Transformable gamma cameras

Abstract

A gamma camera, a system, and a method are described, wherein a large gamma camera can be subdivided into two or more smaller gamma cameras, each independently positioned for SPECT data acquisition. These transformable gamma cameras make more efficient use of the gamma photon detector area. Tiled arrays of semiconductor gamma detectors are especially suited for such transformation.

1 . A gamma camera system comprising:
 a stand,   a rotatable gantry supported by the stand, and   a transformable gamma camera connected by mechanical supports to the rotatable gantry and comprising:
 a tiled array of gamma detectors and a collimator, 
 the transformable gamma camera being configured to subdivide into a plurality of subdivided gamma cameras,
 each subdivided gamma camera comprising a subset of the tiled array of gamma detectors and a subset of the collimator. 
 
   
     
     
         2 . The transformable gamma camera of  claim 1 , wherein the tiled array of gamma detectors comprises at least one of: a flat panel and a curved panel. 
     
     
         3 . The transformable gamma camera of  claim 1 , wherein the tiled array of gamma detectors comprises at least one of:
 a scintillator with an optically-coupled photodetector, and   a semiconductor direct conversion detector.   
     
     
         4 . The transformable gamma camera of  claim 1 , wherein the tiled array of gamma detectors comprises a sparsely populated tiled array of gamma detectors. 
     
     
         5 . The transformable gamma camera of  claim 1 , wherein the mechanical supports are configured to position the transformable gamma camera or the plurality of subdivided gamma cameras. 
     
     
         6 . The transformable gamma camera of  claim 1 , wherein the plurality of subdivided gamma cameras can be independently positioned for head, heart, or breast imaging. 
     
     
         7 . The transformable gamma camera of  claim 6 , wherein the plurality of subdivided gamma cameras that can be independently positioned for breast imaging are configured for mild compression of the breasts between the plurality of subdivided gamma cameras. 
     
     
         8 . The transformable gamma camera of  claim 1 , wherein at least one of the mechanical supports is configured for rotation about a mechanical support axis of at least one of the subdivided gamma cameras. 
     
     
         9 . A transformable gamma camera comprising:
 a tiled array of gamma detectors and a collimator,   the transformable gamma camera being configured to subdivide into a plurality of subdivided gamma cameras,
 each subdivided gamma camera comprising a subset of the tiled array of gamma detectors and a subset of the collimator. 
   
     
     
         10 . The transformable gamma camera of  claim 9 , wherein the tiled array of gamma detectors comprises at least one of: a flat panel and a curved panel. 
     
     
         11 . The transformable gamma camera of  claim 9 , wherein the tiled array of gamma detectors comprises at least one of:
 a scintillator with an optically-coupled photodetector, and   a semiconductor direct conversion detector.   
     
     
         12 . The transformable gamma camera of  claim 9 , wherein the tiled array of gamma detectors comprises a sparsely populated tiled array of gamma detectors. 
     
     
         13 . The gamma camera of  claim 9 , wherein the collimator comprises a parallel square-hole collimator. 
     
     
         14 . An imaging method comprising the step of subdividing a transformable gamma camera into a plurality of subdivided gamma cameras,
 the transformable gamma camera comprising:   a tiled array of gamma detectors and a collimator,
 each subdivided gamma camera comprising a subset of the tiled array of gamma detectors and a subset of the collimator. 
   
     
     
         15 . The imaging method of  claim 14  further comprising at least one of the steps of
 choosing a clinical application and an optimal configuration of a plurality of gamma cameras and collimators, 
 preparing a patient for gamma photon imaging data acquisition, 
 positioning the patient in a scanner, 
 acquiring one or more gamma photon image projections, 
 reconstructing the gamma photon images, and 
 removing the patient from the scanner. 
 
     
     
         16 . The imaging method of  claim 14 , wherein the tiled array of gamma detectors comprises at least one of: a flat panel and a curved panel. 
     
     
         17 . The imaging method of  claim 14 , wherein the tiled array of gamma detectors comprises at least one of:
 a scintillator with an optically-coupled photodetector, and   a semiconductor direct conversion detector.   
     
     
         18 . The transformable gamma camera of  claim 14 , wherein the tiled array of gamma detectors comprises a sparsely populated tiled array of gamma detectors. 
     
     
         19 . The imaging method of  claim 14 , wherein the plurality of subdivided gamma cameras can be independently positioned for head, heart, or breast imaging. 
     
     
         20 . The imaging method of  claim 19 , wherein the plurality of subdivided gamma cameras that can be independently positioned for breast imaging are configured for mild compression of the breasts between the plurality of subdivided gamma cameras. 
     
     
         21 . The imaging method of  claim 14 , wherein the collimator comprises a parallel square-hole collimator.