Patent Description:
This application is also related to co-filed, co-pending and co-assigned:.

This application is related to <CIT>, <CIT>, <CIT> and <CIT>.

The present invention, in some embodiments thereof, relates to cooling of an imaging system and, more particularly, but not exclusively, to cooling of a nuclear medicine tomography system including a plurality of detector heads mounted on a detector carrier where the detector heads are translatable with respect to the detector carrier.

<CIT> discloses "A computed tomography (CT) scanner includes an enclosure which forms a substantially sealed chamber around the rotatable disk carrying the radiation source and the radiation detectors. The CT scanner further includes an air conditioning system for controlling the temperature and humidity of the air inside the chamber. The air conditioning system can be a closed loop system whereby only air from inside the chamber is processed through the air conditioning system and no outside air is introduced to the chamber. Thus, the CT scanner can be operated in a wider range of environmental conditions. In an alternate embodiment, the air conditioning system can produce a positive pressure inside the chamber to prevent outside air from entering through openings in the enclosure. In this embodiment, the air conditioning system can include an input port in order to draw sufficient outside air to produce a positive pressure inside the chamber. The input port can include a filter to prevent dust from entering the chamber, thus, enabling the CT scanner to have a longer useful life between preventative maintenance and service events.

Document <CIT>describes an apparatus and methods of tomography in the field of nuclear medicine.

According to an aspect of some embodiments there is provided a nuclear medicine tomography system comprising:.

According to some embodiments, the at least one actuator drives a fan positioned to drive air through one or both of the channels, wherein the exhaust channel extends along a surface of the detector camera or a surface coupled to the detector camera.

According to some embodiments, the heat pump comprises a portion located within the detector carrier housing.

According to some embodiments, the cooling channel and the exhaust channel are separated from each other.

According to some embodiments , the detector carrier is rotatable within the detector carrier housing.

According to some embodiments, the at least one detector unit comprises a cover which separates the detector unit from ambient air.

According to some embodiments, the cover is extendable, extending when said extendable arm is extended.

According to some embodiments, the system comprises at least one sensor configured to generate a signal based on a temperature at one or more point within the system;
a processor comprising circuitry configured to:.

According to some embodiments, the threshold temperature is below a lowest bound of the temperature range.

According to some embodiments, the system comprises at least one actuator configured to generate air flow through one or both of the channels.

As will be appreciated by one skilled in the art, aspects of the present disclosure may be embodied as a system, method or computer program product. Accordingly, aspects of the present disclosure may take the form of an entirely hardware embodiment, an entirely software embodiment (including firmware, resident software, micro-code, etc.) or an embodiment combining software and hardware aspects that may all generally be referred to herein as a "circuit," "module" or "system.

Furthermore, some embodiments of the present disclosure may take the form of a computer program product embodied in one or more computer readable medium(s) having computer readable program code embodied thereon. Implementation of the method and/or system of some embodiments of the disclosure can involve performing and/or completing selected tasks manually, automatically, or a combination thereof. Moreover, according to actual instrumentation and equipment of some embodiments of methods, systems, and/or computer program products of the present disclosure, several selected tasks could be implemented by hardware, by software or by firmware and/or by a combination thereof, e.g., using an operating system.

For example, hardware for performing selected tasks according to some embodiments of the present disclosure could be implemented as a chip or a circuit. As software, selected tasks according to some embodiments of the present disclosure could be implemented as a plurality of software instructions being executed by a computer using any suitable operating system. In an exemplary embodiment, one or more tasks according to some exemplary embodiments of method and/or system as described herein are performed by a data processor, such as a computing platform for executing a plurality of instructions.

Any combination of one or more computer readable medium(s) may be utilized for some embodiments.

Program code embodied on a computer readable medium and/or data used thereby may be transmitted using any appropriate medium, including but not limited to wireless, wireline, optical fiber cable, RF, etc., or any suitable combination of the foregoing.

Computer program code for carrying out operations for some embodiments of the present disclosure may be written in any combination of one or more programming languages, including an object oriented programming language such as Java, Smalltalk, C++ or the like and conventional procedural programming languages, such as the "C" programming language or similar programming languages.

Some embodiments of the present disclosure may be described below with reference to flowchart illustrations and/or block diagrams of methods, apparatus (systems) and computer program products.

In some cases elements in corresponding figures have corresponding numbers, which are not necessarily explicitly described. For example, element <NUM> in <FIG> corresponds to element <NUM> in <FIG>, which may not be explicitly described.

A broad aspect of some embodiments relates to cooling of an imaging system, for example, of a nuclear medicine tomography system (NMTS), where, in some embodiments, the system includes a plurality of detector units which are translatable with respect to a detector carrier on which the detector units are mounted (e.g. linearly translatable). In some embodiments, the NMTS is a SPECT (single-photon emission computed tomography) system. In some embodiments, the system is a PET, CT, MRI or a combination imaging system including more than one of SPECT, PET, CT, MRI, and ultrasound imaging e.g. a system including both SPECT and CT imagers.

In some embodiments, cooling is of detector cameras, where each detector unit includes a detector camera located within a distal portion of the detector unit. Where, in some embodiments, one or more detector camera is translatable (e.g. by extension of a portion of a detector unit housing the detector camera) into a bore of the NMTS. In some embodiments, cooling of the detector cameras is by transfer of heat from the detector cameras to inner space/s of a housing of the detector carrier.

In some embodiments, detector cameras are gamma detector cameras (e.g. for SPECT imaging). In some embodiments, each detector head includes a gamma detector camera.

In some embodiments, cooling reduces and/or maintains a temperature of detector cameras below a threshold and/or within a desired temperature range. In some embodiments, cooling is associated with transferring heat away from portions of the device involved in moving the detector heads, e.g. actuator/s e.g. actuators configured to translate detector head/s and/or rotate the detector carrier.

In some embodiments, cooling includes flow of air (and/or another fluid) past surface/s to be cooled (e.g. surface/s coupled to detector camera/s). In some embodiments, air flow is controlled by one or more fan.

In some embodiments, air is pulled into a detector unit from a distal end of the detector unit, e.g. adjacent to the detector camera for example, by one or more fan. In some embodiments, air is pulled into the detector unit from a bore of the imaging system where, for example, the distal end of detector unit/s is located within the bore. Where, in some embodiments, the bore is a space within the imaging system in which at least a portion of a patient is placed for scanning by the system (e.g. the patient rests on a bed which is positioned within the bore). In some embodiments, the bore is a region of space into which the detector unit/s are extendable (and/or retractable). In some embodiments, the bore is a cylindrical space defined by a housing of the detector carrier. In some embodiments, air is pulled into the detector unit from air adjacent to the distal end of the detector unit which is, in some embodiments within a detector unit cover.

In some embodiments, the flow of air exits the detector unit into an inner space of a housing of the detector carrier. In some embodiments, air within the inner space is cooled by one or more cooler which, for example, includes one or more heat exchanger and/or evaporator and/or compressor. In some embodiments, the system lacks air flow into the bore from the system, for example, in some embodiments, there no is forced blowing of air (e.g. cool air) into the bore e.g. onto the patient.

An aspect of some embodiments relates to closed loop cooling of a NMTS where air flows in a closed loop through one or more part of the system. For example, here air within one or more part of the system is separated from air outside the system (e.g. outside housings of the system, e.g. the housings blocking mixing of system air with outside air).

In some embodiments, fluid (e.g. air) is circulated within a closed loop within one or more detector unit. For example where air circulating within the detector unit is cooled by one or more heat exchanger.

In some embodiments, fluid (e.g. air) flows through an inner space of a system housing (e.g. detector carrier housing) in a closed loop. In some embodiments, the system includes a heat pump configured to transfer heat out of fluid circulating through the closed loop. For example, in some embodiments, the closed loop includes a channel through one or more cooler configured to cool the air within the loop.

In some embodiments, air is circulated within a closed system housing and from the housing in and out of at least one detector unit, where, in some embodiments, the detector unit is separated from ambient air e.g. by a cover.

