Systems for image detection

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-9903962-B2
Application number	US-201715431141-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Feb 13, 2017
Priority date	Dec 20, 2013
Publication date	Feb 27, 2018
Grant date	Feb 27, 2018

Abstract

A customizable and upgradeable imaging system is provided. Imaging detector columns are installed in a gantry to receive imaging information about a subject. Imaging detector columns can extend and retract radially as well as be rotated orbitally around the gantry. The gantry can be partially populated with detector columns and the detector columns can be partially populated with detector elements.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. A non-transitory computer readable storage medium having stored thereon a computer program comprising instructions, which, when executed by a computer, cause the computer to:
determine, using information obtained from installation verification elements disposed at receiver locations on a gantry, installation information related to a plurality of imaging detector units attached to the gantry;
configure a physical location of at least one detector unit attached to the gantry using the installation information, wherein configuring the physical location of the at least one detector unit comprises moving the at least one detector;
acquire image information from the detector units; and
reconstruct an image using the image information acquired from the detector units.

2. The computer readable storage medium of claim 1 , wherein the installation information comprises sweep motor status.

3. The computer readable storage medium of claim 2 , wherein the sweep motor status comprises at least one of information indicating whether or not one or more sweep motors are operable, information indicating whether or not one or more sweep motors are responding, or information indicating a range of motion for one or more sweep motors.

4. The computer readable storage medium of claim 1 , wherein the installation information comprises radial motion motor status.

5. The computer readable storage medium of claim 4 , wherein the radial motion motor status comprises at least one of information indicating which column or columns include a radial motion motor, information indicating motion distance provided by at least one radial motion motor, information indicating radial location, or information indicating which radial motion motors are operable.

6. The computer readable storage medium of claim 1 , wherein the installation information comprises detector element configuration status.

7. The computer readable storage medium of claim 6 , wherein the detector element configuration status comprises at least one of information indicating the location at which detector elements are installed or information indicating the location at which detector elements could be installed.

8. The computer readable storage medium of claim 6 , wherein the detector element configuration status comprises at least one of information indicating a scintillator material or information indicating a semiconductor material.

9. The computer readable storage medium of claim 6 , wherein the detector element configuration status comprises information indicating a collimator structure.

10. The computer readable storage medium of claim 1 , wherein the instructions further cause the computer to:
compare the installation information with subject information scan information;
develop a scanning scenario based on the installation information compared with the subject scan information; and
determine if the developed scanning scenario can be performed within a threshold time.

11. The computer readable storage medium of claim 10 , wherein the instructions further cause the computer to, if the developed scanning scenario cannot be performed within the threshold time, notify a user.

12. The computer readable storage medium of claim 10 , wherein the instructions further cause the computer to, if the developed scanning scenario can be performed within the threshold time, configure the physical location of the at least one detector unit attached to the gantry using the installation information and acquire the image information from the detector units.

13. An imaging system, comprising:
a gantry;
at least three image detectors attached to the gantry, each image detector comprising a detector arm and a detector head, each detector head comprising a receiver location for receiving a plurality of detector elements;
installation verification elements disposed at the receiver locations; and
at least one processor operably coupled to the installation verification receiver elements and configured to determine installation information based on information from the installation verification elements.

14. The imaging system of claim 13 , wherein the installation verification elements include at least one of a switch, button, or sensor.

15. The imaging system of claim 13 , wherein the processor is configured to dynamically update the installation information.

16. The imaging system of claim 13 , wherein at least one of the detector heads comprises a sweep motor, and wherein the installation information comprises sweep motor status.

17. The imaging system of claim 13 , wherein at least one of the detector head comprises a radial motion motor, and wherein the installation information comprises radial motion motor status.

18. The imaging system of claim 13 , wherein the installation information comprises detector element configuration status.

19. The imaging system of claim 13 , wherein the at least one processor is further configured to:
compare the installation information with subject information scan information;
develop a scanning scenario based on the installation information compared with the subject scan information; and
determine if the developed scanning scenario can be performed within a threshold time.

20. The imaging system of claim 19 , wherein the at least one processor is further configured to notify a user if the developed scanning scenario cannot be performed within the threshold time.

Assignees

• Gen Electric

Inventors

• Kovalski Gil
• Bouhnik Jean Paul
• Sachs Jonathan
• Grobshtein Yariv
• Zingerman Yulim
• Eshco Arie
• Hefetz Yaron

Classifications

• G06T12/10

  Image preprocessing, e.g. calibration, positioning of sources or scatter correction · CPC title

• G01T1/2985 Primary

  In depth localisation, e.g. using positron emitters; Tomographic imaging (longitudinal and transverse section imaging; apparatus for radiation diagnosis sequentially in different planes, steroscopic radiation diagnosis); (using external radiation sources A61B6/02) · CPC title

• A61B6/037 Primary

  Emission tomography · CPC title

• G01T1/166

  involving relative movement between detector and subject {(scanners in general without using scintigraphy G01T1/2964)} · CPC title

• G01T1/1648

  Ancillary equipment for scintillation cameras, e.g. reference markers, devices for removing motion artifacts, calibration devices (adapted for flow studies G01T1/1647) · CPC title