Radioimaging
Radioimaging methods, devices and radiopharmaceuticals therefor.
1. A method of radioimaging, comprising:
(a) collecting radioimaging data from a patient using a plurality of detection, amplification and signal processing paths configured to avoid saturation due to radiating portions of the patient's body structure; and
(b) reconstructing a radiation emission image using data generated by said plurality of paths,
wherein collecting comprises
(c) identifying preferred sets of views for radioactive-emission measurements of a region of interest within the body, comprising:
(i) providing a model of the region of interest;
(ii) identifying a preferred set of views for the model which reduce saturation effects.
2. A method according to claim 1 , wherein said identifying comprises identifying using at least one information theoretic measure.
3. A method according to claim 1 , wherein said collecting and said reconstructing comprise imaging a region of interest in a body using said set of views.
4. A method according to claim 3 , comprising zooming in on said region of interest in said imaging.
5. A method of radioimaging, comprising:
(a) collecting radioimaging data from a patient using a plurality of detection, amplification and signal processing paths configured to avoid saturation due to radiating portions of the patient's body structure; and
(b) reconstructing a radiation emission image using data generated by said plurality of paths,
wherein said collecting comprises using a prescan, comprising:
(i) performing a prescan of a subject undergoing diagnosis;
(ii) identifying a region-of-interest and potential saturation from said prescan; and
(iii) collecting radiation data from the region-of-interest, taking into account said potential saturation.
6. A method according to claim 5 , wherein said prescan is performed using an imaging modality other than ionizing radiation.
7. A method according to claim 5 , comprising:
(a) acquiring a first “round” of radioactive-emission measurements;
(b) updating a preferred set of views for a next “round” of radioactive-emission measurements; and
(c) performing said next round based on said updating, within less than 5 minutes.
8. A method according to claim 7 , wherein said updating comprises updating according to a determination of detector utilization.
9. A method according to claim 8 , wherein said utilization comprises saturation.
10. A method according to claim 8 , wherein said utilization comprises low counts.
11. A method according to claim 7 , wherein said updating comprises analyzing based on a reconstruction of the body structure, and choosing a preferred set of views for one or more of, better defining edges, and other image quality measures.
12. A method according to claim 7 , wherein said updating comprises analyzing based on a reconstruction of the body structure, and choosing a preferred set of views for ensuring a total count per voxel that meets a desired signal to nose ratio.
13. A method according to claim 7 , wherein said updating comprises analyzing based on a reconstruction of the body structure, and choosing a preferred set of views for ensuring a total count that meets a desired signal to nose ratio.
14. A method according to claim 5 , comprising estimating Compton scatter using an iterative Expectation Maximization (EM) method which converges to a local maximum of a likelihood.
15. A method according to claim 5 , wherein said collecting uses a configuration which avoids saturation by said processing paths being separate so that saturation of one path does not saturate another path.
16. A radioactive emission camera configured for medical imaging of a body or body portion comprising a plurality of detection, amplification and signal processing paths configured to avoid saturation due to radiating portions of the patient's body structure and configured for
(a) collecting radioimaging data from a patient using said plurality of detection, amplification and signal processing paths configured to avoid saturation due to radiating portions of the patient's body structure; and
(b) reconstructing a radiation emission image using data generated by said plurality of paths,
wherein said collecting comprises performing a prescan and identifying therefrom at least one of (i) a preferred set of views which reduce saturation effects and (ii) a region of interest and potential saturation.
17. A camera according to claim 16 , wherein said paths channel at least 256 pixels in parallel to an image reconstructing system.
18. A camera according to claim 16 , wherein said configuring to avoid saturation is provided by said processing paths being separate so that saturation of one path does not saturate another path.
19. A camera according to claim 18 , wherein said paths include at least 128 pixel paths for a single detector.
20. A camera according to claim 16 , configured to identify detector saturation.
21. A camera according to claim 20 , configured to select a new view to avoid saturation.
22. A camera according to claim 20 , configured to select a new view to reinforce a saturated view.
23. A camera according to claim 16 , configured to select or calculate a protocol to be used in administering and imaging of a radiopharmaceutical, based on a determination of saturation of a detector.