In some embodiments, air is drawn into a detector unit through a cooling channel and is exhausted out of the detector unit though an exhaust channel which terminates inside the inner space of the detector carrier housing. In some embodiments, the cooling channel is an area between a detector unit cover and other portions of the detector unit, cool air flowing from the inner space into a distal end of the detector unit. Where, in some embodiments, a detector camera is located at the distal end and/or the distal end extends into a bore space of the system.

In some embodiments, a temperature within the detector unit/s and/or detector carrier housing is maintained at a lower temperature than that of air outside the housing, for example, air temperature surrounding a patient being scanned by the tomography system. In some embodiments, air temperature within detector unit/s is selected and/or controlled to be below a threshold and/or within a range where, for example, the threshold and/or range is selected to reduce detector camera noise. In some embodiments, air temperature within a room housing the NMTS is selected for patient comfort. In some embodiments, the detector unit air temperature is lower than the ambient air temperature within the room in which the system is located.

An aspect of some embodiments relates to cooling of an imaging system (e.g. a NMTS) where temperature of air surrounding a patient is maintained at a temperature selected for patient comfort e.g. when the patient is undressed. In some embodiments, a temperature within the system, for example, within one or more detector head and/or one or more portion of a detector carrier housing is at a lower temperature than ambient air temperature e.g. within a room in which the imaging system is located. For example, including ambient air in a bore of the imaging system. In an exemplary embodiment, the detector camera/s are at a lower temperature than the imaging system bore (e.g. at least <NUM>% lower or at least <NUM>% lower or <NUM>-<NUM>% lower, or lower or higher or intermediate ranges or percentages) at least during scanning.

In some embodiments, the room temperature is selected for patient comfort. In some embodiments, one or more temperature within the detector carrier housing e.g. a temperature of one or more (e.g. all of a plurality) of detector camera is selected for to reduce and/or minimize detector camera noise e.g. low noise measurements collected with the detector camera/s. In some embodiments, temperature of detector camera/s (and/or other portion/s within the detector carrier housing) are maintained below a threshold and/or within a desired range. In some embodiments, a system threshold temperature is below the desired room temperature range.

In some embodiments, a user (e.g. manually) selects a room temperature, e.g. at a user interface of a room cooler (e.g. AC system room control user interface).

In some embodiments, a system processor generates control signal/s for one or more temperature regulator, for example a cooler configured to cool air within the system housing and/or a temperature regulator configured to regulate temperature of ambient air within the room in which the system is housed. In some embodiments, the control signal/s are generated based on one or more sensor measurement e.g. temperature sensor measurement of a sensor which is, for example, configured to measure temperature at one or more point within the system housing.

In some embodiments, temperatures within the housing of the imaging system are controlled by a processor which receives measurement data from imaging system sensor/s and generates control signal/s. In some embodiments, control signal/s control of one or more actuator.

For example, to control fan actuator/s e.g. to control temperature by changing flow of air through the system e.g. to control rate of heat exchange at a heat exchanger by changing flow of air through the heat exchanger. For example, to control pump actuator/s, e.g. to control air flow and/or other fluid flow (e.g. liquid flow through a heat exchanger). For example, to control compressor and/or evaporator actuator/s. For example, a control signal providing a waveform control signal to an inverter air conditioner compressor motor.

An aspect of some embodiments relates to an imaging system including a plurality of detector units, where each detector unit includes a detector camera and a detector unit cooling system. In some embodiments, the cooling system includes one or more channel through which fluid (e.g. air) is circulated. In some embodiments, the cooling system includes one or more fan positioned to circulate fluid e.g. through the channel/s.

In some embodiments, each detector unit includes at least one sensor configured to measure temperature of each detector camera. In some embodiments, temperature for each detector camera is controlled separately, for example, a control signal based on sensor measurement (e.g. for a detector camera) is sent to one or more actuator configured to cool the detector camera (e.g. fan actuator/s).

An aspect of some embodiments relates to a heat sink for a movable detector camera of an imaging system. In some embodiments, the system includes a plurality of detector units, each unit including one or more detector camera. In some embodiments, the system includes a controller which is configured to move a plurality of detector units where each detector unit includes a detector camera. In some embodiments, a moveable detector camera unit (e.g. including a detector camera and a heat sink coupled to the detector camera) is configured to be moved into close proximity to one or more additional detector camera unit. In some embodiments, the moveable detector camera unit is configured to be rotated (e.g. during acquisition of images) where rotation increases a proximity of a portion of the camera to another detector camera (and/or detector unit) of the system. In some embodiments, a detector camera unit includes a heat sink which is shaped to have reduced volume in an area which is moved (e.g. rotated) into proximity with another detector camera unit. The reduced volume potentially decreasing a minimum distance required between the detector camera units to allow rotation of one or more of the detector units. The reduced volume potentially enables the controller to position the detector camera units in closer proximity.

In some embodiments, the detector unit includes a heat sink coupled to a detector camera. In some embodiments, the heat sink rotates with the detector camera. In some embodiments, the heat sink is sized and/or shaped to minimize a dimension of a cover of the detector unit and/or to minimize a minimum separation between two detector units each including oscillating cameras. For example, in some embodiments, the heat sink includes a shape (where, in some embodiments, the shape is an outer contour connecting a distal end of a plurality of fins) where one or more portion of the heat sink (e.g. heat sink outer contour) is thinner and/or extends a smaller distance from the detector camera than one or more other portion of the heat sink. In some embodiments, the portion which extends less distance reduces a dimension of the detector camera unit e.g. when it is rotated.

In some embodiments, the heat sink has a cross sectional shape with a central region extending from a base which is coupled to the detector camera, where the central region height is taller than one or both heights of edge regions surrounding the central region. In an exemplary embodiment, the heat sink has an arc shaped cross section, where the circle describing the contour of the arc is centered on the axis of rotation of the detector camera. Where the heat sink cross section is taken perpendicular to the axis of rotation of the detector camera.

Before explaining at least one embodiment of the invention in detail, it is to be understood that the invention is not necessarily limited in its application to the details of construction and the arrangement of the components set forth in the following description and/or illustrated in the drawings and/or the Examples.

<FIG> are simplified schematics of an imaging system <NUM>, according to some embodiments of the invention. In some embodiments, the system is a nuclear medicine topography system (NMTS) e.g. a SPECT system.

In some embodiments, NMTS <NUM> includes a plurality of detector units <NUM> mounted to a detector carrier <NUM> which is coupled to a housing <NUM>. In some embodiments, detector carrier <NUM> is rotatable within housing <NUM> where, rotation is, for example, actuated by a motor <NUM>.

<FIG> illustrate a side view of detector carrier <NUM> and detector units <NUM>. In some embodiments, at least one, and in some embodiments, all detector units <NUM> include an extendable arm <NUM> on which a detector camera is mounted (e.g. within a cover <NUM>), where the arm is moveable with respect to detector carrier <NUM>. In some embodiments, extendable arm <NUM> is coupled to a chassis <NUM> which is attached to the detector carrier (e.g. as described regarding <FIG>).

In an exemplary embodiment, one or more detector unit <NUM> is linearly translatable with respect to detector carrier <NUM>, e.g. towards and/or away from a center of the NMTS e.g. into and/or out of bore <NUM> of the NMTS. For example, in some embodiments, <FIG> illustrates all detector units <NUM> in a fully retracted configuration and <FIG> illustrates all detector units <NUM> in a fully advanced configuration.

In some embodiments, rotation of detector carrier <NUM> is about a center of a bore <NUM>. In some embodiments rotation is about an axis perpendicular to one or more axis of translation of the detector unit extendable arm/s. In some embodiments, rotation of detector carrier <NUM> rotates the detector units coupled to the detector carrier about the axis of detector carrier rotation.

In some embodiments, NMTS <NUM> includes a plurality of detector units <NUM>, for example, <NUM>-<NUM>, or <NUM>-<NUM>, or <NUM>-<NUM>, or lower or higher or intermediate ranges or numbers of detector units.

