Phantoms and associated methods for calibrating imaging systems

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-9726745-B2
Application number	US-201414524255-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Oct 27, 2014
Priority date	Oct 28, 2013
Publication date	Aug 8, 2017
Grant date	Aug 8, 2017

Abstract

Embodiments of the present invention provide phantoms, and associated methods of calibration which are suitable for use in both medical resonance imaging and radiographic imaging systems. A phantom for calibration of a medical imaging system, comprises a first component having a first outer shape, a portion of which defines part of at least one pocket; and a second component coupled to the first component and having a second outer shape, a portion of which defines another part of the at least one pocket. At least one of the first and second components comprises a reservoir, the reservoir having a shape at least a portion of which locates a center of the at least one pocket.

First claim

The invention claimed is:

1. A phantom for calibration of a medical imaging system, comprising:
a first component having a first outer shape, a portion of which defines part of at least one pocket; and
a second component coupled to the first component and having a second outer shape, a portion of which defines another part of the at least one pocket;
wherein at least one of the first or second component comprises a reservoir, the reservoir having a shape at least a portion of which locates a center of the at least one pocket; and
wherein at least one of the first or second component comprises at least one elongate member, an end of which comprises the portion of the corresponding first or second outer shape defining the corresponding part of the at least one pocket.

2. The phantom according to claim 1 , wherein the portion of the shape of the reservoir conforms to a shape of the corresponding part of the at least one pocket.

3. The phantom according to claim 1 , wherein the portion of the shape of the reservoir conforms to a corresponding surface of the portion of the first or second outer shape defining the corresponding part of the at least one pocket.

4. The phantom according to claim 1 , wherein the portion of the second outer shape defines a remainder of the at least one pocket.

5. The phantom according to claim 1 , wherein the at least one pocket is spherical.

6. The phantom according to claim 5 , wherein the portions of the first and second outer shapes are each hemispherical.

7. The phantom according to claim 5 , wherein the portion of the shape of the reservoir corresponds to part of a sphere.

8. The phantom according to claim 1 , wherein at least one of the first or second components comprises a plurality of elongate members, the plurality of elongate members each including an end that has a respective portion of the corresponding first or second outer shape defining part of a respective pocket corresponding to that end, wherein the plurality of elongate members correspond to a plurality of pockets.

9. The phantom according to claim 8 , wherein the plurality of pockets are arranged in a regular geometric shape.

10. The phantom according to claim 9 , wherein the regular geometric shape comprises at least one of a ring or a spiral.

11. The phantom according to claim 8 , wherein the shape of the reservoir comprises portions which locate respective centers of the plurality of pockets.

12. The phantom according to claim 1 , wherein the first and second components each comprise a reservoir.

13. The phantom according to claim 1 , wherein the elongate member is hollow, and wherein the reservoir extends within the elongate member.

14. The phantom according to claim 1 , wherein the first and second components each comprise at least one elongate member.

15. The phantom according to claim 14 , wherein the first and second components each comprise a plurality of elongate members.

16. The phantom according to claim 1 , wherein the first and second components comprise moulded plastic.

17. A kit of parts for forming a phantom for calibration of a medical imaging system, the kit comprising:
a first component having a first outer shape, a portion of which defines part of at least one pocket; and
a second component for coupling to the first component and having a second outer shape, a portion of which defines another part of the at least one pocket when the first and second components are coupled to each other;
wherein at least one of the first or second component comprises a reservoir, the reservoir having a shape at least a portion of which locates a center of the at least one pocket when the first and second components are coupled to each other; and
wherein at least one of the first or second component comprises at least one elongate member, an end of which comprises the portion of the corresponding first or second outer shape defining the corresponding part of the at least one pocket.

18. A phantom for calibration of a medical imaging system, comprising:
a first component having a first outer shape, a portion of which defines part of at least one pocket; and
a second component coupled to the first component and having a second outer shape, a portion of which defines another part of the at least one pocket;
wherein at least one of the first or second component comprises a reservoir, the reservoir having a shape at least a portion of which locates a center of the at least one pocket; and
wherein the portion of the shape of the reservoir conforms to a corresponding surface of the portion of the first or second outer shape defining the corresponding part of the at least one pocket.

19. The phantom according to claim 18 , wherein the portion of the shape of the reservoir conforms to a shape of the corresponding part of the at least one pocket.

20. The phantom according to claim 18 , wherein the first and second components each comprise a reservoir.

Assignees

• Elekta ltd

Inventors

• Bourne Duncan
• Sell Martin

Classifications

• G01R33/58 Primary

  Calibration of imaging systems, e.g. using test probes {, Phantoms; Calibration objects or fiducial markers such as active or passive RF coils surrounding an MR active material} · CPC title

• A61N2005/1055

  using magnetic resonance imaging [MRI] · CPC title

• A61N2005/1076

  using a dummy object placed in the radiation field, e.g. phantom · CPC title

• A61B6/032

  Transmission computed tomography [CT] · CPC title

• A61B6/583

  using calibration phantoms · CPC title