Gamma camera for performing nuclear mammography imaging
A gamma camera for use in a molecular imaging system includes a housing, a cadmium zinc telluride (CZT) camera disposed within the housing, and at least one retractable wall coupled to the housing and adapted to secure an anatomy of interest in a field-of-view of the gamma camera. The gamma camera also includes a chamfered edge to enable the gamma camera to contact a second gamma camera when the gamma camera is positioned in an L-mode imaging configuration.
1. A gamma camera comprising:
a housing
a cadmium zinc telluride (CZT) camera disposed within the housing, and
at least one retractable wall coupled to the housing and adapted to secure an anatomy of interest in a field-of-view of the gamma camera.
2. The gamma camera of claim 1 wherein the housing comprises a chamfered edge to enable the gamma camera to contact a second gamma camera when the gamma camera is positioned in an L-mode imaging configuration.
3. The gamma camera of claim 1 wherein the housing comprises a second chamfered edge that is formed on an opposite side of the housing from the chamfered edge.
4. The gamma camera of claim 1 wherein the housing comprises a lower surface, an upper surface, and a centerline disposed between the upper and lower surfaces, the a chamfered edge extending from the centerline to the upper surface.
5. The gamma camera of claim 1 wherein the housing comprises a second chamfered surface extending from the centerline to the lower surface.
6. The gamma camera of claim 1 wherein the housing comprises a detecting surface and an opening extending through the detecting surface, the retractable wall configured to extend through the opening.
7. The gamma camera of claim 1 further comprising a second retractable wall coupled to the housing and adapted to secure an anatomy of interest in the field-of-view of the gamma camera.
8. The gamma camera of claim 1 further comprising a different second retractable wall coupled to the housing, the second retractable wall being positioned perpendicular to the retractable wall and configured to be fully retracted into the housing in a first imaging mode and extend from the housing in a different second imaging mode.
9. The gamma camera of claim 1 wherein the cadmium zinc telluride (CZT) camera comprises a pixilated solid state detector.
10. The gamma camera of claim 1 wherein the housing comprises a first side, a second side disposed opposite to the first side, a third side, a fourth side, the first and second sides comprising a chamfered surface to enable the gamma camera to contact a second gamma camera.
11. The gamma camera of claim 1 further comprising a collimator including a plurality of holes, each collimator hole being registered with a respective pixel formed on the CZT detector.
12. The gamma camera of claim 1 further comprising a manual lever coupled to the retractable wall and configured to extend and retract the retractable wall.
13. The gamma camera of claim 1 wherein the cadmium zinc telluride (CZT) camera comprises a solid state detector, an electronics device coupled to the solid state detector, and a collimator disposed on the solid state detector.
14. A gamma camera comprising:
a housing comprising a chamfered edge to enable the gamma camera to contact a different second gamma camera when the gamma camera is positioned in an L-mode imaging configuration;
a cadmium zinc telluride (CZT) camera disposed within the housing, and
at least one retractable wall coupled to the housing and adapted to secure an anatomy of interest in a field-of-view of the gamma camera.
15. The gamma camera of claim 14 wherein the housing comprises a second chamfered edge that is formed on an opposite side of the housing from the chamfered edge, the chamfered edge and the second chamfered edge each extending from a centerline disposed between an upper and lower surface of the housing to the housing upper surface.
16. The gamma camera of claim 14 further comprising a different second retractable wall coupled to the housing, the second retractable wall being positioned perpendicular to the retractable wall and configured to be fully retracted into the housing in a first imaging mode and extend from the housing in a different second imaging mode.
17. A method of fabricating a gamma camera, said method comprising:
fabricating a housing that includes a first side, a second side, a third side, a fourth side, and an opening defined by the first, second, third, and fourth sides;
installing a cadmium zinc telluride (CZT) camera within the housing opening, and
installing at least one retractable wall within the housing, the retractable wall adapted to secure an anatomy of interest in a field-of-view of the gamma camera.
18. The method of claim 17 further comprising chamfering at least one of the housing sides to enable the gamma camera to contact a second gamma camera when the gamma camera is positioned in an L-mode imaging configuration.
19. The method of claim 17 further comprising fabricating the housing to include a recess that is formed between an interior surface of the housing and the CTZ camera, the retractable wall being configured to be stored in the recess in a first mode of operation and extend from the recess in a different second mode of operation.
20. The method of claim 17 further comprising installing a retractable wall including a plurality of telescoping portions within the housing, the retractable wall adapted to telescope from the housing to secure an anatomy of interest in a field-of-view of the gamma camera.