In some embodiments, at least a portion of a patient to be scanned is placed within bore <NUM> (e.g. the patient resting on a support e.g. a bed). Potentially, translation of detector unit/s enables detector camera/s within the unit/s to be in close contact (potentially improving accuracy of scanning) with a patient and/or a region of interest (ROI) of the patient and/or in close contact with other detector camera/s e.g. potentially reducing loss of emitted radiation through gaps between detector cameras. In some embodiments, detector cameras are translated different distances with respect to detector carrier <NUM> e.g. following a body contour of a patient.

In some embodiments, NMTS <NUM> includes one or more processor <NUM>, for example, hosting circuitry configured to receive data from and/or send data to one or more of a user interface <NUM>, one or more sensor (e.g. a sensor located within an air conditioning unit <NUM> e.g. one or more sensor configured to measure one or more condition within the system e.g. a temperature sensor). In some embodiments, processor <NUM> receives detector camera data and uses image reconstruction algorithm/s to generate images from the detector camera data.

In some embodiments, processor sends control signals to actuator/s within detector carrier <NUM> and/or within detector unit/s, based on signals received from one or more sensor and/or from user interface <NUM>.

In some embodiments, user interface <NUM> includes a touch screen. Where, in some embodiments, a user controls the system e.g. by selecting system control options (e.g. scan type) and/or views system data (e.g. reconstructed image/s) on the touch screen.

In some embodiments, user interface <NUM> includes one or more audio control. In some embodiments, user interface <NUM> includes a microphone, where a sound signal generated by the microphone is received by processor <NUM> which includes circuitry configured to recognize user instructions from sound data. For example, where a user controls the system by audio commands, e.g. vocal commands.

In some embodiments, user interface includes one or more camera, where processor <NUM> receives camera data. In some embodiments, the processor includes circuitry configured for face recognition where, for example, in some embodiments, processor <NUM> accesses a memory (not illustrated) including a stored set of allowed user credentials, e.g. including data regarding facial feature/s. In some embodiments, the processor compares facial features extracted from camera images with the stored set of allowed user credentials and allows access and/or operation of one or more system feature when a match is identified.

<FIG> are simplified schematics of a detector unit <NUM>, according to some embodiments of the invention. In some embodiments, detection unit <NUM> includes a stationary chassis <NUM> and an extendable arm <NUM>, where extendable arm <NUM> is axially extendable from and along chassis <NUM>. In some embodiments, chassis <NUM> is coupled to a detector carrier (e.g. <NUM> <FIG>). In some embodiments, one or more actuator (not illustrated), for example, upon receiving a control signal (e.g. from a processor e.g. processor <NUM> <FIG>) drives extendable arm <NUM> axially along stationary chassis <NUM> between a fully retracted position e.g. as illustrated in <FIG> and a fully extended position e.g. as illustrated in <FIG>.

<FIG> is a simplified schematic of air flow within an imaging system <NUM>, according to some embodiments of the invention. Where, in some embodiments, imaging system <NUM> is an NMTS.

In some embodiments, NMTS <NUM> includes a plurality of moveable detector units <NUM> (e.g. including one or more feature as described and/or illustrated regarding detector units <NUM> <FIG>) mounted on a detector carrier <NUM>.

In <FIG> direction of fluid flow (e.g. air flow) at one or more point is illustrated by arrows. In some embodiments, ambient air is circulated within detector units <NUM> and/or inner space <NUM> of a NMTS housing <NUM>.

Optionally, in some embodiments, ambient air is cooled by a temperature regulator <NUM>. For example, in some embodiments, temperature regulator <NUM> is a device configured to cool air within a room in which the NMTS is located. For example, an air conditioner (and/or other type of room cooler) dedicated to the room. For example, a central air conditioner providing cooling to more than one room, where, in some embodiments, an outlet of the central air conditioner opens into the room in which the NMTS is located. In some embodiments, temperature regulator <NUM> is configured to cool and/or heat e.g. air circulated through the temperature regulator.

In some embodiments, the system includes more than one cooler.

Optionally, in some embodiments, a cooler <NUM> is located within housing. For example, in some embodiments, cooler <NUM> includes a heat exchanger located within housing <NUM> where, in some embodiments, the heat exchanger is a radiator, where, for example, air is cooled by flows over one or more pipe through which a fluid (e.g. water) is circulated. In some embodiments, one or more heat exchanger is cooled using a liquid which is gas at room temperature and atmospheric pressure e.g. liquid nitrogen.

In some embodiments, a first portion of a cooler is located within housing <NUM> and a second portion of cooler is connected to the first portion and is located outside the housing. For example, in some embodiments, heat exchanger <NUM> is a radiator located within the housing and fluid circulating within the radiator is cooled by component/s outside the housing (not illustrated), e.g. a compressor and/or an evaporator configured to cool the radiator fluid.

In some embodiments, a detector unit (e.g. more than one, e.g. each detector unit) includes and/or is thermally coupled to a separate cooler. In some embodiments, a detector unit (e.g. more than one, e.g. each detector unit) includes a heat exchanger.

In some embodiments, air circulation within NMTS <NUM> includes flow of air into inner space <NUM>, for example, through one or more inlet/s <NUM> where, in some embodiments, inlet/s <NUM> are located in a base portion of housing <NUM>. In some embodiments, air flows generally upwards within inner space <NUM> and exits the housing through one or more outlet <NUM>, where in some embodiments, outlet/s <NUM> are located in an upper portion of the housing.

In some embodiments, air flows into one or more detector unit <NUM> from a bore <NUM>. In some embodiments, air flows through the detector unit/s into inner space <NUM>, then, in some embodiments, flowing through inner space <NUM> in an upwards direction towards outlets <NUM>. In some embodiments, the detector carrier is centered around a center of the bore.

In some embodiments, NMTS <NUM> includes one or more feature e.g. as described with reference to <FIG>. In some embodiments, air flow within NMTS <NUM> is directed by one or more fan, e.g. according to the air flow paths illustrated by arrows. Alternatively or additionally, in some embodiments, one or more pump directs air flow.

In some embodiments, air flow is directed past a heat sink mounted on one or more portion of the system, e.g. coupled to a detector camera (including one or more feature described regarding and/or illustrated by e.g. heat sinks <NUM> <FIG>, <NUM> <FIG>). In some embodiments, a collimator of a detector camera (e.g. collimator <NUM> <FIG>) acts as heat sink, for example, where, in some embodiments, air is circulated past the collimator (e.g. by a fan) for example, collimator septa forming heat transfer surfaces.

In some embodiments, air from within the housing and/or detector unit/s is exhausted into the bore. For example, air heated by the system is used to heat a space in which a patient being scanned is located, e.g. the heating potentially increasing patient comfort.

In some embodiments, NMTS <NUM> includes one or more sensor <NUM>. In some embodiments, sensor <NUM> is a temperature sensor which, for example, generates a signal based on a temperature within one or more point within the system, for example, within housing <NUM> and/or within one or more detector unit <NUM>. In some embodiments, each detector unit includes a sensor which is, for example, configured to measure a temperature of a portion of the detector unit e.g. of a detector camera and/or from which can be inferred a temperature of the detector camera. Alternatively or additionally, one or more sensor is configured to sense air flow speed within one more portion of housing <NUM> and/or detector unit <NUM>.

In some embodiments, one or more sensor, e.g. sensor <NUM> sends data to a processor <NUM>. In some embodiments, processor sends a control signal to one or more cooler, e.g. cooler <NUM>, <NUM>, e.g. based on received sensor signal/s. For example, in some embodiments, sensor <NUM> signal is used to generate a thermostat control signal for cooler <NUM>.

<FIG> is a simplified schematic of air flow within an imaging system <NUM>, according to some embodiments of the invention.

In some embodiments, system <NUM> includes one or more feature as described and/or illustrated regarding system <NUM> <FIG> and/or system <NUM> <FIG>.

In some embodiments, a cooler <NUM> is connected to one or more inlet (e.g. inlets <NUM>) in a housing <NUM>, for example, by one or more channel <NUM>, for example, transferring cooled air into housing <NUM> through the channel/s into the inlet/s. In some embodiments, warm air diffused out of the system through outlet/s <NUM>.

