Patent classifications
A61B6/037
Method and apparatus to use a broad-spectrum energy source to correct a nonlinear energy response of a gamma-ray detector
A method and apparatus are provided for nonlinear energy correction of a gamma-ray detector using a calibration spectrum acquired from the background radiation of lutetium isotope 176 (Lu-176) present in scintillators in the gamma-ray detector. Further, by periodically acquiring Lu-176 spectra using the background radiation from the scintillators, the nonlinear energy correction can be monitored to detect when changes in the gamma-ray detector cause the detector to go out of calibration, and then use a newly acquired Lu-176 spectrum to update the calibration of the nonlinear energy correction as needed. The detector calibration is performed by comparing a reference histogram to a calibration histogram generated using the nonlinear energy correction, and adjusting the parameters of the nonlinear energy correction until the two histograms match. Alternatively, the detector calibration is performed by comparing reference and calibration values for specific spectral features, rather than for the whole Lu-176 spectrum.
AIR COOLED PET SCANNER GANTRY
Provided is a PET scanner system having a PET scanner gantry that is configured for delivering a uniformly distributed cooling air to a plurality of detectors housed in the PET scanner gantry. The PET scanner gantry includes a cooling air delivery manifold that includes a patient tunnel portion; and a front funnel portion. The front funnel portion includes an annular interior wall defining an entry opening of the patient tunnel portion; and an air plenum has an annular structure for carrying a flow of pressurized cooling air received from a remote source supplements the pressurized cooling air with a supply of ambient air and directs it to the plurality of detectors.
CLASSIFICATION OF ORGAN OF INTEREST SHAPES FOR AUTOSEGMENTATION QUALITY ASSURANCE
Embodiments described herein provide for receiving a second image comprising an overlay depicting an organ-at-risk (OAR) segmentations. The overlay is generated by a first machine learning model based on a first image depicting the anatomical region of a current patient. A second machine learning model receives the second image and set of third images depicting prior patient OAR segmentations on which the second machine learning model was trained. The second machine learning model classifies the second image as one of a set of class names and characterizes the extent to which the second image is similar to, or dissimilar to, images with the same class name in the set of third images. The characterization may be based on outputs of internal layers of the second machine learning model. Dimensionality reduction may be performed on the outputs of the internal layers to present the outputs in a form comprehendible by humans.
CURVED COUCH TOPS FOR O-RING TREATMENT UNITS
A radiation system employs a couch top rotatable about a yaw axis to provide non-coplanar irradiation of a patient in an O-ring type of radiation machine. The radiation machine includes a source operable to produce radiation and a housing enclosing the source. The housing defines a bore and the source is rotatable at least partially around the bore. The couch top is adapted to be rotatable about a yaw axis, thereby allowing non-coplanar irradiation of at least a portion of the patient by the source. A radiation method is also provided.
Stationary source computed tomography and CT-MRI systems
The present invention provides stationary CT architecture for imaging at a faster temporal resolution and lower radiation dose. In embodiments, the architecture features stationary distributed x-ray sources and rotating x-ray detectors. Provided is a stationary source computed tomography (CT) architecture comprising: a detector disposed on a rotatable gantry; an x-ray source disposed on a fixed ring; wherein the detector is disposed on the gantry in a manner such that the detector is capable of rotating around a subject and of receiving a signal from the x-ray source. Embodiments of the invention include a CT-MRI scanner comprising the stationary CT architecture.
18F labeled amino acids, derivatives thereof and method of making same
The present invention provides .sup.18F-labeled amino acids or derivatives thereof having formula (I) and methods of making same, which can be suitable for PET imaging: ##STR00001##
Systems and methods for image quality enhancement for multi-head camera
A nuclear medicine (NM) multi-head imaging system is provided that includes a gantry, plural detector units mounted to the gantry, and at least one processor. The at least one processor is operably coupled to at least one of the detector units, and configured to acquire, via the detector units, imaging information. The imaging information includes edge information and interior information. The edge information corresponds to a contour boundary of tissue and the interior information corresponds to an intermediate portion of the tissue. The least one processor is configured to control the detector units to acquire a proportionally larger amount of imaging information for the contour boundary than for the intermediate portion.
Systems and methods for determining a target position of a scanning table
A system and method for positioning a scanning table are provided. The method may include obtaining a body length of an object; and determining the number of table positions for scanning the object based on a length of each scanning region of the scanning table, an initial length of an overlapping region of the scanning table at two adjacent table positions, and the body length of the object.
Systems and methods for automated and interactive analysis of bone scan images for detection of metastases
Presented herein are systems and methods that provide for improved computer aided display and analysis of nuclear medicine images. In particular, in certain embodiments, the systems and methods described herein provide improvements to several image processing steps used for automated analysis of bone scan images for assessing cancer status of a patient. For example, improved approaches for image segmentation, hotspot detection, automated classification of hotspots as representing metastases, and computation of risk indices such as bone scan index (BSI) values are provided.
Transport cart for nuclear medicine/molecular imaging radioisotopes having enhanced safety features and a process implementing the same
The disclosure relates to a medical imaging supply transport cart having enhanced safety features and a process implementing the same. The medical imaging supply transport cart includes a support surface configured to support medical imaging supplies, the support surface further configured to support a support mechanism, and the support mechanism further configured to support the medical imaging supplies. The support mechanism further configured to rigidly hold the medical imaging supplies with a first holding mechanism, the medical imaging supplies configured to store at least one dose of a nuclear medicine, a plurality of wheels arranged below the support surface, at least one door configured to enclose the medical imaging supplies, and a handle configured to be grasped by a user to guide the medical imaging supply transport cart.