Multi-PET Scanner System for Simultaneous Multi-Organ Dynamic Imaging

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Solution Overview

Problem

Commercial PET scanners have a limited axial field of view, making it difficult to perform dynamic imaging of multiple organs simultaneously, which is essential for comparing metabolic changes over time, especially with agents having short half-lives, and are costly to manufacture with a wider field of view.

Innovation Solution

A system comprising multiple PET scanners with adjustable detector rings, mounted on a driving device to move along the axial direction, allowing for simultaneous dynamic acquisition of imaging data from multiple organs, with optional CT scanning for scout image generation and metabolism analysis.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Adaptability or versatility

If a PET scanner has a wide axial field of view to enable simultaneous multi-organ imaging, then the capability to perform dynamic imaging of multiple organs is improved, but the manufacturing cost increases significantly

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvecapability to perform dynamic imaging of multiple organsVSAvoidmanufacturing cost
Core Design Contradiction:
Adaptability or versatilityVSEase of manufacture

Solution Approach 1:

The system divides the wide axial field of view into multiple smaller fields of view by using multiple PET scanner units (e.g., first PET scanner and second PET scanner). Each scanner covers a specific axial region, and together they provide comprehensive multi-organ coverage. This segmentation allows the system to achieve wide FOV capability without requiring a single expensive wide-FOV scanner.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The system combines multiple PET scanner units to function as a unified imaging system. The scanners are coordinated to simultaneously image multiple organs across different axial positions, merging their individual capabilities to achieve the equivalent of a wide-FOV scanner while avoiding the high manufacturing cost of such a device.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #5Merging (Combining)

2Ease of manufacture

If a commercial PET scanner has a limited axial field of view, then the manufacturing cost is reduced, but the ability to perform dynamic imaging of multiple organs simultaneously is compromised

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvemanufacturing costVSAvoidability to perform dynamic imaging of multiple organs
Core Design Contradiction:
Ease of manufactureVSAdaptability or versatility

Solution Approach 1:

Instead of using a single limited-FOV scanner, the system segments the imaging task across multiple scanners, each with a manageable FOV. This allows each scanner to be manufactured at lower cost while the collective system achieves multi-organ dynamic imaging capability.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

Multiple standard PET scanners (with limited FOV) are configured to perform multiple functions by imaging different organ regions simultaneously. The system achieves universality in multi-organ dynamic imaging without requiring specialized wide-FOV hardware.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

3Ease of manufacture

If multiple organs are imaged respectively using a single PET scanner, then the manufacturing cost is reduced, but the imaging results become incomparable due to agent decay

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvemanufacturing costVSAvoidcomparability of imaging results
Core Design Contradiction:
Ease of manufactureVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

Multiple PET scanners are merged into a coordinated system that simultaneously acquires data from multiple organs. This simultaneous acquisition ensures that all organs are imaged at the same time point, eliminating the agent decay issue that would make sequential imaging results incomparable.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #5Merging (Combining)

Solution Approach 2:

The system maintains continuous simultaneous imaging action across multiple organs using multiple scanners. This continuous parallel acquisition ensures that metabolic data from different organs are captured at identical time points, preserving the reliability and comparability of the imaging results throughout the dynamic study.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #20Continuity of useful action

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

Enables cost-effective, simultaneous dynamic imaging of multiple organs, improving the comparison of metabolic changes over time while reducing the need for expensive wide-field-of-view PET scanners.

Implementation Method 1

PET scanning can be used to image the metabolism of tissues of human body

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectGamma ray emission: Radioactive Decay

Implementation Method 2

the system may further include a CT scanner configured to obtain CT scanning data

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectX-ray emission: X-Ray

Data Source

PatentEP3632326B1Medical imaging system and method
Publication Date: 2023.07.05 SHANGHAI UNITED IMAGING HEALTHCARE
  • EP3632326B1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP3632326B1 patent drawingFigure 2A
  • EP3632326B1 patent drawingFigure 2B

AI summary

The present disclosure discloses a system for medical imaging. The system may include an imaging apparatus, wherein the imaging apparatus may include a first PET scanner, a second PET scanner, and a driving device. The system may further include a computing device, wherein the computing device may include a controller and a processor. The controller may determine a first scanning location and a second scanning location. The driving device may drive the first PET scanner and the second PET scanner to move to the first scanning location and the second scanning location, respectively. The first PET scanner and the second PET scanner may obtain first scanning data and second scanning data, respectively. The processor may generate a first image of a first scanning area corresponding to the first scanning location and a second image of a second scanning area corresponding to the second scanning location.