. These events are mapped by back-projection onto the 2-sphere to produce a convolution integral that is subsequently stereographically projected onto a 2-plane to produce a second convolution integral which is deconvolved by the Fourier method to produce an image that is then projected onto the 2-sphere.

The invention discloses a Compton camera XFCT imaging system and an image reconstruction method thereof.The Compton camera XFCT imaging system comprises a radiation source and two sets of double-layer Compton camera detectors, the two sets of double-layer Compton camera detectors are arranged on the same straight line at intervals, and the radiation source is located beside the straight line; the two sets of double-layer Compton camera detectors are symmetrical about the ray source, and the ray source is a gamma ray source; each of the two sets of double-layer Compton camera detectors comprises a scattering detector and an absorption detector, and the scattering detectors are used for recording Compton scattering positions and deposition energy of recoil electrons; and the absorption detector is used for receiving the scattered photons and recording an absorption position and deposition energy.

The present invention relates to an imaging system and method based on gamma radiation detection, comprising at least one processing unit (5) which analyses at least one signal supplied by at least one set of detection modules (CP, P) mounted on a frame and comprising: at least one Compton-camera-type module having a field of view (CV) directed towards a volume defined by the frame, and at least one pair of coincidence-detection PET modules, positioned diametrically opposite one another on the chassis and defining an imaging axis (A), said processing unit (5) analysing the signal from the Compton-type module in order to determine the intersection between the imaging axis (A) and the field of view (CV) and to determine the optimal locations and / or orientations for the different detection modules (CP, P) on the chassis so that the imaging axis (A) passes through the gamma radiation source in the object (O) to be imaged.

The invention relates to the field of nuclear radiation detection, and provides a Compton camera image reconstruction method and electronic equipment, and the method comprises the steps: collecting multiple event data generated by a target radioactive source in multiple events; for each event in the multiple events, reconstructing the back-projection cone based on a back-projection algorithm according to the event data of the event to obtain coordinate representation of the spatial position of the back-projection cone; determining an initial coordinate of the target radioactive source according to the coordinate representation of the plurality of back projection cones of the multiple events in the plane where the target radioactive source is located; for each event in the multiple events, determining the weight of the event based on the initial coordinate of the target radioactive source and the event data of the event; and utilizing a model based on a maximum likelihood expectation maximum algorithm to perform iterative reconstruction based on the weight of multiple events to obtain a reconstructed image. By means of the method, the spatial resolution and reconstruction efficiency of the image formed by the Compton camera system can be improved.

The present invention concerns a device, system and method of use of a multi-capture Compton camera, characterised by the use of at least two capture centres having separate positions.

A system and method for imaging by gamma radiation detection having at least one processing unit analyzing at least one signal provided by at least one set of detection modules mounted on a frame and including, on the one hand, at least one module of Compton camera type having a field of view directed towards a volume delimited by the frame and, on the other hand, at least one pair of coincidence detection PET modules, diametrically opposite to each other on the frame and defining an imaging axis, the processing unit analyzing the signal derived from the Compton-type module to determine the intersection of the imaging axis with the field of view and to determine the optimal orientations and / or locations of the various detection modules on the frame so that the imaging axis passes through the source of the gamma radiation in the object to be imaged.

The invention relates to the technical field of medical imaging, and discloses an image reconstruction method and device for a Compton camera, computer equipment and a storage medium. Comprising the following steps: acquiring current weight distribution and reference weight distribution corresponding to an imaging plane; real radioactive source simulation is carried out based on the current weight distribution, and simulation weight distribution corresponding to the imaging plane is obtained; updating elements in the current source set according to the simulation weight distribution and the reference weight distribution to obtain an updated source set so as to perform image reconstruction on the Compton camera; wherein elements in the current source set are used for representing radioactive source coordinates corresponding to Compton events occurring in the Compton camera. Therefore, the image reconstruction method capable of improving the imaging quality of the Compton camera is realized, and the reconstructed image can reflect the actual distribution condition of the radioactive source more accurately, so that a reliable basis is provided for real-time monitoring of the boron concentration in the BNCT treatment process.

The invention discloses a method and device for realizing Compton camera reconstruction by constructing a sparse source set matrix, electronic equipment and a storage medium, and the method comprises the steps: converting a high-dimensional space voxel of a radioactive source of a Compton camera into a one-dimensional row vector tag of a corresponding photon event; constructing a two-dimensional sparse source set matrix of all photon events and corresponding one-dimensional row vector labels; and performing iterative reconstruction of one-dimensional random sampling on the two-dimensional sparse source set matrix to obtain a Compton camera reconstruction result. According to the embodiment of the invention, the calculation amount of Compton camera reconstruction is greatly reduced, the calculation complexity is lower, and the time consumption in the high-dimension and high-precision reconstruction of the Compton camera is shorter. Therefore, the problems of large calculation amount, high calculation complexity, long time consumption in calculation and low calculation precision during Compton camera reconstruction in the prior art are solved.

