MECHANICAL LINKAGE SYSTEM OF PET AND CT/MRI AND LINKAGE SCANNING METHOD THEREOF

Abstract

A mechanical linkage system of PET and CT/MRI and a linkage scanning method thereof are disclosed. According to an example of the disclosure, the mechanical linkage system includes a PET host, a CT/MRI host, a scanning bed, and a moving system. The PET host includes a PET detector installed in a PET detector fixing plate and configured to form a positron emission computed tomography image. The CT/MRI host has a larger aperture than the PET detector. A front end of the PET host and a front end of the CT/MRI host are oppositely disposed. The scanning bed is located to an end of the CT/MRI host. The moving system is connected with at least one of the PET host or the CT/MRI host and configured to move the PET detector into or out of a scanning field of view of the CT/MRI host.

Claims

1. A mechanical linkage system of Positron Emission Tomography (PET) and Computed Tomography/Magnetic Resonance Imaging (CT/MRI), the system comprising: a PET host having a PET detector; a CT/MRI host including one of a CT host and an MRI host disposed opposite to the PET host, wherein the CT/MRI host has an aperture larger than an aperture of the PET detector; a scanning bed located to an end of the CT/MRI host; and a moving system connected with at least one of the PET host and the CT/MRI host and configured such that the PET detector is operable to be moved into or out of a scanning field of view of the CT/MRI host.

2. The system of claim 1, wherein the CT host comprises: a CT rotation system having an aperture larger than the aperture of the PET detector; a CT tube installed on an end of the CT rotation system and adjacent to the PET detector; and a CT detector installed on the end of the CT rotation system and adjacent to the PET detector, the CT detector being disposed opposite to the CT tube.

3. The system of claim 1, wherein the MRI host comprises an MRI magnet having an aperture larger than the aperture of the PET detector.

4. The system of claim 1, wherein the PET host comprises a PET detector fixing plate on which the PET detector is installed, and wherein the moving system comprises a transmission device connected with the PET detector fixing plate.

5. The system of claim 4, wherein the transmission device comprises: a driving motor; two or more rotating screws respectively connected with one of an inner side and an outer side of the PET detector fixing plate; respective rotating wheels installed on the rotating screws, wherein a rotating wheel on one of the rotating screws is a main rotating wheel, and the driving motor is in transmission connection with the main rotating wheel; and a driving belt connecting the rotating screws.

6. The system of claim 5, wherein the rotating screws are connected with the outer side of the PET detector fixing plate, and wherein the moving system comprises a screw fixedly connecting chamber, and an inner edge of the screw fixedly connecting chamber is connected with a respective outer edge of each of the rotating screws.

7. The system of claim 5, wherein the driving motor and the main rotating wheel are connected by one of a second driving belt of the main rotating wheel and a gear.

8. The system of claim 5, wherein the rotating screws are evenly distributed along a same circumference of the PET detector fixing plate.

9. The system of claim 1, wherein the PET host comprises a PET detector connecting chamber, the PET detector is connected inside the PET detector connecting chamber, and wherein the moving system comprises one or more movable bases connected with at least one of the PET host or the CT/MRI host.

10. The system of claim 9, wherein the moving system comprises a movable base installed at a bottom of the PET host.

11. The system of claim 9, wherein the moving system comprises a movable base installed at bottoms of the CT/MRI host and the scanning bed.

12. The system of claim 9, wherein the moving system comprises two movable bases installed at a bottom of the PET host and a bottom of the CT/MRI host, respectively.

13. A linkage scanning method comprising: performing a pilot image scanning with a CT/MRI host; performing a CT helical scanning or an MRI axial scanning with the CT/MRI host; moving a PET detector of a PET host to be in a scanning field of view of the CT/MRI host by a displacement of a moving system; collecting PET data with the PET detector; and after the PET data collection is completed, moving the PET detector to be out of the scanning field of view of the CT/MRI host by the moving system.

