Patent ID: 9591989
Date: 2017-03-14
CPC Classifications: A61B,G01R,G16H

Claim:
1. An insert device for enhancing PET and MRI images of an object produced from an integrated PET-MRI imaging scanner, the insert device comprising: a device housing positionable within the integrated PET and MRI imaging scanner; an insert RF surface coil for detecting radio-frequency signals, the insert RF surface coil being located within the device housing and configured to detect RF signals generated after application of an electromagnetic field by a main RF coil of the integrated PET-MRI imaging scanner to improve an MRI imaging resolution of the integrated PET-MRI imaging scanner; and an insert gamma-ray photon detector array for detecting gamma-ray photons, the insert gamma-ray photon detector array being located within the device housing and configured to detect a gamma-ray photon from a positron annihilation event opposite to a corresponding gamma-ray photon from the same positron annihilation event detected with a main gamma-ray photon detector included in the integrated PET-MRI imaging scanner, wherein the detected gamma-ray photon and the corresponding detected gamma-ray photon are used to construct a line of response with enhanced accuracy to improve a PET imaging resolution of the integrated PET-MRI imaging scanner; and a mounting unit configured to position the insert gamma-ray photon detector array closer to the object than the main gamma-ray photon detector and further configured to position the insert RF surface coil closer to the object than the main RF coil within the integrated PET-MRI imaging scanner.