In some embodiments, cool air within housing <NUM> is circulated within detector units <NUM>, e.g. as described regarding detector units <NUM> <FIG>.

<FIG> is a flow chart of a method of cooling an imaging system, according to some embodiments in which the claimed invention may be utilized. In some embodiments, the imaging system is an NMTS.

At <NUM>, in some embodiments, temperature at one or more point within an imaging system (e.g. a NMTS) is measured e.g. by a sensor (e.g. sensor <NUM> <FIG>, sensor <NUM> <FIG>).

At <NUM>, in some embodiments, cooling of one or more portion of the system is adjusted, based on the temperature measurement/s.

In some embodiments, a processor (e.g. including one or more feature described and/or illustrated regarding processor <NUM> <FIG> and/or processor <NUM> <FIG> and/or processor <NUM> <FIG>) receives sensor data and, based on the temperature and/or location of the temperature measurement, generates a control signal to change a temperature of one or more portion of the imaging system. In some embodiments, a control signal is based on measurement from a single sensor. Alternatively, in some embodiments, a control signal is based on more than one sensor measurement. In some embodiments, the processor sends the control signal to one or more actuator e.g. to control fluid flow.

In some embodiments, cooling is adjusted by changing fluid flow in one or more region of the imaging system.

In some embodiments, control is of fluid flow includes control of volumetric fluid flow rate past a surface to be cooled e.g. air flow past portion/s of the imaging system. In some embodiments, control is of fluid flow past a heat exchanger e.g. to change a rate of temperature change of the fluid e.g. to cool the fluid faster. In some embodiments, control is of fluid flow within a heat exchanger (e.g. flow of coolant fluid within pipes of a radiator heat exchange). In some embodiments, control is of fluid flow to one or more evaporator e.g. from one or more compressor. Where flow, in some embodiments, refers to volumetric flow rate. In some embodiments, an actuator receiving the control signal is for example, a fan actuator, a pump actuator, a motor actuator. In some embodiments, control signal/s instruct one or more compressor motor.

In some embodiments, the control signal instructs activation and/or deactivation and/or operation of one or more actuator (e.g. speed of fan rotation, pump speed and/or strength, compressor motor speed and/or power) is controlled when temperature rises above and/or falls below a desired temperature range.

In some embodiments, the processor generates and/or sends, a control signal to one or more actuator to change operation of the actuator when one or more measured temperature passes and/or approaches a threshold and/or falls outside an allowable range and/or approaches a limit to an allowable range.

In some embodiments, the processor receives a measurement signal from one or more sensor located outside the system, for example, one or more sensor mounted on a detector carrier housing configured to measure temperature outside the housing. For example, one or more sensor configured to measure conditions (e.g. temperature) in a room in which the imaging system is located. For example, one or more sensor configured to measure temperature within a bore of the system.

In some embodiments, sensor data regarding condition/s outside the system is received by the processor, and in some embodiments, one or more control signal (e.g. as described above) is generated based on the data. For example, in some embodiments, cooling of and/or within one or more portion of the system is adjusted based on measured temperature outside the housing of the imaging system and/or a temperature differential between temperature outside the housing and temperature within the housing.

In some embodiments, based on temperature measurements and/or data regarding cooling potential of system cooler/s a processor estimates ability of the system to maintain temperature of one or more part of the system e.g. within a desired temperature range, e.g. below a threshold temperature. In some embodiments, an alert signal is generated when it is estimated that the range will be breached and/or the threshold temperature is exceeded. In some embodiments, upon generation of an alert signal, a warning and/or alarm is communicated to a user through a system user interface. In some embodiments, upon generation of an alert signal, imaging with the system is disabled.

In some embodiments, cooling is reduced to one or more detector unit. For example, when one or more of the plurality of detector units is non-operative and/or not used for imaging (e.g. when imaging a small region, in some embodiments, a subset of the plurality of detector heads are advanced and/or used for scanning). In some embodiments, the processor, based on data concerning which detector units are in use, sends one or more control signal, e.g. to one or more actuator and/or as described above.

In some embodiments, measurement data received by the processor is used in reconstruction of images, for example, temperature data being used in a reconstruction algorithm, e.g. to compensate for temperature differences within a detector camera and/or between different detector cameras and/or to compensate for temperature being outside an allowed and/or desired range.

In some embodiments, a control signal is generated for each detector unit. Where, for example, in some embodiments, a control signal is generated for each detector unit based on sensor data from sensor/s of the detector unit. Alternatively or additionally, in some embodiments, a control signal is generated for one or more detector unit based on sensor data from one or more of the detector unit, other detector unit/s, other system sensor/s (e.g. sensor/s located within the housing).

In some embodiments, a desired system temperature range has a lower threshold and an upper threshold. In some embodiments, different portions of the system have different desired temperatures e.g. temperature ranges. In some embodiments, the desired temperature range for detector cameras is <NUM>-<NUM>, or <NUM>-<NUM>, or <NUM>-<NUM>, or <NUM>-<NUM> or under <NUM> or under <NUM> or under <NUM> or lower or higher or intermediate temperatures or ranges. In some embodiments, the desired temperature range for detector cameras is associated with the material of the detector array e.g. material of scintillation crystal/s.

In some embodiments, one or more sensor is located in a detector unit and a processor (e.g. a detector unit processor and/or a system processor) generates control instructions for operation of one or more detector unit actuator, for example, fan motor/s (e.g. controlling fan speed), based on the sensor data. Where, for example, in some embodiments, the sensor data includes measured temperature and/or location of the sensor.

<FIG> is a flow chart of a method of temperature regulation for an imaging system, according to some embodiments in which the claimed invention may be utilized. In some embodiments, the imaging system is an NMTS.

At <NUM>, in some embodiments, temperature is measured at one or more point within a NMTS e.g. by a sensor (e.g. sensor <NUM> <FIG>, sensor <NUM> <FIG>, one or more sensor located configured to measure temperature within one or more detector unit). In some embodiments, one or more sensor measures one or more other parameter, e.g. air flow speed.

In some embodiments, temperature is measured within each detector unit, e.g. by at least one sensor configured to measure temperature (e.g. located within) each detector unit.

At <NUM>, in some embodiments, one or more control signal is generated, based on the sensor measurements, e.g. by a processor (e.g. processor <NUM> <FIG>, <NUM> <FIG>) which, for example, receives sensor signal data.

At <NUM>, in some embodiments, generated control signal/s are sent to a system cooler and/or temperature regulator and/or heat exchanger (e.g. <NUM>, <NUM> <FIG>, <NUM>, <NUM>, <NUM> <FIG>). In some embodiments, control signal/s instruct one or more actuator e.g. as described regarding step <NUM> <FIG>.

At <NUM>, in some embodiments, generated control signal/s are sent to a room temperature regulator (e.g. element <NUM> <FIG>) where, the control signal instructs operation of one or more actuator e.g. as described regarding step <NUM> <FIG>.

<FIG> is a simplified schematic of an imaging system <NUM> with closed loop cooling, according to some embodiments of the invention. Where, in some embodiments, imaging system <NUM> is an NMTS. In <FIG> direction of fluid flow (e.g. air flow) at one or more point is illustrated by arrows.

In some embodiments, air (e.g. cooled air) flows from a cooler <NUM>, through one or more input channel <NUM> and into an inner space <NUM> of a NMTS housing <NUM>, for example, through one or more inlet <NUM>, where, in some embodiments, inlet/s <NUM> are located in a base portion of the housing. In some embodiments, air flow is controlled at one or more of the inlets <NUM> by one or more fan (oval shapes <NUM> in some embodiments, each representing a fan).

In some embodiments, fluid (e.g. air) is treated before being inserted into the system, for example, is filtered (e.g. to remove dust) and/or dehumidified. For example, in some embodiments, air drawn into cooler <NUM> is treated (e.g. filtered) by the cooler. For example, in some embodiments, air entering housing <NUM> is treated, e.g. oval shapes <NUM> in some embodiments, additionally or alternatively representing filters and/or dehumidifiers.