14. The linkage scanning method of claim 13, wherein the moving system comprises a transmission device connected with a PET detector fixing plate on which the PET detector is installed, and wherein moving the PET detector to be in the scanning field of view of the CT/MRI host by the displacement of the moving system comprises: driving a first driving belt of a main rotating wheel to rotate by a rotation of a driving motor, driving the main rotating wheel to rotate by the first driving belt of the main rotating wheel, driving a second driving belt by the rotation of the main rotating wheel, and driving rotating wheels of other rotating screws to rotate by the second driving belt, so as to drive the PET detector fixing plate to move, such that the PET detector is moved forward or backward to ultimately be in the scanning field of view of the CT/MRI host.

15. The linkage scanning method of claim 13, wherein the moving system is a transmission device connected with a PET detector fixing plate on which the PET detector is installed, and wherein moving the PET detector to be in the scanning field of view of the CT/MRI host by the displacement of the moving system comprises: driving a main rotating wheel of a rotating screw to rotate by a rotation of a driving motor through a gear, driving a driving belt by the rotation of the main rotating wheel, and driving rotating wheels of other rotating screws to rotate by the driving belt, so as to drive the PET detector fixing plate to move, such that the PET detector is moved forward or backward to ultimately be in the scanning field of view of the CT/MRI host.

16. The linkage scanning method of claim 13, wherein the moving system comprises a movable base installed at a bottom of a PET host, and wherein moving the PET detector to be in the scanning field of view of the CT/MRI host by the displacement of the moving system comprises: moving the PET host forward or backward by moving the movable base such that the PET detector is ultimately in the scanning field of view of the CT host or the MRI host.

17. The linkage scanning method of claim 13, wherein the moving system comprises a movable base installed at bottoms of the CT/MRI host and the scanning bed, and wherein moving the PET detector to be in the scanning field of view of the CT/MRI host by the displacement of the moving system comprises: moving the CT/MRI host and the scanning bed forward or backward by moving the movable base such that the PET detector is ultimately in the scanning field of view of the CT host or the MRI host.

18. The linkage scanning method of claim 13, wherein the moving system comprises two movable bases installed at the bottom of the PET host and the bottom of the CT/MRI host, respectively, and wherein moving the PET detector to be in the scanning field of view of the CT/MRI host by the displacement of the moving system comprises: moving the PET host and the CT/MRI host to move towards each other by moving the two movable bases such that the PET detector is in the scanning field of view of the CT/MRI host.

19. A linkage system comprising: a first modal host having a first modal detector and a first receiving chamber; a second modal host disposed oppositely to the first modal host and having a second receiving chamber with an aperture larger than an aperture of the first receiving chamber; and a moving system connected with at least one of the first modal host or the second modal host and configured to move the at least one of the first modal host or the second modal host such that the first modal detector is operable to be moved into or out of the second receiving chamber of the second modal host.

20. The linkage system of claim 19, further comprising a scanning bed placed to an end of the second modal host, wherein the first modal host is located to the other end of the second modal host opposite to the scanning bed.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS

[0023] FIG. 1 is a structure schematic diagram of a mechanical linkage system of PET and CT in accordance with one example of the present disclosure.

[0024] FIG. 2 is a structure schematic diagram of a left side of the mechanical linkage system of PET and CT shown in FIG. 1.

[0025] FIG. 3 is a structure schematic diagram of a forward state of a PET detector of the mechanical linkage system of PET and CT shown in FIG. 1.

[0026] FIG. 4 is a structure schematic diagram of a left side structure of a mechanical linkage system of PET and CT in accordance with another example of the present disclosure.

[0027] FIG. 5 is a structure schematic diagram in which a movable base is installed at a bottom of a PET host in accordance with one example of the present disclosure.

[0028] FIG. 6 is a structure schematic diagram in which a movable base is installed at bottoms of a CT host and a scanning bed in accordance with one example of the present disclosure.

[0029] FIG. 7 is a structure schematic diagram in which two movable bases are installed at bottoms of a PET host and a CT host, respectively, in accordance with one example of the present disclosure.

[0030] FIG. 8 is a structure schematic diagram of a mechanical linkage system of PET and MRI in accordance with one example of the present disclosure.

