Patent ID: 8041414

Claim:
A dual-modality imaging system, wherein a magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) apparatus for acquiring MRI data and at least one optical imaging detector for acquiring optical imaging data are arranged to acquire the MRI data and the optical imaging data of an imaged object simultaneously, the at least one optical imaging detector being a non-contact optical imaging detector and wherein the MRI apparatus comprises an imaging magnet to produce a static magnetic field within an imaging volume of the MRI apparatus, gradient coils to produce gradient magnetic fields to superimpose the static magnetic field within the imaging volume and at least one radio frequency (RF) coil, which is arranged within the imaging volume to surround the imaged object, at least a subsystem of the at least one optical imaging detector being arranged within the imaging volume to detect photons emitted by the imaged object through a recess of the RF coil, characterized in that the at least one optical imaging detector comprises a micro-lens array with a plurality of micro-lenses, the micro-lens array being integrated into the at least one RF coil.