Apparatus and method for image alignment for combined positron emission tomography (PET) and magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) scanner

US7768261B2 · kind B2 · utility

Assignee

• Siemens Medical Solutions USA, Inc. · US

Inventors

• Rainer Paul · Kapsweyer, DE
• Matthias J. Schmand · Lenoir City, US
• Charles Hayden · Knoxville, US
• James L. Corbeil · Knoxville, US
• Christian J. Michel · Lenoir City, US
• Ziad Burbar · Knoxville, US
• Volker Matschl · Bamberg, DE

Key dates

• Filing date: Apr 25, 2008
• Grant date: Aug 3, 2010
• Expiry date: Apr 11, 2029

Classification

• Technology area (CPC A): Human Necessities
• CPC primary: A61B6/583
• WIPO field: Measurement
• WIPO sector: Instruments

Abstract

A phantom and method are provided for co-registering a magnetic resonance image and a nuclear medical image. The phantom includes a first housing defining a first chamber configured to receive a magnetic resonance material upon which magnetic resonance imaging can be performed in order to produce the magnetic resonance image. The phantom also includes three or more second housings configured to be attached to the first housing, where the second housings each define a second chamber configured to receive a radioactive material upon which nuclear imaging can be performed in order to produce the nuclear medical image and upon which the magnetic imaging can be performed in order to produce the magnetic resonance image. The first chamber has a volumetric capacity that is larger than a volumetric capacity of each second chamber.