[0031] FIG. 9 is a structure schematic diagram of a forward state of a PET detector shown in FIG. 8.

[0032] FIG. 10 is a flow chart of a PET-CT linkage scanning method in accordance with one example of the present disclosure.

[0033] FIG. 11 is a flow chart of a PET-MRI linkage scanning method in accordance with one example of the present disclosure.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0034] A PET-CT/MRI system includes a PET host and a CT/MRI host that can be relatively independent and have respective own gantries. For example, the gantry of the CT/MRI host is in the front and the gantry of the PET host is in the back, or the gantry of the PET host is in the front and the gantry of the CT/MRI host is in the back. The system has a large size, which may result in inconvenient in installation and transportation and high manufacturing cost. In addition, when scanning patients, if the two independent host gantries have a far relative distance, a bed board of a scanning bed may have travelled a far distance before a scanning field of view of a front host appears in a scanning field of view of a back host. The bed board may produce a particular deformation, which may cause an inaccurate fusion image and influence an image diagnosis.

[0035] In some cases, a PET-CT/MRI system includes a CT/MRT host and a PET host in two different places. A patient has to go to the two different places for scanning. Thus, after CT/MRI scanning is completed in a first place, it is necessary to move the patient to a second, different place for PET scanning, which not only increases scanning time but also increases error when CT/MRI and PET images are fused, thereby causing the fusion image to be inaccurate and influencing the image diagnosis.

[0036] Implementations of the present disclosure provide a mechanical linkage system of PET and CT/MRI. The system can include a PET host, a CT/MRI host (i.e., a CT host or an MRI host), a scanning bed and a moving system, where the PET host includes a PET detector and a PET detector fixing plate. The PET detector is installed in the PET detector fixing plate and configured to form a positron emission computed tomography image. The CT/MRI host includes a CT host or an MRI host, and the CT/MRI host has a larger aperture than the PET detector. A front end of the PET host and a front end of the CT/MRI host are oppositely disposed. The scanning bed is disposed at a rear end of the CT/MRI host, and the scanning bed is provided with a bed board which may be moved back and forth to allow a patient to lie flat. The moving system is connected with the PET host and/or the CT/MRI host and configured to move the PET detector into or out of the scanning field of view of the CT/MRI host.

[0037] FIG. 1 shows a schematic diagram of a mechanical linkage system of PET and CT/MRI in accordance with one example of the present disclosure. As shown in FIG. 1, in the illustrated embodiment, the mechanical linkage system of PET and CT/MRI is a mechanical linkage system of PET and CT, and may include a PET host 20, a CT host 21, and a scanning bed 8. The PET host 20 includes a PET detector 1 and a PET detector fixing plate 2 (as shown in FIG. 2), and the PET detector 1 is installed on the PET detector fixing plate 2. The CT host 21 includes a CT rotation system 3, a CT tube 4 and a CT detector 5. The CT tube 4 and the CT detector 5 are installed on one side of the CT rotation system 3 which is close to the PET detector 1. The CT tube 4 and the CT detector 5 are disposed oppositely. An aperture of the CT rotation system 3 is larger than an aperture of the PET detector 1. For example, the aperture of the CT rotation system 3 is larger than an external diameter of the PET detector 1. The mechanical linkage system also includes a moving system. In some embodiments, the moving system includes a transmission device 22 installed at a rear end of the PET host 20 for moving the PET detector 1 into or out of a scanning field of view of the CT detector 5.

[0038] Specifically, as shown in FIG. 2, the transmission device 22 includes a driving motor 9, two or more rotating screws 10, a driving belt 12, and a screw fixedly connecting chamber 11. Each of the rotating screws 10 is connected to the outer side of the PET detector fixing plate 2. The inner edge of the screw fixedly connecting chamber 11 is connected with the outer edge of each of the rotating screws 10. The rotating screws 10 are all provided with rotating wheels. A rotating wheel on one of the rotating screws 10 is a main rotating wheel 13. The driving motor 9 is in transmission connection with the main rotating wheel 13. A driving belt 12 is connecting all the rotating screws 10.