In some embodiments, air within inner space <NUM> flows in a generally upwards direction towards one or more outlet <NUM>, where, in some embodiments, outlet/s <NUM> are located in an upper portion of the housing. In some embodiments, air flow is controlled at one or more of the outlets <NUM> by one or more fan (circular shapes <NUM> in some embodiments, each representing a fan). In some embodiments, air exiting through outlet/s <NUM> returns to cooler <NUM> through one or more outlet channel <NUM>.

In some embodiments, one or more detector unit <NUM> (e.g. each detector unit) is thermally insulated, e.g. potentially reducing heating of the detector unit (e.g. detector camera) by ambient air. In some embodiments, at least a portion of a detector camera and/or unit includes a layer of thermal insulation. In some embodiments, a detector unit includes a thermally insulating cover.

In some embodiments, one or more portion of housing <NUM> is thermally insulated. For example, reducing heating of the housing and/or air within the housing by air outside the housing (which, in some embodiments, is warmer). In some embodiments, housing <NUM> includes (e.g. one or more portion of the housing is covered by) a layer of thermal insulation.

In some embodiments, air flows from housing <NUM> into detector unit <NUM>, flows past a detector camera and/or one or more heat generating portion of the detector unit (e.g. motor configured to rotate the camera e.g. as described elsewhere in this document). In some embodiments, the air then returns to housing <NUM>. In some embodiments, a channel through which the air flows from housing <NUM> into detector unit <NUM> is separated by a separator <NUM> from a channel through which air flows back to the housing. In some embodiments, air flow for each of the plurality of detector units is as described regarding detector unit <NUM>.

In some embodiments, air circulation within the NMTS e.g. within the housing, detector units, inlet and outlet pipes is separated from ambient air e.g. within a bore <NUM> and/or room housing the NMTS. Potentially, lack of mixing of ambient air with air circulating within the system prevents entrance and/or build-up of dirt and/or dust (e.g. airborne) within the NMTS, potentially reducing associated maintenance requirements. Potentially, the separation prevents entrance of radioactive tracers, for example, airborne tracers, e.g. when a patient inhales and exhales tracer/s during scanning.

In some embodiments, cooler <NUM> is an air conditioner e.g. an inverter air conditioner. In some embodiments, cooler <NUM> is a heat exchanger, e.g. a radiator fluid (e.g. air) flows over one or more pipe through which a fluid (e.g. a cooled fluid, e.g. water) is circulated. In some embodiments, the system includes more than one cooler. In some embodiments, an additional cooler <NUM> is located with a room in which the NMTS is located. In some embodiments, cooler <NUM> is an air conditioner. In some embodiments, cooler <NUM> controls ambient air temperature within a room in which the NMTS is located.

In some embodiments, at least a portion of a cooler <NUM> is located within housing <NUM>. For example, cooler <NUM> having one or more feature as described and/or illustrated regarding cooler <NUM> <FIG>.

In some embodiments, NMTS <NUM> includes one or more sensor <NUM>. In some embodiments, sensor <NUM> is a temperature sensor which, for example, generates a signal based on a temperature within one or more point within the system, for example, within housing <NUM> and/or within one or more detector unit <NUM>. In some embodiments, NMTS includes one or more sensor configured to measure a temperature outside of the housing. For example, a temperature of air within a room in which the NMTS is located. For example, a temperature of air within bore <NUM>.

In some embodiments, a detector unit <NUM> includes a sensor <NUM>, e.g. each detector unit includes at least one sensor. In some embodiments, a detector unit sensor <NUM> is configured to measure a temperature of a portion of the detector unit e.g. of a detector camera and/or a temperature from a detector unit portion from which the temperature of the detector camera can be estimated e.g. by a processor (e.g. processor <NUM>). In some embodiments, a detector camera (e.g. each detector camera) includes a plurality of temperature sensors, located and/or measuring temperature at different parts of the detector camera.

Alternatively or additionally, one or more sensor is configured to sense fluid (e.g. air) flow speed within one more portion of housing <NUM> and/or detector unit/s <NUM> where, in some embodiments, fluid volumetric flow rate is estimated from air speed e.g. by a processor (e.g. processor <NUM>).

In some embodiments, one or more sensor, e.g. sensor <NUM> sends sensor signal data to a processor <NUM>. In some embodiments, processor generates control signal/s and/or sends control signal/s to one or both coolers <NUM>, <NUM>, e.g. based on received sensor signal/s. In some embodiments, control signal/s instruct one or more actuator e.g. as described regarding step <NUM> <FIG>, for example, to effect a change in temperature and/or to maintain a temperature. For example, in embodiments where cooler <NUM> is a radiator heat exchanger, in some embodiments, a control signal controls speed of flow of fluid (e.g. water) through the radiator pipes and/or air speed (e.g. actuated by one or more fan) past the pipes.

In some embodiments, a desired temperature for air within the room in which the NMTS is located and/or air with a NMTS bore, for example, for patient comfort, is about <NUM>-<NUM>, or <NUM>-<NUM>, or <NUM>-<NUM> or <NUM>-<NUM>. In some embodiments, a desired temperature and/or temperature range for patient comfort (and/or to prevent a patient from moving e.g. shivering during scanning) is higher than a desired temperature range for detector cameras. Potentially, separating air circulating within a NMTS from air outside the system enables a larger temperature difference between a temperature of detector cameras and air temperature within the bore and/or room housing the NMTS.

In some embodiments, one or both of elements <NUM>, <NUM> are temperature regulators, for example are configured to cool and/or heat e.g. air circulated through the temperature regulator. For example, in some embodiments, element <NUM> includes a heater configured to warm ambient air to a temperature range selected for patient comfort.

In some embodiments, warm air flowing out and cool air flowing into one or more detector unit <NUM> (e.g. each detector head) potentially mixes within housing <NUM>. In some embodiments, flow of air through housing <NUM> is sufficient and/or a temperature of air within housing <NUM> is sufficiently low such that air drawn into detector unit/s cools the detector camera.

Alternatively or additionally to including a heat exchanger, in some embodiments element <NUM> includes one or more flow stabilizer and/or fluid control component. For example, including one or more fin and/or chamber and/or fan and/or baffle configured to guide and/or control flow of air through the housing. In some embodiments, the component includes one or more channel (e.g. channels <NUM>, <NUM> as described and/or illustrated in <FIG>).

<FIG> is a simplified schematic of an imaging system400 with closed loop cooling, according to some embodiments of the invention. Where, in some embodiments, imaging system <NUM> is an NMTS. In <FIG>, direction of fluid flow (e.g. air flow) at one or more point is illustrated by arrows.

In some embodiments, NMTS <NUM> includes separate channels within a detector carrier housing providing detector units with cool air and for accepting heated exhaust air from the detector units. For example, in some embodiments, a cool air inlet channel <NUM> is connected to an output of cooler <NUM> by an input pipe <NUM> and an exhaust channel <NUM> is connected to an input of cooler by an outlet pipe <NUM>. In some embodiments, cool air from inlet channel <NUM> enters detector unit <NUM> and warmer air flows from the detector units into exhaust channel <NUM> e.g. for each detector unit. In some embodiments, the detector inlet and outlet channels <NUM>, <NUM> are separated by a separator <NUM>.

In some embodiments, one or both of channels <NUM>, <NUM> rotate with a detector carrier <NUM> on which detector units <NUM> are mounted (e.g. rotation of the detector carrier and/or detector units as described elsewhere in this document). In some embodiments, cooler connection pipes <NUM>, <NUM> are connected to fixed points of channels <NUM>, <NUM>, cooler connection pipes being sufficiently flexible and/or having sufficient slack to allow rotation of the detector unit e.g. by up to <NUM>°, or up to <NUM>°, or up to <NUM>° or up to <NUM>°-<NUM>° or lower or higher or intermediate ranges or angles.

