Surgery – Diagnostic testing – Detecting nuclear – electromagnetic – or ultrasonic radiation
Reexamination Certificate
1999-02-26
2001-03-20
Kamm, William E. (Department: 3762)
Surgery
Diagnostic testing
Detecting nuclear, electromagnetic, or ultrasonic radiation
Reexamination Certificate
active
06205347
ABSTRACT:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates to the art of diagnostic imaging. It finds particular application in conjunction with a separate and combined multi-modality diagnostic imaging system, and more particularly, a separate and combined computed tomographic
uclear medicine (CT/NUC) diagnostic imaging system. It should be appreciated, however, that the present invention may find application with imaging modalities other than computed tomography (CT) and/or nuclear medicine (NUC).
Nuclear medicine imaging, such as single photon emission computed tomography (SPECT), is used to study radionuclide distribution in subjects. Typically, one or more radiopharmaceuticals are injected into a subject. The radiopharmaceuticals are commonly injected into the subject's blood stream for imaging the circulatory system or for imaging specific organs which absorb the injected radiopharmaceuticals. One or more gamma or scintillation camera heads are placed closely adjacent to a surface of the subject to monitor and record emitted radiation.
In single photon-emission computed tomography, the camera head(s) is rotated slowly or indexed around the subject to monitor the emitted radiation from a plurality of directions. The radiation data from the multiplicity of directions monitored over several minutes, e.g. 10-20 minutes, is reconstructed into a three dimensional image representation of the radiopharmaceutical distribution within the subject.
In computed tomographic (CT) diagnostic imaging, a thin fan-shaped beam of radiation is projected from an x-ray source through a region of interest. The radiation source is rotated rapidly about the region of interest such that the same thin slice of the region of interest is irradiated from a multiplicity of directions spanning 360°. For a volumetric image representation, the source rotates at speeds on the order of 1 sec/revolution or less while the patient is moved longitudinally to irradiate the patient along a spiral path.
Typically, computed tomographic (CT) imaging systems and nuclear medicine imaging systems are located in separate imaging suites with no physical and/or functional connections therebetween. The diagnostic images that result from the respective imaging studies can be viewed concurrently on adjoining screens for diagnostic purposes. However, the value of these image combinations and comparisons is compromised by having been obtained in separate study episodes. These separate study episodes are performed at different locations between which the patient typically walks. Repositioning the patient in the same position is imprecise. The episodes are usually separated by significant Lime intervals (days or even weeks) after which significant functional and anatomical changes can occur in addition to the repositioning problem. These separate study episodes are also performed by different medical personnel which distracts from the comparative value of the separate images.
U.S. Pat. No. 5,391,877 describes a dedicated combined diagnostic, imaging device that fuses together data obtained by a computed tomographic (CT) scanner and a single photon emission computed tomographic scanner (SPECT) to yield a color shaded relief image. The combined diagnostic imaging device includes combined gantries supporting both of the CT and SPECT scanners, a computer, a printer, and a table top that passes through both gantries while holding a patient in a fixed position.
However, the combined diagnostic imaging device described in the '877 patent requires an inefficient use of dedicated imaging hardware and patient care personnel. That is, the CT detectors and CT gantry sit idle most of the time waiting for the temporally longer nuclear study to complete.
Accordingly, it has been considered desirable to develop a new and improved separate and combined multi-modality diagnostic imaging system which meets the above-stated needs and overcomes the foregoing difficulties and others while providing better and more advantageous results.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
In accordance with one aspect of the present invention, a multi-modality diagnostic imaging system is disclosed. The multi-modality diagnostic imaging system includes a first imaging subsystem for performing a first imaging procedure on a subject. A second imaging subsystem performs a second imaging procedure on a subject, the second imaging subsystem being remote from the first imaging system. A patient couch adapted for supporting a subject. A patient transfer subsystem transfers the patient couch between the first imaging subsystem and the second imaging subsystem.
In accordance with another aspect of the present invention, a diagnostic imaging suite is disclosed. The diagnostic imaging suite includes a first imaging system positioned within the imaging suite for performing a first imaging procedure on a subject supported on a patient couch. A second imaging system is positioned within the imaging suite remote from the first imaging system and performs a second imaging procedure on a subject supported on a patient couch, the second imaging procedure taking a plurality of times longer than the first imaging procedure. A patient transfer system transfers patient couches and the supported subjects between the first imaging system and the second imaging system. A control and processing system includes a first reconstruction processor for generating image representations from data generated by the first imaging system. A second reconstruction processor generates image representations from data generated by the second imaging system. A mechanism combines the image representations generated by the first and second imaging systems into combined image representations. At least one monitor displays at least one of a first image representation of a first subject generated by the first imaging system, a second image representation of a second subject generated by the second imaging system, and a third combined image representation of the first subject generated by both the first imaging system and the second imaging system.
In accordance with another aspect of the present invention, a method of performing a diagnostic imaging procedure is disclosed. The method includes a) positioning a subject on a patient table; b) performing a first imaging procedure on the subject using a first imaging system; c) transferring the patient table to a second imaging system; d) performing a second imaging procedure on the subject; e) generating a first image representation from data generated by the first imaging system; f) generating a second image representation from data generated by the second imaging system; g) combining the data representing first image representation and the data representing the second image representation into a combined image representation; and
h) displaying at least one of the first image representation, the second image representation, and the combined image representation on at least one video monitor.
One advantage of the present invention is the provision of a new and improved separate and combined multi-modality diagnostic imaging system that provides CT anatomical imaging with nuclear medicine functional imaging in one clinical study episode (location and time period) and in such a manner that clinical productivity and patient care are improved.
Another advantage of the present invention is the provision of a new and improved separate and combined multi-modality diagnostic imaging system that generates multi-modality imaging data for attenuation correction, tumor localization, and image fusion. The CT imaging system provides a means for fast and accurate attenuation correction of the nuclear images, removing a major weakness of current SPECT/PCD and PET nuclear imaging systems.
Yet another advantage of the present invention is the provision of a new and improved separate and combined multi-modality diagnostic imaging system where a patient is imaged on the exact same table, and in a single imaging episode. This permits the subject to be in the same external and internal imagi
Brunnett Carl J.
Morgan Hugh T.
Smith Darrell M.
Fay Sharpe Fagan Minnich & McKee LLP
Kamm William E.
Picker International Inc.
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