Patent ID: 6484051
Filing Date: 2002-11-19
Classification: A61B,G01N

Abstract:
An imaging device for generating three-dimensional images from a radio-nuclide emitting first, second and third initial gamma rays as simultaneous or nearly simultaneous emissions resulting from a single nuclear decay event, said imaging device comprising:a position-sensitive gamma ray detector comprising at least one position sensitive layer, said detector being adapted to determine the locations of interaction sites at which gamma rays undergo one of Compton scatter and photoelectric interactions; and a processor for determining a radio-nuclide location as a function of (i) at least two energy values corresponding to each of the first, second and third initial gamma rays,, (ii) detected locations of first interaction sites of the first, second and third initial gamma rays, respectively, and (iii) detected locations of second interactions sites of Compton scattered gamma rays corresponding to the first, second, and third initial gamma rays, respectively, the at least two energy values being selected from the group consisting of the energy of a respective initial gamma ray, a first deposition energy of the respective initial gamma ray at the respective first interaction site, energy of said first Compton scattered gamma ray of a respective first initial gamma ray, and a second deposition energy of the corresponding Compton scattered gamma ray at the respective second interaction site, and said processor generating a three-dimensional image by superposition of individual radio-nuclide locations.