In some embodiments, warm air is exhausted into a bore <NUM> of the NMTS e.g. from one or more detector unit and/or from channel <NUM> by one or more channel <NUM>. Alternatively or alternatively, in some embodiments, a heat pump transfers heat from cooler <NUM> into bore <NUM>. For example, in some embodiments, warm air generated by cooler <NUM> is exhausted into bore <NUM> e.g. through a channel <NUM>. For example, when cooler <NUM> includes a compressor, heat generated by the compressor is transferred (e.g. by flow of air warmed by the compressor) to bore <NUM>. Where heating of air within the bore potentially increases patient comfort.

<FIG> is a simplified schematic of an imaging system400 with closed loop cooling, according to some embodiments of the invention. Where, in some embodiments, imaging system <NUM> is an NMTS. In <FIG>, direction of fluid flow (e.g. air flow) at one or more point is illustrated by arrows. In some embodiments, the NMTS illustrated in <FIG> includes one or more feature as described and/or as illustrated regarding <FIG>.

In some embodiments, a cooler <NUM> is connected to one or more a heat exchanger <NUM> where heat exchanger <NUM> does not rotate with the detector carrier e.g. the heat exchanger is static. In some embodiments, heat exchanger <NUM> is a radiator supplied with coolant fluid by cooler <NUM> through pipes <NUM>, <NUM>. In some embodiments, heat exchanger <NUM> is an evaporator supplied with fluid by cooler <NUM> which includes a compressor. In some embodiments, heat exchanger <NUM> cools warm air within a detector exhaust channel <NUM>, e.g. before the air returns to a detector input channel <NUM>. In some embodiments, channels <NUM>, <NUM> rotate with a detector carrier <NUM>, heat exchanger <NUM>, for example, accessing air within channel <NUM> through one or more slit in the channel. Alternatively or additionally, in some embodiments, one or more portion of channels <NUM>, <NUM> are thermally coupled to heat exchanger <NUM>, for cooling of the channels. Where, for example the thermal coupling is maintained when the channels <NUM>, <NUM> rotate. In some embodiments, the channels <NUM> and <NUM> are separated from air within the detector carrier housing e.g. where separation prevents air flow between the channels and the detector carrier housing.

<FIG> is a simplified schematic side view of a NMTS <NUM> including a plurality of fans <NUM>, <NUM>, <NUM>, <NUM>, according to some embodiments of the invention. In <FIG> direction of fluid flow (e.g. air flow) at one or more point is illustrated by arrows.

Arrows illustrate exemplary direction of air flow within NMTS <NUM>. In some embodiments, air is pulled into an inner space <NUM> (e.g. a base portion of inner space <NUM>) of a NMTS housing <NUM> by one or more fan <NUM>, <NUM>. In some embodiments, air is pulled out of inner space <NUM> (e.g. at an upper portion of inner space) by one or more fan <NUM>, <NUM>. In some embodiments, housing <NUM> includes one or more inlet through which air enters and/or exits inner space <NUM> without being draw into the space by a fan and/or pump. For example, where air diffuses and/or flowing through (e.g. into) the inlet/s under pressure gradients e.g. due to movement of air by fan/s in other portions of the system.

In some embodiments, housing <NUM> sits on one or more foot <NUM>. Where, in some embodiments, <NUM> is a floor surface (e.g. of a room in which the NMTS is located). In some embodiments, one or more foot <NUM> includes one or more wheel.

In some embodiments, warm air within a bore <NUM> of NMTS <NUM> (where the air is e.g. heated by portion/s of detector unit/s) rises upwards within the bore (e.g. as illustrated by arrows within the bore). In some embodiments, rising air from the bore passes into housing <NUM> and is exhausted away from the NMTS by one or more fan e.g. fans <NUM>, <NUM>.

<FIG> is a simplified schematic cross sectional view of air velocity within a NMTS simulation results, according to some embodiments of the invention. In some embodiments, <FIG> illustrates air velocity within an NMTS where air velocity is higher at fan driven inlets <NUM>, <NUM> and outlets <NUM>, <NUM> as compared to air velocity within an inner space <NUM> of a NMTS housing <NUM>.

<FIG> are simplified schematic cross sectional views of simulation results for temperature within a NMTS, during operation of the NMTS, according to some embodiments of the invention.

<FIG> graphically illustrates a full range of temperatures for simulation results. <FIG> shows two higher temperature regions, a NMTS power source <NUM> and a motor <NUM>. Where motor <NUM>, in some embodiments, is configured to rotate the detector carrier.

<FIG> graphically illustrates temperatures under <NUM>. In some embodiments, for functioning of detector camera/s, the detector camera arrays are required to be under a threshold of <NUM>. <FIG> shows hotter regions around power source <NUM> and motor <NUM>. Other regions are cooler including areas of an inner space <NUM> within a NMTS housing <NUM> around detector units <NUM>.

<FIG> is a simplified schematic sectional view of an extendable arm <NUM>, according to some embodiments of the invention. In <FIG> direction of fluid flow (e.g. air flow) at one or more point is illustrated by arrows.

In some embodiments, a distal portion of extendable arm <NUM> includes a detector head <NUM>, where detector head <NUM> includes a detector camera <NUM>. In some embodiments, e.g. as described regarding <FIG>, extendable arm <NUM> is coupled to a chassis, forming a detector unit.

In some embodiments, detector camera <NUM> includes a collimator and a detector array <NUM>. Where, for example, construction and/or operation of the collimator and/or array is as described in <CIT>. In some embodiments, the collimator includes a plurality of septa e.g. constructed from tungsten and/or tungsten alloys. In some embodiments, the detector array is an array of cadmium zinc telluride (CZT) scintillator crystals. In some embodiments, scintillation is detected electronically e.g. without use of vacuum tubes.

In some embodiments, a detector camera is rotatable about one or more axis. In an exemplary embodiment, a detector camera is elongate in shape and rotates about a central long axis (e.g. axis <NUM> of detector camera <NUM>, <FIG>). In some embodiments, the detector camera is rotatable around more than one axis e.g. more than one actuator is configured to rotate the detector camera, e.g. each actuator rotating the detector camera around a different axis.

In some embodiments, rotation of the detector camera includes, oscillatory movement where the detector camera is rotated about a home position e.g. by <NUM>-<NUM>° <NUM>-<NUM>°, or <NUM>-<NUM>° or <NUM>-<NUM>° or lower or higher or intermediate ranges or angles about the home positon (e.g. home position as illustrated in <FIG>). In some embodiments, the home position is where the surface of the detector camera is perpendicular to a direction of extension of the extendable arm to which the detector camera is coupled.

In some embodiments, a detector unit includes one or more motor <NUM> (which is, for example, a stepper motor), configured to actuate rotation and/or oscillatory movement of the detector camera. In an exemplary embodiment, a motor is located at a longitudinal end of elongate detector camera <NUM>. Alternatively or additionally, in some embodiments, one or more motor is located behind detector camera <NUM>, e.g. located to a surface on an opposing side of the camera to the camera collimator.

In some embodiments, extendable arm <NUM> of a detector unit (e.g. includes one or more feature as described and/or illustrated regarding extendable arm of detector unit <NUM> <FIG>) includes one or more space or hollow portion through which air flows e.g. to cool portion/s of the extendable arm and/or detector head.

In some embodiments, a detector unit includes one or more motor for actuation of movement of the extendable arm. In some embodiments, a motor <NUM> (e.g. a stepper motor) actuates movement of extendable arm <NUM> with respect to the detector carrier, e.g. moving the detector head on a rail (e.g. linear rail) mounted on a chassis coupled to the detector carrier. Where, in some embodiments, movement of the extendable arm with respect to the chassis is, e.g. as described regarding <FIG>.

In some embodiments, detector head <NUM> includes one or more space or hollow portion. In some embodiments, extendable arm <NUM> includes a space <NUM> located behind a detector camera <NUM> where a flow of air (e.g. as illustrated by arrows) cool a surface <NUM> behind the detector array. In some embodiments, surface <NUM> includes a heat sink.

In some embodiments, air is pushed past surface <NUM> by an inlet fan <NUM>. In some embodiments, air is pulled past surface <NUM> and through extendable arm <NUM> by one or more fan <NUM> located within a space <NUM> within the extendable arm. In some embodiments, space <NUM> extends into and/or is fluidly connected to a space within a NMTS housing (e.g. space <NUM> <FIG>, space <NUM> <FIG>).

