Patent ID: 7378661
Filing Date: 2008-05-27
Classification: A61B,G01T

Abstract:
1. An apparatus for increasing the sensitivity of a positron emission tomography (PET) scanner to coincidence events within a subset of azimuth angles of said PET scanner, said apparatus comprising: a first set of detectors around a space for receiving a patient, said space having a longitudinal axis, said first set of detectors responsive to coincidence events within said patient generating lines of response within a first set of azimuth angles and within a second set of azimuth angles, said first set of detectors being in communication with a processing system of the PET scanner that generates lines of response in response to detected coincidence events; and a second set of detectors positioned around said space such that said second set of detectors are responsive to coincidence events generating lines of response within said first set of azimuth angles and are not responsive to coincidence events generating lines of response within said second set of azimuth angles, said second set of detectors being in communication with said processing system of the PET scanner; whereby said second set of detectors compensates for greater attenuation of coincidence events traveling along lines of response within said first set of azimuth angles relative to coincidence events traveling along lines of response within said second set of azimuth angles.