IMAGING DEVICE, PROCESS OF MANUFACTURING SUCH A DEVICE AND VISUALIZATION METHOD

Abstract

An imaging device for visualizing a radioactive tracer in a human or animal body (6) comprises: a collimator plate (11) having a plurality of pinholes (111); a radiation detector (2) being arranged adjacent to a detector surface (112) of the collimator plate (11) such that radioactive radiation passing at least one of the plurality of pinholes (111) is received by the radiation detector (2); and an image processing unit (3) adapted to evaluate radiation signals obtained by the radiation detector (2) to determine a three dimensional position of at least one radiation source (61) emitting the radioactive radiation and causing the radiation signals.

Claims

1.-47. (canceled)

48. An imaging device for visualizing a radioactive tracer in a human or animal body, comprising: a collimator plate having a plurality of pinholes; a radiation detector being arranged adjacent to a detector surface of the collimator plate such that radioactive radiation passing at least one of the plurality of pinholes is received by the radiation detector; and an image processing unit adapted to evaluate radiation signals obtained by the radiation detector to determine a three dimensional position of at least one radiation source emitting the radioactive radiation and causing the radiation signals.

49. The imaging device of claim 48, comprising a display, wherein the image processing unit is adapted to show the three dimensional position of the at least one radiation source on the display, wherein the image processing unit preferably is adapted to show the three dimensional position of the at least one radiation source on the display in real-time.

50. The imaging device of claim 49, wherein the display comprises a transparent structure which is positionable such that the human or animal body is visible though the transparent structure, and wherein the display preferably comprises eyeglasses having a frame holding a lens as the transparent structure of the display.

51. The imaging device of claim 49, comprising a visual light camera arranged to provide a three dimensional image of at least a section of the human or animal body, wherein the image processing unit is adapted to show the three dimensional position of the at least one radiation source on the three dimensional image of the visual light camera on the display.

52. The imaging device of claim 48, wherein the image processing unit is adapted to calculate probabilities of possible three dimensional positions of the at least one radiation source.

53. The imaging device of claim 48, wherein the image processing unit is adapted to provide a graphical representation reproducing the at least one radiation source at its three dimensional position, wherein the image processing unit preferably is adapted to prepare the radiation signals by applying image processing when evaluating the radiation signals obtained by the radiation detector, and wherein the image processing preferably comprises any combination of denoising and filtering.

54. The imaging device of claim 48, wherein the radiation detector is arranged adjacent to the detector surface of the collimator plate such that radioactive radiation passing the pinholes of the collimator plate unimpededly propagates to the radiation detector.

55. The imaging device of claim 48, comprising a geometric calibration structure stationary to the collimator plate and the image processing unit is adapted to determine a position of the collimator plate with respect to the radiation detector by means of the calibration structure, wherein the geometric calibration structure preferably comprises three geometric elements.

56. The imaging device of claim 48, wherein the plurality of pinholes is non-symmetrically distributed in the collimator plate.

57. The imaging device of claim 48, wherein the collimator plate comprises a number of the pinholes per square centimeter, the number being about 1 or about 2, and/or the collimator plate is monolithic, and/or the collimator plate is made of a material essentially impervious for the radioactive radiation.

58. A method of visualizing a sentinel lymph node of a human or animal patient, comprising: administering a radioactive tracer to the patient; positioning an imaging device according to claim 48 in proximity of the patient, preferably, to be directed to a face, neck or breast of the patient; obtaining radiation signals caused by at least one radiation source emitting radioactive radiation which is induced by the radioactive tracer; evaluating the detected radiation signals; determining a three dimensional position of the at least one radiation source on the basis of the evaluated radiation signals; and displaying the three dimensional position of the at least one radiation source to a user, preferably in real-time and/or, preferably, on a transparent structure which is positioned such that the human or animal body is visible though the transparent structure, wherein the transparent structure preferably is a lens of eyeglasses.

59. The method of claim 58, wherein the radiation signals are provided by a radiation detector of the imaging device.

60. The method of claim 58, wherein the radiation signals are evaluated by an image processing unit of the imaging device and the three dimensional position of the at least one radiation source is determined by the image processing unit of the imaging device.