[0039] In some examples, the number of rotating screw 10 is at least four. For illustration only, there are four rotating screws in FIG. 2. A plurality of rotating screws 10 can be evenly distributed along the same circumference of the PET detector fixing plate 2. The driving motor 9 and the main rotating wheel 13 are connected by a driving belt 14 of the main rotating wheel 13.

[0040] After the CT host 21 finishes CT scanning, the transmission device 22 advances the PET detector 1 forward. The rotation of the driving motor 9 drives the driving belt 14 of the main rotating wheel 13 to rotate, the driving belt 14 of the main rotating wheel 13 drives the main rotating wheel 13 of the one of the rotating screws 10 at the bottom to rotate, the rotation of the main rotation wheel 13 drives the transmission of the driving belt 12, and the transmission of the driving belt 12 drives the rotating wheels of other rotating screws 10 to rotate so as to realize the simultaneous rotation of all of the rotating screws 10, thereby driving the PET detector fixing plate 2 to move to realize the forward and backward movement of the PET detector 1. As shown in FIG. 3, the PET detector 1 is ultimately in the scanning field of view of the CT host. After the PET detector 1 finishes PET scanning, the PET detector is moved by the transmission device 22 to return to its original position.

[0041] In some embodiments, the driving motor 9 and the main rotating wheel 13 are connected by a gear, and the rotation of the driving motor 9 drives the rotation of the main rotating wheel 13 by the gear.

[0042] FIG. 4 shows another example of the mechanical linkage system. In the illustrated embodiment, the transmission device 23 includes a driving motor 9, two or more rotating screws 10, and a driving belt 12. Compared to the system in FIG. 2, where each of the rotating screws 10 is connected to the outer side of the PET detector fixing plate 2 and the inner edge of the screw fixedly connecting chamber 11 is connected with the outer edge of each of the rotating screws 10, each of the rotating screws 10 in FIG. 4 is connected to the inner side of the PET detector fixing plate 2. In this way, the rotating screws 10 are installed on the inner side of the PET detector 1 without need for adding the screw fixedly connecting chamber 11, so that a scanning aperture of PET may be increased.

[0043] The rotating screws 10 are all provided with rotating wheels. A rotating wheel on one of the rotating screws 10 is the main rotating wheel 13. The driving motor 9 is in transmission connection with the main rotating wheel 13. A driving belt 12 is connecting all the rotating screws 10.

[0044] After the CT host 21 finishes CT scanning, the transmission device 23 advances the PET detector 1 forward. The rotation of the driving motor 9 drives the driving belt 14 of the main rotating wheel 13 to rotate, the driving belt 14 of the main rotating wheel drives the main rotating wheel 13 of the one of the rotating screws 10 at the bottom to rotate, the rotation of the main rotation wheel 13 drives the transmission of the driving belt 12, and the transmission of the driving belt 12 drives the rotating wheels of other rotating screws 10 to rotate so as to realize the simultaneous rotation of all of the rotating screws 10, thereby driving the PET detector fixing plate 2 to move to realize the forward and backward movement of the PET detector 1 so that the PET detector 1 is ultimately in the scanning field of view of the CT host 21. After the PET detector 1 finishes PET scanning, driven by the transmission device 23, the PET detector 1 returns to its original position.

[0045] The CT hosts 21 in the above embodiments may be replaced with an MRI host. As shown in FIG. 8, an MRI host 24 includes an MRI magnet 6 with an aperture larger than that of the PET detector 1.

[0046] After the MRI host 24 finishes MRI scanning, the transmission device 22 advances the PET detector 1 forward. The rotation of the driving motor 9 drives the driving belt 14 of the main rotating wheel to rotate, the driving belt 14 of the main rotating wheel drives the main rotating wheel 13 of the rotating screw 10 at the bottom to rotate, the rotation of the main rotation wheel 13 drives the transmission of the driving belt 12, and the transmission of the driving belt 12 drives the rotating wheels of other rotating screws 10 to rotate to realize the simultaneous rotation of all of the rotating screws 10, thereby driving the PET detector fixing plate 2 to move to realize the forward and backward movement of the PET detector 1. As shown in FIG. 9, the PET detector 1 is ultimately in a scanning field of view of the MRI magnet 6. After the PET detector 1 finishes PET scanning, driven by the transmission device 22, the PET detector 1 returns to its original position.

