Patent ID: 6429433
Filing Date: 2002-08-06
Classification: G01T

Abstract:
A method of diagnostic imaging using a nuclear medicine gamma camera, the method including:(a) placing a subject in a subject receiving aperture; (b) injecting the subject with a radiopharmaceutical; (c) positioning at least one point isotope radiation source and a plurality of radiation detectors about the subject receiving aperture, said point isotope radiation source being mounted to a side portion of a first radiation detector across the subject receiving aperture from a corresponding radiation detector; (d) continuously rastering the point isotope radiation source back and forth along the side portion of the first radiation detector, said point isotope radiation source transmitting radiation toward the corresponding radiation detector positioned across the subject receiving aperture; (e) continuously rotating the at least one continuously rastering point isotope radiation source and radiation detectors together about the subject receiving aperture; (f) detecting radiation transmitted by the continuously rotating and rastering point isotope radiation source using one of the plurality of radiation detectors; (g) reconstructing the detected transmission radiation into an attenuation volume image representation; (h) detecting radiation emitted by the injected radiopharmaceutical using the plurality of radiation detectors; and (i) reconstructing the detected emission radiation into an image representation.