Methods are presented that increase the position resolution and granularity of double sided segmented semiconductor detectors. These methods increase the imaging resolution capability of such detectors, either used as Compton cameras, or as position sensitive radiation detectors in imagers such as SPECT, PET, coded apertures, multi-pinhole imagers, or other spatial or temporal modulated imagers.

To provide a Compton camera capable of identifying the incident angle of gamma rays with high angular resolution.SOLUTION: A multi-column Compton camera 100 comprises: a gamma-ray detection unit 20 having a plurality of columnar sensor units 21, each of which includes a plurality of pixel sensors 22 in which scattering detection pixels 23 for detecting Compton scattering of incident gamma rays are arranged in a lattice pattern and are stacked; and a control circuit 11 that supplies operating power to each pixel sensor 22 in each columnar sensor unit 21 and reads signals from each pixel sensors 22. The plurality of columnar sensor units 21 is arranged in the same direction with ends in the longitudinal direction aligned and spaced apart, and the end surfaces in the longitudinal direction of the plurality of columnar sensor units 21 are flush and exposed to the outside.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 1

The present disclosure concerns a charge-accumulation radiation detector that includes a semiconductor device and specifies an incident time and energy of radiation from a transferred image signal. The radiation detector includes a semiconductor substrate and electrodes disposed on both sides of the semiconductor substrate, and includes a plurality of charge accumulation units inside the semiconductor substrate. The plurality of charge accumulation units is each configured to accumulate charges generated by radiation incident on the semiconductor substrate. The charges accumulated in the charge accumulation units are readable to outside through at least one of the electrodes.

The invention discloses a single-layer Compton camera system and an imaging method, and relates to the technical field of nuclear radiation imaging. The system comprises a single-plane pixel type gamma ray detector used for collecting gamma ray interaction event data, including time information and energy information of each interaction and two-dimensional position information in a detector plane, and forming pixel counting distribution; the shielding structure is arranged on one side of the plane of the detector, is located in a local area of the detector and is used for enabling pixel counting distribution to generate a local counting missing feature when gamma rays are incident from one side where the shielding structure is located; and the judging and imaging module is used for judging a gamma ray incident side based on the local counting missing feature and executing Compton imaging reconstruction in a corresponding hemispherical view field range according to the judged incident side. According to the invention, partitioned omnidirectional imaging can be carried out on the radioactive source under the condition that a detector does not need to act on depth information, and meanwhile, generation of mirror image artifacts is avoided.

Gamma ray detection system comprising a detection module assembly including at least two detection modules configured for positron emission tomography (PET) scanning of a target zone, each detection module comprising a plurality of stacked scintillator plates each having a major surface oriented to generally face the target zone and lateral minor surfaces defining edges of the scintillator plates, a plurality of photon sensors being mounted against said edges layer photon sensor 18a configured to detect a scintillation event in the scintillator plate from a gamma ray incident on the major surface. The gamma ray detection system is further configured to function as a Compton camera, at least one scintillator plate that is not the scintillator plate closest to the target zone being configured as an absorber scintillator plate for said Compton camera.

The invention discloses a Compton camera rapid three-dimensional imaging method and system for a far-field global domain, and relates to the technical field of nuclear radiation detection and application. According to the method, firstly, a Compton camera is used for obtaining respective solid angle distribution of a radioactive source under two spatial position visual angles; constructing two groups of three-dimensional space vectors based on angle distribution of solid angles by taking the central position of a detector of the camera as a starting point; and finally, obtaining three-dimensional position distribution of the radioactive source through intersection of the two groups of vectors. According to the method, the two groups of vectors are intersected, only the distribution and the probability of the intersection points are calculated, and the three-dimensional position distribution of the radioactive source can be obtained without traversing the whole imaging space, so that the computer memory and the calculation time are saved, and the three-dimensional imaging speed of the Compton camera can be remarkably improved.

A Compton camera for medical imaging is divided into segments (11), where each segment (11) includes a part of a scatter detector (12), a part of a capture detector (13), and a part of electronic equipment (14). Different segments (11) can be positioned together to form a Compton camera that is arcuate around a part of a patient space. By using segments (11), any number of segments (11) can be used to cooperate with a multimodal imaging system.

The invention discloses a multi-gamma photon coincidence imaging system and a multi-gamma photon coincidence imaging method, and belongs to the technical field of emission computed tomography. The system comprises a time coincidence module, a computer platform, at least one first probe consisting of a collimator and a gamma photon detector as well as at least one second probe consisting of front and back Compton camera detectors; and each probe detects multiple gamma photons radiated by radionuclide to form a multi-gamma photon coincidence event. According to the imaging method, the range of the position where the radionuclide decays is shrunk into a plurality of intersection points of a projection line determined by the gamma photon event detected by the first probe in the multi-gamma photon coincidence event as well as a protection conical surface determined by the gamma photon event detected by the second probe, and a certain number of multi-gamma photon coincidence events are accumulated to obtain the images, distributed in the detected range, of the radionuclide. The reconstruction algorithm is simplified, the detection efficiency is improved, the signal-to-noise ratio of thereconstructed image is increased, and demand on the total count of the gamma photons is reduced.