61. The method of claim 58, further comprising overlaying signals of a visible light camera with the determined three dimensional position of the at least one radiation source.

62. The method of claim 58, wherein determining the three dimensional position of the at least one radiation source comprises calculating probabilities of possible three dimensional positions of the at least one radiation source.

63. The method of claim 58, wherein displaying the three dimensional position to a user comprises providing a graphical representation reproducing the at least one radiation source at its three dimensional position, and/or preparing the radiation signals by applying image processing when evaluating the radiation signals obtained by the radiation detector of the imaging device, wherein the image processing preferably comprises any combination of denoising and filtering.

64. The method of claim 58, further comprising determining a position of a collimator plate of the imaging device with respect to the radiation detector of the imaging device by means of a geometric calibration structure stationary to the collimator plate.

65. The method of claim 58, wherein a collimator plate of the imaging device has an exposure surface opposite a detector surface and the exposure surface is unimpededly exposed to the radioactive radiation of the at least one radiation source.

66. A process of manufacturing an imaging device for visualizing a radioactive tracer in a human or animal body, comprising: obtaining a preferably monolithic collimator plate having a plurality of pinholes and, preferably, made of a material essentially impervious for the radioactive radiation; arranging a radiation detector adjacent to a detector surface of the collimator plate such that radioactive radiation passing at least one of the plurality of pinholes is received by the radiation detector; adapting an image processing unit to evaluate radiation signals obtained by the radiation detector to determine a three dimensional position of at least one radiation source emitting the radioactive radiation and causing the radiation signals; and assembling the collimator plate, the radiation detector and the image processing unit.

67. The process of claim 66, further comprising: obtaining a display and adapting the image processing unit to show the three dimensional position of the at least one radiation source on the display, wherein the image processing unit is adapted to show the three dimensional position of the at least one radiation source on the display in real-time, and/or wherein the display comprises a transparent structure which is positionable such that the human or animal body is visible though the transparent structure, wherein the display preferably comprises eyeglasses having a frame holding a lens as the transparent structure of the display.

68. The process of claim 66, further comprising: obtaining a visual light camera, arranging the visual light camera to provide a three dimensional image of at least a section of the human or animal body, and adapting the image processing unit to show the three dimensional position of the at least one radiation source on the three dimensional image of the visual light camera on the display; and/or adapting the image processing unit to calculate probabilities of possible three dimensional positions of the at least one radiation source; and/or adapting the image processing unit to provide a graphical representation reproducing the at least one radiation source at its three dimensional position; and/or adapting the image processing unit to prepare the radiation signals by applying image processing when evaluating the radiation signals obtained by the radiation detector, wherein the image processing preferably comprises any combination of denoising and filtering; and/or providing the collimator plate with an exposure surface opposite the detector surface, wherein the exposure surface is unimpededly exposable to the radioactive radiation of the at least one radiation source; and/or providing a geometric calibration structure stationary to the collimator plate and adapting the image processing unit to determine a position of the collimator plate with respect to the radiation detector, wherein the geometric calibration structure preferably comprises three geometric elements; and/or non-symmetrically distributing the plurality of pinholes in the collimator plate; and/or equipping the collimator plate with a number of pinholes per square centimeter, the number being at least 2, or in a range of 2 to about 20, or in a range of about 5 to about 10.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0062] The imaging device, the visualization method and the process of manufacture according to the invention are described in more detail below by way of an exemplary embodiment and with reference to the attached drawings, in which:

[0063] FIG. 1 shows a perspective view of a collimator of an embodiment of an imaging device according to the invention;

[0064] FIG. 2 shows a front view of the collimator of FIG. 1; and

[0065] FIG. 3 shows the imaging device of FIG. 1 in operation.

DESCRIPTION OF EMBODIMENTS

[0066] In the following description certain terms are used for reasons of convenience and are not intended to limit the invention. The terms right, left, up, down, under and above refer to directions in the figures. The terminology comprises the explicitly mentioned terms as well as their derivations and terms with a similar meaning. Also, spatially relative terms, such as beneath, below, lower, above, upper, proximal, distal, and the like, may be used to describe one element's or feature's relationship to another element or feature as illustrated in the figures. These spatially relative terms are intended to encompass different positions and orientations of the devices in use or operation in addition to the position and orientation shown in the figures. For example, if a device in the figures is turned over, elements described as below or beneath other elements or features would then be above or over the other elements or features. Thus, the exemplary term below can encompass both positions and orientations of above and below. The devices may be otherwise oriented (rotated 90 degrees or at other orientations), and the spatially relative descriptors used herein interpreted accordingly. Likewise, descriptions of movement along and around various axes include various special device positions and orientations.

