Gantry-Free SPECT Imaging System for Multimodality Patient Access
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current nuclear medicine imaging systems, such as CT/MRI/PET, require a large field of view (FOV) and cannot be integrated with SPECT systems without interfering with each other's scanning capabilities, limiting simultaneous scanning and patient access.
Innovation Solution
A SPECT scanning system integrated with a patient handling system without a gantry, allowing full access and alignment with other modalities like CT, PET, or MRI, using stationary collimators like rotating acceptance angle or rotating slat collimators to enable scanning without obstructing the FOV of accompanying devices.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Measurement precision
If a gantry-based SPECT system is used to scan patients, then tomographic imaging capability is achieved, but space requirement increases and patient access is restricted
Solution Approach 1:
The patent removes the gantry structure from the SPECT system, extracting the essential scanning function while eliminating the space-consuming and access-blocking component. The detector rotates on a simplified mechanism without requiring a large gantry structure, thereby reducing space requirements and improving patient access while maintaining tomographic imaging capability.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent employs a dynamic rotating detector mechanism that can move between scanning positions and retraction positions. This dynamic design allows the system to achieve tomographic imaging when needed while retracting to allow patient access and accommodate other imaging modalities, effectively resolving the contradiction between imaging capability and space utilization.
2Productivity
If multiple imaging modalities are integrated in a single system, then scanning efficiency improves, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent designs a universal patient positioning and scanning system that can accommodate multiple imaging modalities (SPECT, CT, PET, MRI) through a common infrastructure. The simplified rotating detector mechanism and patient bed system serve as a universal platform that can perform various imaging functions sequentially, improving scanning efficiency while managing complexity through shared components.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent segments the imaging system into modular components: a universal patient handling system, separate detection mechanisms for different modalities, and independent scanning capabilities. This segmentation allows each modality to be optimized independently while sharing common infrastructure, thereby improving overall scanning efficiency without proportionally increasing system complexity.
3Measurement precision
If detectors are positioned to fulfill Orlov conditions for tomography, then imaging quality improves, but patient access and simultaneous scanning capability are reduced
Solution Approach 1:
The patent uses a dynamic rotating detector that can be positioned at different angles to fulfill Orlov conditions for tomographic imaging when patient access is not required. When patient access is needed, the detector can be retracted or repositioned, allowing the system to switch between high-quality imaging mode and patient access mode seamlessly, thus resolving the contradiction between imaging quality and ease of operation.
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
Facilitates efficient use of space and time in hospitals by allowing dual or triple modality imaging without impeding patient access, enabling comprehensive imaging without interfering with other scanning devices.
Implementation Method 1
Collimators are placed in front of the detectors to permit only those beams of radiation emanating along a particular path to pass through to be detected by the detector, so that no scattered or environmental background photons are detected.
Implementation Method 2
Such radiopharmaceuticals produce gamma photon emissions that emanate from the body and one or more detectors are used to detect the emitted gamma photons.
Data Source
AI summary
A system and method of integrating a nuclear medicine imaging device such as a gamma camera with a patient handling system where the nuclear medicine imaging system does not prevent full access to the patient and does not interfere with the field of view of accompanying modalities accommodated by use of the patient handling system.