In some embodiments, one or more fan (e.g. fan <NUM>) is rotated with the detector camera e.g. is coupled to the detector camera and is rotated by an actuator (e.g. <NUM>) configured to rotate the camera.

In some embodiments, air flow is directed across a length of surface <NUM> by a shape of spaces within the detector head. In some embodiments detector head <NUM> includes a divider <NUM> which blocks air flow from inlet fan <NUM> from directly flowing up through space <NUM>. In some embodiments, divider <NUM> is connected to a detector head housing, for example extending from an inner surface <NUM> of the detector head housing at region of the housing adjacent to space <NUM> and/or fan <NUM>, in some embodiments, the divider is angled, extending towards surface <NUM> as the divider extends along a long axis of the detector head and/or camera e.g. reducing space <NUM> in a direction along the detector camera. Potentially, reducing space <NUM> increases air speed, potentially maintaining and/or increasing air speed in a direction from the fan towards the motor. A potential advantage being uniformity of temperature of surface <NUM> and/or detector camera <NUM>. A further potential advantage being increased speed of air impinging on motor <NUM>.

<FIG> is a simplified schematic cross sectional view of simulation results for air velocity within a detector unit <NUM>, according to some embodiments of the invention.

<FIG> shows higher air speeds at the regions of fans <NUM>, <NUM> and higher air speed at a region where the air flow impinges on a <NUM> motor (e.g. as described regarding air space <NUM> and/or motor <NUM> <FIG>).

<FIG> illustrates an embodiment where a divider <NUM> is shaped such that air space <NUM> is reduced to a thin space where a dimension of the space in a direction parallel to a direction of extension of the extendable arm and/or parallel to a viewing direction of the detector camera is <NUM>-<NUM>, or <NUM>-<NUM>, or <NUM>-<NUM>, or lower or higher or intermediate ranges or distances.

<FIG> is a simplified schematic view of a detector unit <NUM>, according to some embodiments of the invention. In some embodiments, detector unit includes one or more feature as described and/or illustrated regarding other embodiments of detector units within this document e.g. detector unit <NUM> <FIG>, detector unit <NUM> <FIG>, detector unit <NUM> <FIG>.

In some embodiments, detector unit <NUM> includes an extendable arm <NUM> (e.g. including one or more feature described and/or illustrated regarding other embodiments of extendable arms within this document e.g. extendable arm <NUM> <FIG>). In some embodiments, extendable arm <NUM> is coupled to a chassis <NUM> (where, for example, operation includes one or more feature as described and/or illustrated regarding extendable arm <NUM> and/or chassis <NUM> <FIG>).

In some embodiments, detector head <NUM> includes a cover <NUM> which separates the head from bore air and/or protects the detector head. In some embodiments, cover <NUM> includes thermally insulating material, e.g. to reduce bore air heating of the detector camera.

In some embodiments, detector unit <NUM> is separated from ambient air, for example, for closed loop cooling (e.g. as described regarding <FIG>). Where, for example separation is between the detector unit and air within a bore (e.g. bore <NUM> <FIG>). In some embodiments, a cover <NUM> separates the detector unit and/or a portion of the detector unit (e.g. extendable arm <NUM>), for example from air within the bore. In some embodiments, cover <NUM> is coupled to detector head cover <NUM> e.g. covers detector head cover <NUM>.

In some embodiments, cover <NUM> is extendable to maintain separation between the detector unit and bore air and/or cover the detector unit both when the extendable arm is extended and when the extendable arm is retracted. For example, in some embodiments, <NUM> includes one or more expandable portion <NUM> e.g. one or more elastically expandable portion and/or portion which unfurls and/or unfolds to expand. In an exemplary embodiment, expandable portion <NUM> expands by unfolding concertina folds. In an exemplary embodiment, cover <NUM> includes a first portion <NUM> coupled to a distal end of the detector unit (e.g. distal end housing the detector camera), a second portion <NUM> which covers a proximal portion of the detector unit (e.g. proximal portion where the detector unit is coupled to the detector carrier) and expandable portion <NUM> couples first and second portions <NUM>, <NUM>. In some embodiments, the cover includes more than or less than three portions and/or more than one expandable portion. In some embodiments, the cover is formed from and/or includes portion/s constructed from fiber glass.

In some embodiments, where, for example, the system is a closed loop cooling system, air flow to cool the detector unit flows into the detector from an inner space of a detector carrier housing between cover <NUM> and inner housings of the detector unit. Where the inner housings of the detector unit form a separation between the incoming and exhausting air flows (e.g. as described regarding separator <NUM> <FIG>). Where flow of air back into the inner space is through a channel within the detector unit (e.g. as described elsewhere in this document).

<FIG> is a simplified schematic view of inner portions of a detector head, according to some embodiments of the invention.

In some embodiments, heat sink <NUM> is coupled to detector camera <NUM> by one or more clamp <NUM>, for example, by <NUM>, or <NUM> or <NUM> (e.g. as illustrated in <FIG>) or <FIG> or <FIG> or <FIG> or <FIG> or lower or higher or intermediate ranges or numbers of clamps. In some embodiments, a motor <NUM> actuates rotation of detector camera <NUM>, e.g. by rotating an axle <NUM> to which the detector camera is coupled. In some embodiments, heat sink <NUM> is coupled to one side of axle <NUM> and detector camera <NUM> is coupled to the other side of axle e.g. the heat sink and detector camera opposing each other around the axle.

In some embodiments, a fan <NUM> is positioned at and/or near a center of a length of detector camera <NUM> and/or head sink <NUM>. For example, where fan <NUM> is not located at a long axis end of the detector camera. In some embodiments, fan <NUM> is directly coupled to detector camera <NUM> and/or detector unit (including camera <NUM> and heat sink <NUM>). In some embodiments, fan <NUM> rotates with the detector camera, e.g. where rotation is actuated by one or more motor <NUM>, e.g. a stepper motor. In some embodiments, fan <NUM> is in addition or is an alternative to a fan mounted on a detector unit housing and/or located at an end of a detector camera e.g. fan <NUM> <FIG>.

<FIG> is a simplified schematic of inner portions of a detector <NUM> including a shaped heat sink <NUM>, according to some embodiments of the invention.

<FIG> are simplified front views of portions of a detector camera unit <NUM> within a detector cover <NUM>, according to some embodiments of the invention.

Referring now to <FIG>, in some embodiments, a detector camera unit <NUM> includes a heat sink <NUM> coupled to detector camera <NUM>. In some embodiments, a detector camera <NUM> includes a collimator <NUM> and a detector array of scintillation crystals <NUM> (e.g. as described elsewhere in this document).

In some embodiments, a plurality of detector camera units <NUM> are each part of a different extendable arm coupled to a detector carrier (e.g. as described elsewhere in this document). In some embodiments, the extendable arms are translatable to bring two or more detector camera units into close proximity. Where close proximity between detector camera units includes contact between covers of the units (e.g. covers <NUM> and <NUM> <FIG>) and/or a distance between the two detector camera units at, at least one point of less than <NUM>, or less than <NUM>, or less than <NUM>, or <NUM>-<NUM>, or <NUM>-<NUM>, or lower or higher or intermediate ranges or distances.

In some embodiments, camera <NUM> is moveable (e.g. as described elsewhere in this document), for example, rotatable about one or more axis. In some embodiments, rotation of a detector camera unit reduces a distance between the detector camera unit and another detector camera unit, e.g. an adjacent detector camera unit. In some embodiments, heat sink <NUM> is shaped to have reduced volume at one or more region which approaches adjacent detector camera unit/s during movement of the detector unit/s e.g. translation and/or rotation. In an exemplary embodiment, a detector camera unit is coupled to a heat sink with reduced volume at one or more portion of the detector camera unit which rotates towards other detector camera unit/s.

