Dynamic Gamma Ray Acquisition Time Control for PET Imaging
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Solution Overview
Problem
In Positron Emission Computed Tomography (PET) imaging, non-uniform gamma ray accumulation across different regions of a subject leads to varying noise levels in PET images, reducing inspection efficiency due to fixed gamma ray acquisition times.
Innovation Solution
A nuclear medicine diagnostic apparatus with processing circuitry that performs prior gamma ray acquisition at multiple positions to calculate and adjust gamma ray acquisition times for each imaging position based on count values, ensuring consistent image quality and improved efficiency.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Productivity
If fixed gamma ray acquisition time is used for each imaging position, then the imaging process is simple and fast, but the noise level becomes non-uniform across different regions, deteriorating inspection efficiency
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies local quality by setting different gamma ray acquisition times for different imaging positions based on the accumulated medicine amount in each region. The processing circuitry calculates and determines optimal acquisition times for each position individually, ensuring that regions with lower medicine accumulation receive longer acquisition times to achieve uniform noise levels across the entire image, thereby resolving the contradiction between inspection efficiency and noise uniformity.
2Manufacturing precision
If gamma ray acquisition time is extended for regions with low medicine accumulation, then noise level uniformity is improved, but the total imaging time increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies preliminary action by performing a preliminary gamma ray acquisition to measure the accumulated medicine amount in each region before the main imaging process. Based on these preliminary measurements, the processing circuitry calculates and determines the optimal acquisition time for each imaging position in advance. This allows the main imaging to proceed with optimized timing, achieving uniform noise levels without unnecessarily extending the total imaging time.
3Loss of time
If uniform gamma ray acquisition time is applied across all positions, then the imaging process is efficient, but regions with high medicine accumulation receive excessive acquisition time, wasting resources
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies parameter changes by dynamically adjusting the gamma ray acquisition time parameter for each imaging position based on the measured medicine accumulation. The processing circuitry calculates acquisition times that are proportional to the inverse of the accumulated medicine amount, ensuring that regions with high accumulation receive shorter times while regions with low accumulation receive longer times. This optimization eliminates wasted acquisition time in high-accumulation regions while maintaining sufficient data quality, thereby improving overall inspection efficiency.
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 approach ensures uniform noise levels across PET images, enhancing inspection efficiency by optimizing gamma ray acquisition times according to regional gamma ray emission, thereby reducing overall imaging time.
Implementation Method 1
PET apparatuses are nuclear medicine imaging apparatuses that acquire data relating to pair annihilation events from a subject to which a medicine labeled with positron emission nuclide is administered
Implementation Method 2
the phenomenon that two photons (two gamma rays) are emitted in opposite directions when a positron emitted from the medicine is connected with an electron and annihilated
Data Source
AI summary
A nuclear medicine diagnostic apparatus according to an embodiment includes processing circuitry configured to perform control to execute gamma ray acquisition for main imaging for a subject, and prior acquisition to acquire gamma rays in a plurality of acquisition positions in the subject prior to the main imaging, calculate values of gamma ray acquisition time for respective imaging positions in the main imaging, based on count values of gamma rays acquired in the prior acquisition, and perform control to execute the main imaging, based on the calculated values of the gamma ray acquisition time for the respective imaging positions.