US4782233A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Multifield collimator system and method and radionuclide emission tomography camera using same
Assignee: Digital Scintigraphics Inc
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Filing: 1986-06-20
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Granted: 1988-11-01
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Expires: 2006-06-20
Abstract
Abstract A multifield collimator system and radionuclide emission tomography camera using same which include at least two collimator segments whose fields of view in combination define at least two tomographic field of view boundaries. At least one of the boundaries encompasses the region to be imaged of an object. The fields of view may overlap at least in part to produce enhanced imaging sensitivity in the portion of overlap. The tomography camera detects radionuclide emissions from the region to collect at least one collimated image through each segment and combines the collimated images to produce a final image of the region exhibiting enhanced sensitivity in the portion of overlap. A multifield method of collimation is also disclosed.
Inventors
- 👤 Sebastian Genna
- 👤 Andrew P. Smith
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-02 15:18
CPC Classifications
G; G01; G01T; G01T1/00; G01T1/29; G01T1/2914; G01T1/2985; G21; G21K; G21K1/00; G21K1/02; G21K1/025
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 36
Claim 1
Independent Claim
121 words
A radionuclide emission tomography camera for imaging a region of an object, comprising: at least two collimator segments whose fields of view overlap at least in part and in combination define at least two tomographic field of view boundaries, at least one of said boundaries encompassing the region to be imaged, and at least one of the other of said boundaries disposed within said encompassing boundary and interior to the outer portion of the region; means responsive to said collimator segments for detecting radionuclide emissions from the region to collect at least one collimated image through each segment; and means for combining said collimated images to produce a final image of the region exhibiting enhanced sensitivity in the portion of overlap.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
121 words
A radionuclide emission tomography camera for imaging a region of an object, comprising: at least two collimator segments whose fields of view overlap at least in part and in combination define at least two tomographic field of view boundaries, at least one of said boundaries encompassing the region to be imaged, and at least one of the other of said boundaries disposed within said encompassing boundary and interior to the outer portion of the region; means responsive to said collimator segments for detecting radionuclide emissions from the region to collect at least one collimated image through each segment; and means for combining said collimated images to produce a final image of the region exhibiting enhanced sensitivity in the portion of overlap.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
14 words
The tomography camera of claim 1 further including means for rotating said collimator segments.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
27 words
The tomography camera of claim 2 in which said collimator segments have a common axis of rotation and said boundaries are concentric about said axis of rotation.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
38 words
The tomography camera of claim 2 in which said means for rotating moves said collimator segments to successive positions about the region and said means for combining includes means for matching together images collected at the same position.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
32 words
The tomography camera of claim 4 in which said means for matching adds together collimated images collected at each position through said collimator segments when each segment is centered at that position.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
111 words
A radionuclide emission tomography camera for imaging a region of an object, comprising: at least two collimator segments whose fields of view in combination define at least one tomographic field of view boundary, said boundary encompassing the region to be imaged; a third collimator segment having a field of view which overlaps a portion of at least one of the other said fields of view; means responsive to said collimator segments for detecting radionuclide emissions from the region to collect at least one collimated image through each segment; and means for combining said collimated images to produce a final image of the region exhibiting enhanced sensitivity in said portion of overlap.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
111 words
A radionuclide emission tomography camera for imaging a region of an object, comprising: at least two collimator segments whose fields of view in combination define at least one tomographic field of view boundary, said boundary encompassing the region to be imaged; a third collimator segment having a field of view which overlaps a portion of at least one of the other said fields of view; means responsive to said collimator segments for detecting radionuclide emissions from the region to collect at least one collimated image through each segment; and means for combining said collimated images to produce a final image of the region exhibiting enhanced sensitivity in said portion of overlap.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
76 words
A multifield collimator system for use in a radionuclide emission tomography camera to image a region of an object, comprising at least two collimator segments whose fields of view in combination define at least two tomographic field of view boundaries, at least one of said boundaries encompassing the region to be imaged, and at least one of the other of said boundaries disposed within said encompassing boundary and interior to the outer portion of the region.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
76 words
A multifield collimator system for use in a radionuclide emission tomography camera to image a region of an object, comprising at least two collimator segments whose fields of view in combination define at least two tomographic field of view boundaries, at least one of said boundaries encompassing the region to be imaged, and at least one of the other of said boundaries disposed within said encompassing boundary and interior to the outer portion of the region.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
20 words
The collimator system of claim 7 in which said fields of view of said collimators overlap at least in part.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
18 words
The collimator system of claim 8 in which said collimators enhance imaging sensitivity in the portion of overlap.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
24 words
The collimator system of claim 7 in which the field of view of one of said collimators completely overlaps that of the other collimator.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
20 words
The collimator system of claim 10 in which said other, overlapped collimator enhances imaging sensitivity throughout its field of view.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
20 words
The collimator system of claim 7 in which said collimator segments are rotatable and have a common axis of rotation.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
17 words
The collimator system of claim 12 in which said boundaries are concentric about said axis of rotation.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
17 words
The collimator system of claim 12 in which said collimator segments define said boundaries as closed curves.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
17 words
The collimator system of claim 7 in which said collimator segments are segments of a planar collimator.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
19 words
The collimator system of claim 15 in which said collimator segments are translatable toward or away from the region.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
17 words
The collimator system of claim 7 in which said collimator segments are segments of an arcuate collimator.