In some embodiments, heat sink <NUM> extends away from the detector camera, e.g. to a height above a surface (e.g. planar) of the detector camera. In some embodiments, the heat sink is shaped, e.g. including one or more portion which extends away from the detector camera to a lower height e.g. than other portion/s of the heat sink. The height reduction, in some embodiments, reducing one or more detector camera unit dimension for at least some angles of rotation of the detector about at least one axis. For example, referring now to <FIG>, in some embodiments, the heat sink is shaped to reduce one or more moved and/or rotated dimension of the detector camera unit. In <FIG> a width of the detector camera unit, w3 is smaller in dimension to a width w4 of the detector camera unit with a heat sink which extends uniformly <NUM>.

In some embodiments, reduced height and/or lack of height uniformity of the heat sink reduces efficiency and/or or ability of the heat sink to cool the detector camera to a uniform temperature and/or ability of the heat sink to reduce temperature differences at different portions of the detector camera.

Returning now to <FIG>, in some embodiments, heat sink <NUM> opposes detector camera, for example with a planar surface of the heat sink parallel to a planar surface of the detector camera. In some embodiments, the detector array and/or collimator has a cuboid shape e.g. an elongate cuboid shape with a central long axis (e.g. as illustrated in <FIG>; detector camera <NUM> and/or axis <NUM>). In some embodiments, the heat sink has an elongate shape, in some embodiments, a long axis of the heat sink is parallel to a long axis of the detector camera.

In some embodiments the heat sink has a base portion <NUM> (e.g. which is planar). In some embodiments, base portion <NUM> is thermally coupled to the detector camera. In some embodiments, base portion <NUM> has a top portion <NUM> which opposes a top surface of the detector camera. In an exemplary embodiment, base portion <NUM> has at least one side <NUM> (e.g. two sides) which extend, from lateral edges of the base portion <NUM> e.g. towards the detector camera <NUM>. In some embodiments, base portion <NUM> is orientated parallel to one or more plane of the detector camera. Potentially, the base portion distributes heat, for example, potentially reducing variation in temperature of different portions of the detector camera and/or array.

In some embodiments, for example where the axis of rotation of the detector camera is parallel to a heat sink long axis, a cross section of the heat sink (e.g. cross section taken perpendicular to a long axis of the heat sink) is symmetrical.

In some embodiments, heat sink <NUM> includes a plurality of fins <NUM>. In some embodiments, heat sink <NUM> includes a plurality of fins <NUM> separated by inlets <NUM>. In some embodiments, height of on outer contour of the heat sink (e.g. of fins) at one or more lateral edge and/or lateral portion (e.g. edge <NUM>-<NUM>%, or <NUM>-<NUM>%, or <NUM>-<NUM>% or lower or higher or intermediate ranges or percentages of a width w1 of the heat sink) of the heat sink (h1 and/or h2) is <NUM>-<NUM>%, or <NUM>-<NUM>%, or <NUM>-<NUM>%, or lower or higher or intermediate ranges or percentages of an average and/or maximum height of a central portion (e.g. a central <NUM>-<NUM>% or <NUM>-<NUM>%, or <NUM>-<NUM>%) and/or tallest portion (e.g. height of a tallest fin, h3). In some embodiments, the heat sink is non-symmetrical, e.g. where h1 and h2 are not equal e.g. when the tallest portion of the heat sink (e.g. tallest fin) is not central on the cross section of the heat sink.

In some embodiments, the heat sink includes a portion which extends away from the detector camera and/or planar portion <NUM> which is, in some embodiments, has a non-cuboid shape.

In an exemplary embodiment, a shape of an outer contour of the heat sink curves away from a highest point (e.g. longest fin), fins, for example, gradually reducing in height away from the highest portion (e.g. longest fin). Where, in some embodiments, the outer contour is a smooth contour which connects distal ends of heat sink fins. In some embodiments, a cross sectional shape of the heat sink e.g. of a contour contacting the tips of the fins is a curved shape e.g. an arc of a circle. In an exemplary embodiment, the shape is of an arc of a circle centered around the axis of rotation of the detector camera.

<FIG> are simplified schematic exemplary detector camera unit cross sections, according to some embodiments of the invention. In some embodiments, the heat sink has other cross sectional outer contour shape/s, than those illustrated in <FIG>, for at least a portion of the heat sink. For example, including fin/s which extend to a semi-circular shape (e.g. <FIG>), triangular shape (e.g. <FIG>), half polygon shape e.g. half pentagon, hexagon (e.g. <FIG>), heptagon, octagon.

In some embodiments, cross sectional shape of the heat sink changes along one or more axis of the heat sink (e.g. along a long axis of the heat sink and/or heat sink base), for example, in some embodiments, the heat sink includes one or more inlet configured to receive a clamp <NUM>. For example, in an embodiment where the detector camera has more than one axis of rotation, the heat sink is shaped along more than one cross section e.g. having a dome shape. In some embodiments, the heat sink has the same cross section (e.g. cross section perpendicular to a long axis of the heat sink and/or an axis of the heat sink parallel to an axis of rotation of the detector camera) for <NUM>-<NUM>% of the length of the axis, or <NUM>-<NUM>% or lower or higher or intermediate percentages or ranges. For examples, in some embodiments, the heat sink changing shape along a long axis of the heat sink, e.g. to maintain uniform temperature along the detector camera. For example, in some embodiment, the heat sink is taller at a region in proximity to a motor which produces heat (e.g. motor <NUM> <FIG>) and tapering and/or reducing along a long axis of the heat sink away from the motor.

In some embodiments, the detector camera embodiment illustrated in <FIG> has a single axis of rotation which, in some embodiments, aligned with a long axis of detector camera <NUM>. In some embodiments, the axis of rotation is central with respect to a width w of the detector camera.

<FIG> illustrate potential advantages of a shaped heat sink <NUM> e.g. as described regarding heat sink <NUM> <FIG>. Potentially, the shaped heat sink (e.g. as compared to a cuboid cross section heat sink <NUM>) enables rotation of the detector camera within a smaller cover and/or a wider range of rotation angles for a given cover (e.g. without the heat sink contacting and/or experiencing high friction between the heat sink and the cover). A smaller cover potentially enables the detector camera to be positioned closer to a patient and/or a region of interest e.g. within a patient. Potentially, shaped cover <NUM> enables detector head <NUM> to be advanced closer to another detector head <NUM> e.g. for a smaller bore size.

It is expected that during the life of a patent maturing from this application many relevant nuclear medicine technologies will be developed and the scope of the terms nuclear medicine tomography system, cooling system, detector head, heat sink, are intended to include all such new technologies a priori.

The term "consisting essentially of" means that the composition or structure may include additional ingredients, steps and/or parts, but only if the additional ingredients, steps and/or parts do not materially alter the basic and novel characteristics of the claimed composition or structure.

Accordingly, it is intended to embrace all such alternatives, modifications and variations that fall within the broad scope of the appended claims.

Claim 1:
A nuclear medicine tomography system comprising:
a detector carrier (<NUM>, <NUM>, <NUM>);
a detector carrier housing (<NUM>, <NUM>, <NUM>, <NUM>, <NUM>, <NUM>) including an inner space (<NUM>, <NUM>, <NUM>, <NUM>, <NUM>);
a heat pump configured to cool air within said inner space to a temperature below room temperature of a room in which said system is located;
a plurality of detector units (<NUM>, <NUM>, <NUM>, <NUM>, <NUM>) mounted to said detector carrier (<NUM>, <NUM>, <NUM>), each detector unit comprising:
a detector camera (<NUM>, <NUM>); and
an extendable arm (<NUM>, <NUM>, <NUM>) extendable with respect to said detector carrier (<NUM>, <NUM>, <NUM>), said extendable arm (<NUM>, <NUM>, <NUM>) housing said detector camera (<NUM>, <NUM>);
a cooling channel (<NUM>) passing through said extendable arm (<NUM>, <NUM>, <NUM>) which guides air to said detector camera from said inner space; and
an exhaust channel (<NUM>, <NUM>) passing through said extendable arm (<NUM>, <NUM>, <NUM>) which guides air from the detector camera (<NUM>, <NUM>) to said inner space (<NUM>, <NUM>, <NUM>, <NUM>, <NUM>).