606 results about "Positron emission" patented technology

For diagnosis and treatment of cardiac disease, images of the heart muscle and coronary vessels are captured using different medical imaging modalities; e.g., single photon emission computed tomography (SPECT), positron emission tomography (PET), electron-beam X-ray computed tomography (CT), magnetic resonance imaging (MRI), or ultrasound (US). For visualizing the multi-modal image data, the data is presented using a technique of volume rendering, which allows users to visually analyze both functional and anatomical cardiac data simultaneously. The display is also capable of showing additional information related to the heart muscle, such as coronary vessels. Users can interactively control the viewing angle based on the spatial distribution of the quantified cardiac phenomena or atherosclerotic lesions.

A gamma ray detector ring for a combined positron emission tomography (PET) and magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) system is integrated into a radio frequency (RF) coil assembly such that the detector ring is integrated with a RF shield. Each gamma ray detector in the detector ring includes a scintillator component that emits light when a gamma ray is detected and a photodetector component designed to be sensitive to the frequency of light produced by the scintillator. A RF shield may be integrated into a detector ring such that the RF shield is positioned between the scintillator and photodetector components of each detector, thereby saving valuable radial space within the imaging system. Multiple such detector rings may be located adjacent to one another to increase axial coverage and enable three-dimensional PET imaging techniques.

A method and compositions are described for labeling a targeting agent with Ga-68, in which eluate from an acid-eluted Ge-68/Ga-68 generator is combined with a macrocycle-containing targetable agent. The labeling method and compositions disclosed ensure that a simple elution of gallium-68, taken directly from a generator, can be used without further manipulation to quantitatively label a macrocycle-containing targetable agent. The Ga-68 labeled targeting agent so produced is useful with specific targeting agents, and is most especially useful in a pretargeting method for positron emission tomographic detection.

Method and apparatus for real-time tracking of a target in a human body. In one embodiment of the invention, positron emission marker may be implanted into a target, the positron emission marker having a low activity positron isotope. In one embodiment, annihilation gamma rays associated with the low activity positron isotope may be detected using a plurality of position-sensitive detectors. In another embodiment, the target may be tracked in real-time based on a position of the positron emission marker.

This disclosure presents an improved method for registering anatomical medical images and functional medical images. The example deals with the registration of x-ray computer tomography images with positron emission tomography images. The process is characterized by clinically useful registration with minimal computer calculations and minimal delay for computation. A nonrigid B-Spline free form deformation is used in both a preliminary coarse registration and the finished fine registration. Additional steps are used to insure accurate and complete registrations.

An apparatus comprising a radiation source, coincident positron emission detectors configured to detect coincident positron annihilation emissions originating within a coordinate system, and a controller coupled to the radiation source and the coincident positron emission detectors, the controller configured to identify coincident positron annihilation emission paths intersecting one or more volumes in the coordinate system and align the radiation source along an identified coincident positron annihilation emission path.

Apparatus and methods for three dimensional image reconstruction from data acquired in a positron emission tomograph (PET). This invention uses a parallel/pipelined architecture for processing the acquired data as it is acquired from the scanner. The asynchronously acquired data is synchronously stepped through the stages performing histogramming, normalization, transmission/attenuation, Mu image reconstruction, attenuation correction, rebinning, image reconstruction, scatter correction, and image display.

Systems, methods and apparatus are provided through which a non-procedural image annotation template is translated into source code, and compiled into an image annotation executable that has native computer instructions for an imaging system. In some embodiments, an image viewer on the imaging system accesses the native instructions and invokes the native instructions to annotate an image with text information. In some embodiments, the imaging system is a magnetic resonance, computer tomography, X-ray, ultrasound, or positron emission tomography imaging system.

A method and system for integrating radiological and pathological information for cancer diagnosis, therapy selection, and monitoring is disclosed. A radiological image of a patient, such as a magnetic resonance (MR), computed tomography (CT), positron emission tomography (PET), or ultrasound image, is received. A location corresponding to each of one or more biopsy samples is determined in the at least one radiological image. An integrated display is used to display a histological image corresponding to the each biopsy samples, the radiological image, and the location corresponding to each biopsy samples in the radiological image. Pathological information and radiological information are integrated by combining features extracted from the histological images and the features extracted from the corresponding locations in the radiological image for cancer grading, prognosis prediction, and therapy selection.

A method for reducing image-based artifacts in combined positron emission tomography and computed tomography (PET/CT) scans. The method includes identifying pixels in a CT image having a large HU value, identifying a region surrounding the pixels, and modifying a value of each pixel within the region.

A Positron Emission Tomography (PET) detector assembly includes a cold plate having a first side and an opposite second side, the cold plate being fabricated from a thermally conductive and electrically non-conductive material, a plurality of PET detector units coupled to the first side of the cold plate, and a readout electronics section coupled to the second side of the cold plate. A radio frequency (RF) body coil assembly and a dual-modality imaging system are also described herein.

An image reconstruction method comprising accepting coincidence datat from either a data file or in real time from a pair of detector heads, culling event data that is outside a desired energy range, optionally saving the desired data for each detector position or for each pair of detector pixels on the two detector heads, and then reconstructing the image either by backprojection image reconstruction or by iterative image reconstruction. In the backprojection image reconstruction mode, rays are traced between centers of lines of response (LOR's), counts are then either allocated by nearest pixel interpolation or allocated by an overlap method and then corrected for geometric effects and attenuation and the data file updated. If the iterative image reconstruction option is selected, one implementation is to compute a grid Siddon retracing, and to perform maximum likelihood expectation maiximization (MLEM) computed by either: a) tracing parallel rays between subpixels on opposite detector heads; or b) tracing rays between randomized endpoint locations on opposite detector heads.

A nuclear medicine diagnostic apparatus is provided that can improve time resolution and energy resolution and diagnosing accuracy by enhancing radiation detectors in terms of moisture-proofing and dust-proofing effects while efficiently cooling the radiation detectors. The apparatus has a first region A in which radiation detectors are to be accommodated, and a second region B in which signal processors are to be accommodated. These regions are provided inside a housing member 5 via an adiabatic member 7. The housing member 5 also has a ventilation port 8 formed to communicate with the first region A and equipped with an anti-dust filter. Ventilation holes 34 are formed to communicate with the first region B and serving as entrances for cooling air. Unit fans 33 serve as exits for the cooling air.

A medical imaging system is provided including a positron emission tomography (PET) imaging apparatus and a computed tomography (CT) imaging apparatus. The CT imaging apparatus includes a rotatable gantry. A radioactive source loader is attached to the rotatable gantry to rotate therewith. The radioactive source loader further includes a radioactive source to calibrate the PET imaging apparatus.

Activity-based probes, which are specific for certain active cysteine proteases (caspase, cathepsin and legumain) and carry radioactive labels, are disclosed. The present probes comprise an acyloxymethyketone (AOMK) “warhead” that binds only to active enzyme. The probes further comprise peptide-like structure that targets the probe to a specific cysteine protease or protease family, and a radiolabel on the probe, which is bound to the targeted enzyme. It has been found that the present probes are stable in vivo and give specific target images distinguishable over background. The preferred probes are labeled with a positron-emitting agent such as ⁶⁴Cu, ¹²⁵I (SPECT) and ^99mTc (PET). The probes show in vivo half-life and stability well suited for imaging.