[0067] To avoid repetition in the figures and the descriptions of the various aspects and illustrative embodiments, it should be understood that many features are common to many aspects and embodiments. Omission of an aspect from a description or figure does not imply that the aspect is missing from embodiments that incorporate that aspect. Instead, the aspect may have been omitted for clarity and to avoid prolix description. In this context, the following applies to the rest of this description: If, in order to clarify the drawings, a figure contains reference signs which are not explained in the directly associated part of the description, then it is referred to previous or following description sections. Further, for reason of lucidity, if in a drawing not all features of a part are provided with reference signs it is referred to other drawings showing the same part. Like numbers in two or more figures represent the same or similar elements.

[0068] FIG. 1 shows a collimator 1 of an embodiment of an imaging device according to the invention. It comprises a rectangular collimator plate 11 and collimator box 12 as box-like structure. The collimator plate 11 has a detector surface 112 and a plurality of pinholes 111. The collimator box 12 has four rectangular sidewalls 121. It extends from the detector surface 112 of the collimator plate 11 and has an open end 122 opposite to the collimator plate 11. In the Figs. the side walls 121 are transparently depicted in order to allow seeing the interior or the collimator box 12. Typically, the sidewalls 121 are in fact not transparent.

[0069] As can be best seen in FIG. 2, the pinholes 111 are non-symmetrically distributed in the collimator plate 11. They can form an irregular pattern on an exposure surface 113 of the collimator plate 11 which pattern can be random or calculated by a suitable algorithm. The pinholes 111 are provided as bores straightly extending from the exposure surface 113 to the detector surface 112 through the collimator plate 11.

[0070] Turning back to FIG. 1, the collimator 1 further is equipped with a geometric calibration structure 13 which comprises three rectangles 131. Each of the rectangles is positioned in one angle of the open end 122 of the collimator box 12.

[0071] In FIG. 3 the imaging device is shown in operation. Besides the collimator 1 it comprises a detector 2, a computer 3 as image processing unit and augmented reality eyeglasses (AR glasses) 4 as display. The detector 2 has a generally rectangular shape and is positioned adjacent to the collimator box 12 of the collimator 1. In particular, it faces the open end 122 of the collimator box 12 such that radiation passing the pinholes 111 of the collimator plate 11 and escaping the open end 122 of the collimator box 12 unhinderedly reaches the detector 2. Thus, the detector 2 is unimpededly exposed to the radiation traveling through the collimator 1.

[0072] In one particular example, the detector 2 is a gamma detector with a resolution of 487195 pixels, where each pixel is the size of 172 m172 m. The detector 2 has a density of 19.25 g/cm.sup.3 Tungsten in the dimensions of 86.9 mm36 mm36 mm.

[0073] The computer 3 is a desktop computer comprising a central processing unit (CPU), a random access memory (RAM), a read only memory (ROM), a hard disk as data storage, a monitor, a keyboard, a plurality of wired and wireless hardware interfaces such as a local area network (LAN) adapter, a wireless local area network adapter (WLAN), a Bluetooth module, an universal serial bus (USB) and the like, and a mouse. The computer 3 is connected to the detector 2 by a detector interface 31 and to the AR glasses by a AR glasses interface 32. The detector interface 31 and the AR glasses interface 32 are embodied in a suitable wired or wireless manner.

[0074] The imaging device is embodied to be used for visualizing a sentinel lymph node of a human patient 6. Thereby, a radioactive tracer is administered to the patient 6. The tracer is then drained through the lymphatic system in particular in the lymph nodes 61 of the patient 6. The first lymph node 61 after the tumor can then be recognized as the one with the highest radioactive radiation. This lymph node is then excised and checked for cancerous tissue. If cancerous tissue is present all lymph nodes in the vicinity are removed, if not, no further lymph nodes are recised.

