Pet/mri device, pet device, and image reconstruction system

Abstract

A PET/MRI device includes an MRI device that has a measurement port, a PET detector that can be inserted into the measurement port, and a mechanism that can slide the PET detector into and out of the MRI measurement port. Thereby, the PET/MRI device allows MRI measurement during PET measurement.

1 - 19 . (canceled) 
     
     
         20 . A PET/MRI device comprising:
 an MRI device that has a measurement port;   a PET detector that is insertable into the measurement port; and   a drive mechanism that slides the PET detector along a sliding direction into and out of the measurement port, wherein
 the PET detector has a measurement field of view having a width wider than a width of the MRI device in the sliding direction of the PET detector; 
 the drive mechanism is configured to slide the PET detector into the measurement port before PET measurement is started; and 
 the drive mechanism is configured to slide the PET detector to an initial position after MRI measurement is ended but before the PET measurement is ended, such that the PET measurement time is maximized. 
   
     
     
         21 . The PET/MRI device according to  claim 20 , wherein the PET detector is attached to a bed which moves with the PET detector. 
     
     
         22 . The PET/MRI device according to  claim 20 , wherein an MRI RF coil is attached to inside the PET detector. 
     
     
         23 . The PET/MRI device according to  claim 22 , wherein the MRI RF coil attached to inside the PET detector is a transmitter coil, a receiver coil, a transmitter-receiver two-way coil, or a coil that includes both a transmitter coil and a receiver coil. 
     
     
         24 . The PET/MRI device according to  claim 20 , wherein the width of the measurement field of view of the PET detector is extendable. 
     
     
         25 . The PET/MRI device according to  claim 24 , wherein the PET detector is divided in the sliding direction. 
     
     
         26 . The PET/MRI device according to  claim 24 , wherein detector rings that constitute the PET detector, and/or detector units that constitute the detector rings, are arranged at nonuniform intervals. 
     
     
         27 . The PET/MRI device according to  claim 24 , wherein the PET detector comprises a plurality of PET detectors having varying resolutions and/or sensitivities. 
     
     
         28 . The PET/MRI device according to  claim 27 , wherein a first portion of the PET detector has a resolution higher than a resolution of a second portion of the PET detector. 
     
     
         29 . The PET/MRI device according to  claim 24 , wherein a first portion of the PET detector includes a detector ring that has an inner diameter smaller than an inner diameter of a detector ring that constitutes a second portion of the PET detector. 
     
     
         30 . The PET/MRI device according to  claim 29 , wherein the PET detector has an opening for an eye-covering area in the first portion of the PET detector. 
     
     
         31 . The PET/MRI device according to  claim 20 , wherein a detector ring that constitutes at least a portion of the PET detector has a sectional shape such that a size thereof in a thickness direction, which is perpendicular to the sliding direction, is different from a size thereof in the sliding direction. 
     
     
         32 . The PET/MRI device according to  claim 31 , wherein the detector ring includes an arched upper half portion and an arched lower half portion in the thickness direction, the arched upper half portion having a radius of curvature smaller than a radius of curvature of the arched lower half portion. 
     
     
         33 . The PET/MRI device according to  claim 20 , wherein a detector ring that constitutes the PET detector has an arched upper half portion in a thickness direction, which is perpendicular to the sliding direction, the arched upper half portion being variable in size and/or in shape. 
     
     
         34 . The PET/MRI device according to  claim 25 , wherein a first portion of the PET detector is movable with respect to and/or detachable from a second portion of the PET detector. 
     
     
         35 . The PET/MRI device according to  claim 21 , wherein the PET detector further comprises a mechanism for sliding inside the measurement port independent of a sliding movement of the bed, so that the PET detector slides at a moving speed lower than a moving speed at which the bed slides. 
     
     
         36 . The PET/MRI device according to  claim 20 , further comprising a controller having control logic causing the PET detector to begin the PET measurement immediately before the start of the MRI measurement, and end the PET measurement immediately after end of the MRI measurement. 
     
     
         37 . The PET/MRI device according to  claim 20 , further comprising a controller having control logic causing the PET detector to perform PET image reconstruction processing using PET data that is collected from immediately before the start of the MRI measurement to immediately after the end of the MRI measurement, so as to improve simultaneity between the PET measurement and the MRI measurement. 
     
     
         38 . The PET/MRI device according to  claim 20 , wherein the drive mechanism includes a controller having control logic configured to control the sliding of the PET detector by the drive mechanism.