Compact gantry system using independently controllable detectors

1. A gantry system, comprising:

a stator comprising a bore therethrough;

a carriage moveably attached to the stator;

a plurality of image detectors, each image detector having a detector arm attached to the carriage and a detector head extending from the detector arm in an L-shape configuration;

wherein the detector head, for at least one image detector, extends into the bore of the stator in the z-direction while the detector arm, for the at least one image detector, is outside of the bore of the stator in the z-direction.

2. The gantry system of claim 1 , wherein the carriage comprises:

a rotor with a rotor bore therethrough, said rotor attached to said stator such that the stator bore and rotor bore create a combined bore; wherein the rotor rotates around the axis of the combined bore; and

wherein each detector arm extends into the bore of the rotor but does not extend into the bore of the stator.

3. The gantry system of claim 1 , further comprising:

a rail attached to the stator;

wherein the carriage comprises a slider such that the slider is movably attached to the rail.

4. The gantry system of claim 1 , wherein the carriage comprises:

a movement member that is movably attached the stator; and

wherein the movement member is straight, and a plurality of the image detectors are perpendicularly attached to the movement member.

5. The gantry system of claim 1 , wherein:

the image detectors are linearly attached to the carriage.

6. The gantry system of claim 1 , wherein:

the image detectors are radially attached to the carriage.

7. The gantry of claim 1 , wherein:

at least some of the plurality of image detectors are configured to acquire Single Photon Emission Computed Tomography (SPECT) data.

8. The gantry system of claim 1 , wherein:

at least some of the plurality of image detectors are configured to acquire Positron Emission Tomography (PET) data.

9. The gantry system of claim 1 , wherein:

at least one detector head is pivotable with respect to its detector arm.

10. The gantry system of claim 1 , further comprising:

a table for positioning a subject of an imaging scan;

an image reconstruction device; and

wherein the image detectors detect emission data from a subject of an imaging scan who has been placed on the table and the system reconstructs an output image from detected emission data.

11. The gantry system of claim 1 , wherein:

each detector arm can extend and retract; and

each detector head can pivot its angle.

12. The gantry system of claim 11 , further comprising:

a controller unit to control the movement of the carriage, extension and retraction of an image detector arm, and pivoting of an image detector head;

wherein the controller unit may control the carriage, image detector arm, and image detector head based on installation information, an imaging protocol, or user input.

13. The gantry system of claim 1 , further comprising:

an image reconstruction device;

an operator console;

wherein:

an imaging operation is initiated by the operator console;

the gantry system performs the imaging operation by receiving emission data from the image detectors and moving at least one of the carriage, a detector arm, or a detector head during the imaging operation to detect emission data at multiple view angles;

the gantry system sends the emission data at multiple view angles to the image reconstruction device; and

the image reconstruction device reconstructs the emission data into an output image for display on the operator console.

14. The gantry system of claim 13 , wherein:

at least one image detector is extended and activate for the imaging operation; and

at least one image detector is retracted and inactive for the imaging operation.

15. The gantry system of claim 1 , wherein:

the plurality of image detectors includes at least ten image detectors.

16. The gantry system of claim 1 , further comprising:

a second carriage movably attached to the stator;

a second plurality of image detectors attached to said second carriage; and

wherein the second plurality of image detectors is of a different amount than the first plurality of image detectors attached to the first carriage.

17. The gantry system of claim 1 , further comprising

a second carriage movably attached to the stator with a second plurality of image detectors attached thereto;

a third carriage movably attached to the stator with a third plurality of image detectors attached thereto;

a fourth carriage movably attached to the stator with a fourth plurality of image detectors attached thereto; and

wherein each detector head of all image detectors extend into the bore of the stator in the z-direction.

18. An imaging method, comprising:

receiving an imaging operation request;

beginning an imaging operation by receiving emission data from a plurality of image detectors at a first imaging position;

instructing the movement of a carriage movably attached to a gantry stator, wherein the stator has a bore therethrough, wherein the plurality of image detectors are attached to the carriage such that the image detectors are moved to a second imaging position;

continuing the imaging operation by receiving emission data from the plurality of image detectors at the second imaging position;

wherein each image detector has a detector arm attached to the carriage and a detector head extending from the detector arm in an L-shape configuration; and

wherein the detector head, for at least one image detector, extends into the bore of the stator in the z-direction while the detector arm, for the at least one image detector, is outside of the bore of the stator in the z-direction.

19. The imaging method of claim 18 , wherein:

the carriage comprises a rotor, a slider, or movement member.