Nuclear Medicine Imaging System with Independent Rotors
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing hybrid nuclear medicine imaging systems face limitations in rotation speed and weight due to combined gamma and CT systems, leading to increased scanning time and the need for additional corrections between attenuation maps and nuclear medicine images.
Innovation Solution
A nuclear medicine imaging system with a stationary portion and independently rotating gamma and X-ray/CT portions, allowing for separate and adjustable rotation of gamma camera heads and X-ray sources about a central axis, with a retractor or slip ring for data transmission, enabling faster data acquisition and reduced system weight.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Device complexity
If gamma detectors and X-ray portion are mounted on a single rotor, then the system structure is simplified, but the rotation speed is limited and scanning time increases
Solution Approach 1:
The system divides the rotating components into two separate rotors: one for gamma detectors and another for X-ray sources. This segmentation allows each rotor to rotate at optimized speeds independently, resolving the contradiction between structural simplicity and rotation speed by creating a modular architecture that balances both requirements.
Solution Approach 2:
The invention transitions from a single-plane rotation to a multi-plane configuration where gamma detectors and X-ray sources rotate in different planes around the patient. This dimensional change enables independent rotation speeds and eliminates the speed limitation imposed by a single shared rotor while maintaining system integration.
2Speed
If gamma heads and CT portion are mounted on separate gantries, then rotation speed can be optimized, but system weight increases and additional correction is needed
Solution Approach 1:
The invention merges the gamma detector system and X-ray CT system into a single integrated hybrid imaging system with shared infrastructure including a common patient table, control systems, and processing units. This merging reduces overall system weight compared to completely separate gantries while maintaining the benefits of separate optimized rotation through the use of independent rotors within the unified system.
3Speed
If gamma heads and CT portion are mounted on separate gantries, then rotation speed can be optimized, but additional correction and matching between attenuation maps and nuclear medicine images is required
Solution Approach 1:
The system uses asymmetric positioning of gamma detectors and X-ray sources at different angular positions around the patient, with gamma detectors typically positioned at 90-180 degrees from the X-ray source. This asymmetric arrangement, combined with precise timing synchronization, simplifies the correction and matching process by establishing predictable geometric relationships between the two imaging modalities, reducing the complexity of data alignment while allowing independent rotation optimization.
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
This configuration improves the balance, stability, and serviceability of the system, allowing for faster attenuation correction and reduced scanning time while maintaining cost-effectiveness by using a single stationary portion and enabling independent rotation of the NM and AC portions.
Implementation Method 1
At least one gamma camera head is mounted on the NM rotating portion proximate a front side of the stationary portion and is configured to be rotated about a central axis
Implementation Method 2
An AC portion comprises an X-ray source mounted on an AC rotating portion. The X-ray source is configured to be rotated about the central axis
Data Source
AI summary
A nuclear medicine (NM) imaging system having attenuation correction (AC) has a stationary portion having an NM rotating portion mounted thereon. At least one gamma camera head is mounted on the NM rotating portion proximate a front side of the stationary portion and is configured to be rotated about a central axis. An AC portion comprises an X-ray source mounted on an AC rotating portion. The AC rotating portion is mounted proximate a back side of the stationary portion. The X-ray source is configured to be rotated about the central axis.