System and apparatus for detecting gamma rays in a PET/MRI scanner
US7667457B2 · kind B2 · utility
Assignee
Inventors
Key dates
| Filing date | Dec 22, 2006 |
| Grant date | Feb 23, 2010 |
| Priority date | — |
| Expiry date | Oct 26, 2027 |
Classification
- Technology area (CPC G)Physics
- CPC primaryG01T1/1603
- WIPO fieldMeasurement
- WIPO sectorInstruments
Abstract
A gamma ray detector ring for a combined positron emission tomography (PET) and magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) system is integrated into a radio frequency (RF) coil assembly such that the detector ring is integrated with a RF shield. Each gamma ray detector in the detector ring includes a scintillator component that emits light when a gamma ray is detected and a photodetector component designed to be sensitive to the frequency of light produced by the scintillator. A RF shield may be integrated into a detector ring such that the RF shield is positioned between the scintillator and photodetector components of each detector, thereby saving valuable radial space within the imaging system. Multiple such detector rings may be located adjacent to one another to increase axial coverage and enable three-dimensional PET imaging techniques.
Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.