[0047] As shown in FIG. 5, in the illustrated embodiment, the PET host 25 further includes a PET detector connecting chamber 16, and the PET detector 1 is connected inside the PET detector connecting chamber 16. A moving system includes a movable base 15 installed at the bottom of the PET host.

[0048] After a CT/MRI host 7 (which may be the CT host 21 or the MRI host 24) finishes CT or MRI scanning, a PET host 25 is moved forward or backward by moving the movable base 15, and the PET detector 1 is ultimately in the scanning field of view of the CT host or MRI host, so as to realize scanning with a common field of view. After the PET detector 1 finishes PET scanning, the PET detector 1 is returned to its original position by moving the movable base 15.

[0049] As shown in FIG. 6, in the illustrated embodiment, the PET host 25 further includes a PET detector connecting chamber 16 and the PET detector 1 is connected inside the PET detector connecting chamber 16. The moving system includes the movable base 15 installed at the bottoms of both the CT/MRI host 7 and the scanning bed 8.

[0050] After the CT/MRI host 7 finishes CT or MRI scanning, the CT/MRI host 7 and the scanning bed 8 are moved forward or backward by moving the movable base 15, and the PET detector 1 is ultimately in the scanning field of view of the CT host or MRI host so as to realize scanning with a common field of view. After the PET detector 1 finishes PET scanning, the CT/MRI host 7 and the scanning bed 8 are returned to their original positions by moving the movable base 15.

[0051] As shown in FIG. 7, in the illustrated embodiment, the PET host 25 further includes the PET detector connecting chamber 16, and the PET detector 1 is connected inside the PET detector connecting chamber 16. The moving system includes two movable bases 15 installed at the bottoms of the PET host and the CT/MRI host 7, respectively.

[0052] After the CT/MRI host 7 finishes CT or MRI scanning, the PET host 25 and the CT/MRI host 7 are moved toward each other at the same time by moving the two respective movable bases 15 towards each other, and the PET detector 1 is ultimately in the scanning field of view of the CT host or MRI host so as to realize scanning with a common field of view. After the PET detector 1 finishes PET scanning, the PET host 25 and the CT/MRI host 7 are moved in opposite directions by moving the two movable bases 15 so as to return to their original positions. As a non-limiting example, the movable bases may be provided on a guiding rail and the moving of one or more of the movable bases may be achieved by a transmission of chains, belts or screws.

[0053] Implementations of the present disclosure further provide a linkage scanning method. The method can include: performing a pilot image scanning of CT/MRI; performing a CT helical scanning or an MRI axial scanning; moving a PET detector of a PET host to be in the scanning field of view of a CT/MRI host by the displacement of a moving system after CT/MRI scanning is completed; starting collecting PET data; and moving the PET detector to be out of the scanning field of view of the CT/MRI host by the moving system after the PET data collection is completed.

[0054] As shown in FIG. 10, when the CT/MRI host includes a CT host, a scanning process is as follows: first performing a pilot image scanning of CT (101); then performing a CT helical scanning or an axial scanning (102); stopping the rotation of a CT rotating system after finishing the CT helical scanning or the axial scanning (103); moving the PET detector of a PET host to be in a CT scanning field of view by the displacement of the moving system (104); starting collecting PET data (105); finishing collecting PET data (106); and moving the PET detector to be out of the CT scanning field of view by the moving system (107).

[0055] As shown in FIG. 11, when the CT/MRI host includes an MRI host, a scanning process is as follows: first performing a pilot image scanning of MRI (111); then performing an MRI axial scanning (112); moving the PET detector to be in the MRI scanning field of view by the displacement of the moving system after finishing MRI scanning (113); starting collecting PET data (114); finishing collecting PET data (115); and moving the PET detector to be out of the MRI scanning field of view by the moving system (116).

