Transformable dual head spect camera system

• Main Author: PLUMMER; STEVEN J
• Format: Patent
• Language: English
• Published: 29.10.1996
• Edition: 6
• Subjects: DIAGNOSIS; HUMAN NECESSITIES; HYGIENE; IDENTIFICATION; MEASUREMENT OF NUCLEAR OR X-RADIATION; MEASURING; MEDICAL OR VETERINARY SCIENCE; PHYSICS; SURGERY; TESTING

A SPECT camera system has two detector heads (16a, 16b) which are movable between position (FIG. 2) and an adjacent, orthogonal position (FIG. 3). The detector heads have slide members (42a, 42b) which are slidably received on linear guide members (40a, 40b) of carriers (16a, 16b). The carriers have followers (20a, 22a, 24a; 20b, 22b, 24b) which are slidably received along linear guide paths (26a, 28a, 30a; 26b; 28b, 30b). Hydraulic or other extensible cylinders (32a, 32b) selectively permit the carriers, hence the detector heads, to slide along the guide paths between the 180 DEG opposite and the adjacent, orthogonal positions. Preferably, a rotating gantry (12) is rotated to place both detector heads above an intended position. In this manner, the extensible cylinders controllably lower the detector heads as they move by gravity from the present position to the intended position. In both the 180 DEG opposite and the adjacent orthogonal positions, the detector heads concurrently rotate around an axis of rotation (14a) and move radially in and out to minimize the distance between the subject and the detector head.