[0075] Then, the imaging device is positioned in proximity of the patient 6 by arranging the collimator 1 together with the detector 2 at the patient 6 and particularly at the patient 6 where the lymph nodes 61 are assumed. The radioactive radiation in the lymph nodes 61 passes the pinholes 111 of the collimator plate 11 and passes through the collimator box 12 to the detector 2. The detector 2 provides radiation signals which are transferred to the computer 3 via the detector interface 31.

[0076] The computer 3 runs a computer program or software. The software adapts the computer to evaluate the radiation signals provided by the detector 2 to determine a three dimensional position or distribution of the radioactive tracer in the lymph nodes 61.

[0077] In more detail, for preparing the imaging device by calibration, the computer 3 is adapted by the software to determine a position of the collimator plate 11 with respect to the detector 2 by means of the rectangles 131 being stationary to the collimator plate 11. After being calibrated in this way, the computer 3 evaluates the radiation signals by calculating probabilities of possible three dimensional positions or distributions of the tracer in the lymph nodes 61. When evaluating the radiation signals, the computer 3 prepares them or the results of the probabilities calculation by applying image processing. In particular, denoising and filtering is performed by the computer 3. As a further step of the evaluation of the radiation signals, the computer 3 selects three dimensional positions having the highest probability of the real possible three dimensional positions of the lymph nodes 61.

[0078] The computer then provides graphical representations 42 reproducing the tracer distribution in the lymph nodes 61 at their three dimensional positions. It transfers graphical representation data signals corresponding to the graphical representations 42 of the lymph nodes 61 to the AR glasses 4 via the AR glasses interface 32.

[0079] A practitioner 5 or surgeon carries the AR glasses 4. The AR glasses 4 have a transparent lens. Through the lens, the practitioner sees the patient 6 wherein the AR glasses 4 provide the graphical representations 42 on the lens. Like this, the practitioner 5 sees an augmented view 41 of the patient 6.

[0080] This description and the accompanying drawings that illustrate aspects and embodiments of the present invention should not be taken as limiting-the claims defining the protected invention. In other words, while the invention has been illustrated and described in detail in the drawings and foregoing description, such illustration and description are to be considered illustrative or exemplary and not restrictive. Various mechanical, compositional, structural, electrical, and operational changes may be made without departing from the spirit and scope of this description and the claims. In some instances, well-known circuits, structures and techniques have not been shown in detail in order not to obscure the invention. Thus, it will be understood that changes and modifications may be made by those of ordinary skill within the scope and spirit of the following claims. In particular, the present invention covers further embodiments with any combination of features from different embodiments described above and below.

[0081] The disclosure also covers all further features shown in the Figs. individually although they may not have been described in the afore or following description. Also, single alternatives of the embodiments described in the figures and the description and single alternatives of features thereof can be disclaimed from the subject matter of the invention or from disclosed subject matter. The disclosure comprises subject matter consisting of the features defined in the claims or the exemplary embodiments as well as subject matter comprising said features.

[0082] Furthermore, in the claims the word comprising does not exclude other elements or steps, and the indefinite article a or an does not exclude a plurality. A single unit or step may fulfill the functions of several features recited in the claims. The mere fact that certain measures are recited in mutually different dependent claims does not indicate that a combination of these measures cannot be used to advantage. The terms essentially, about, approximately and the like in connection with an attribute or a value particularly also define exactly the attribute or exactly the value, respectively.

[0083] The term about in the context of a given numerate value or range refers to a value or range that is, e.g., within 20%, within 10%, within 5%, or within 2% of the given value or range. Components described as coupled or connected may be electrically or mechanically directly coupled, or they may be indirectly coupled via one or more intermediate components. Any reference signs in the claims should not be construed as limiting the scope.

[0084] A computer program may be stored/distributed on a suitable medium, such as an optical storage medium or a solid-state medium supplied together with or as part of other hardware, but may also be distributed in other forms, such as via the Internet or other wired or wireless telecommunication systems. In particular, e.g., a computer program can be a computer program product stored on a computer readable medium which computer program product can have computer executable program code adapted to be executed to implement a specific method such as the visualization method according to the invention. Furthermore, a computer program can also be a data structure product or a signal for embodying a specific method such as the method according to the invention.