[0056] During the above scanning process, the PET detector is moved to be in the scanning field of view of the CT/MRI host by the displacement of the moving system.

[0057] In some examples, the moving system includes a transmission device connected with a PET detector fixing plate, the rotation of a driving motor drives a main rotating wheel to rotate by mechanical transmission, the rotation of the main rotating wheel drives a driving belt to rotate, and the driving belt drives rotating wheels of other rotating screws to rotate, so as to drive the PET detector fixing plate to move, so that the PET detector is moved back and forth. The driving motor and the main rotating wheel may be connected by the driving belt of the main rotating wheel, the rotation of the driving motor drives the driving belt of the main rotating wheel to rotate, the driving belt of the main rotating wheel drives the main rotating wheel to rotate. The driving motor and the main rotating wheel may also be connected by a gear, and the rotation of the driving motor drives the main rotating wheel to rotate through the gear.

[0058] In other examples, the moving system includes a movable base installed at the bottom of the PET host. The PET host is moved forward or backward by moving the movable base so that the PET detector is ultimately in the scanning field of view of the CT host or the MRI host.

[0059] In other examples, the moving system includes a movable base installed at the bottoms of both the CT/MRI host and the scanning bed. The CT/MRI host and the scanning bed are moved forward by moving the movable base so that ultimately the PET detector is in the scanning field of view of the CT host or the MRI host.

[0060] In other examples, the moving system includes two movable bases installed at the bottoms of the PET host and the CT/MRI host, respectively. The PET host and the CT/MRI host are moved towards each other by moving the two movable bases so that ultimately the PET detector is in the scanning field of view of the CT/MRI host.

[0061] For simplicity and illustrative purposes, the present disclosure is described by referring mainly to examples thereof. In the above description, numerous specific details are set forth to provide a thorough understanding of the present disclosure. It will be readily apparent however, that the present disclosure may be practiced without limitation to these specific details. In other instances, some methods and structures have not been described in detail so as not to unnecessarily obscure the present disclosure.

[0062] The present disclosure has been described in detail with reference to the specific embodiments shown in the accompanying drawings. However, these embodiments are not intended to limit the present disclosure. Any changes in structures, methods, or functions made by those skilled in the art in accordance with these embodiments are included within the scope of protection of the present disclosure.

[0063] It is to be understood that although different structures may be described using the terms such as a first, a second, etc. in the present disclosure, these structures should not be limited to these terms. These terms are used only to distinguish the same type of structures from each other. For example, a first host may also be referred to as a second host without departing from the scope of the present disclosure, and similarly, a second host may also be referred to as a first host depending on the context.

[0064] The terminology used in the present disclosure is for the purpose of describing particular embodiments only, and is not intended to be limiting of the present disclosure. The singular forms such as a, said, and the used in the present disclosure and the appended claims are also intended to include a plural form, unless the context clearly indicates otherwise. It is also to be understood that the term and/or as used herein refers to any or all possible combinations that include one or more associated listed items. The term based on means based at least in part on. The term include, or variations such as includes or including, will be understood to imply the inclusion of a stated element, integer or block, or group of elements, integers or blocks, but not the exclusion of any other element, integer or block, or group of elements, integers or blocks.

[0065] Other embodiments of the present disclosure will readily occur to those skilled in the art upon consideration of the specification and practice of the present disclosure disclosed herein. The present disclosure is intended to cover any variations, uses or adaptations of the present disclosure, which are subject to the general principles of the present disclosure and include the general knowledge or conventional technical means in the technical field that the present disclosure has not disclosed. The specification and embodiments are to be regarded as illustrative only, and the true scope and spirit of the present disclosure are indicated by the claims of the present disclosure.

[0066] It is to be understood that the present disclosure is not limited to the precise structure described above and shown in the accompanying drawings, and that different modifications and alterations may be made without departing from the scope thereof. The scope of the present disclosure is limited only by the appended claims.