Claim 21
Dependent Claim
19 words
The collimator system of claim 17 in which said collimator segments are translatable toward or away from the region.
Claim 22
Dependent Claim
21 words
The collimator system of claim 7 in which said collimator segments define at least one boundary which encompasses the entire object.
Claim 23
Dependent Claim
19 words
The collimator system of claim 7 in which at least one of said collimator segments exhibits uniform imaging sensitivity.
Claim 24
Dependent Claim
19 words
The collimator system of claim 7 in which at least one of said collimator segments exhibits non-uniform imaging sensitivity.
Claim 25
Dependent Claim
19 words
The system of claim 7 in which at least one of said collimator segments is a parallel type collimator.
Claim 26
Dependent Claim
19 words
The system of claim 7 in which at least one of said collimator segments is a converging type collimator.
Claim 27
Dependent Claim
19 words
The system of claim 7 in which at least one of said collimator segments is a diverging type collimator.
Claim 28
Dependent Claim
18 words
The collimator system of claim 7 in which said collimator segments are segments of an annular rotating collimator.
Claim 29
Dependent Claim
79 words
A multifield collimator system for use in a radionuclide emission tomography camera to image an object, comprising: at least two collimator segments whose fields of view in combination define at least one tomographic field of view boundary, said boundaries encompassing the region to be imaged; and a third collimator segment having a field of view which overlaps a portion of at least one of the other said fields of view to enhance imaging sensitivity in said portion of overlap.
Claim 30
Dependent Claim
79 words
A multifield collimator system for use in a radionuclide emission tomography camera to image an object, comprising: at least two collimator segments whose fields of view in combination define at least one tomographic field of view boundary, said boundaries encompassing the region to be imaged; and a third collimator segment having a field of view which overlaps a portion of at least one of the other said fields of view to enhance imaging sensitivity in said portion of overlap.
Claim 31
Dependent Claim
73 words
A multifield collimator system for a radionuclide emission tomography camera comprising at least two collimator segments, one of said collimator segments having a field of view at least as large as an object to be imaged, and the other of said collimator segments having a field of view smaller than the object, for enhancing imaging sensitivity in those regions of the object in which the fields of view of said collimator segments overlap.
Claim 32
Dependent Claim
73 words
A multifield collimator system for a radionuclide emission tomography camera comprising at least two collimator segments, one of said collimator segments having a field of view at least as large as an object to be imaged, and the other of said collimator segments having a field of view smaller than the object, for enhancing imaging sensitivity in those regions of the object in which the fields of view of said collimator segments overlap.
Claim 33
Dependent Claim
85 words
A multifield method of collimation for a radionuclide emission tomography camera to image a region of an object, comprising: aligning two fields of view relative to the region to define in combination at least two tomographic field of view boundaries, at least one of the boundaries encompassing the region, and at least one of the other of said boundaries disposed within said encompassing boundary and interior to the outer portion of the region; and detecting within the fields of view emission signals from the region.
Claim 34
Dependent Claim
85 words
A multifield method of collimation for a radionuclide emission tomography camera to image a region of an object, comprising: aligning two fields of view relative to the region to define in combination at least two tomographic field of view boundaries, at least one of the boundaries encompassing the region, and at least one of the other of said boundaries disposed within said encompassing boundary and interior to the outer portion of the region; and detecting within the fields of view emission signals from the region.
Claim 35
Dependent Claim
19 words
The method of claim 28 in which the fields of view are aligned to overlap at least in part.
Claim 36
Dependent Claim
17 words
The method of claim 29 in which enhanced imaging sensitivity is produced in the portion of overlap.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1991-11-01 | 1992-05-02 | 1992-11-01 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1995-11-01 | 1996-05-02 | 1996-11-01 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1999-11-01 | 2000-05-02 | 2000-11-01 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |