Patent 6,490,476: A combined PET and X-Ray CT for acquiring CT and PET images sequentially in a single device, overcoming alignment problems due to internal organ movement, variations in scanner bed profile, and positioning of the patient for the scan. In order to achieve a good signal-to-noise (SNR) for imaging any region of the body, an improvement to both the CT-based attenuation correction procedure and the uniformity of the noise structure in the PET emission scan is provided. The PET/CT scanner includes an X-ray CT and two arrays of PET detectors mounted on a single support within the same gantry, and rotate the support to acquire a full projection data set for both imaging modalities. The tomograph acquires functional and anatomical images which are accurately co-registered, without the use of external markers or internal landmarks.

Filed: October 10, 2000

Inventors: Dr. David W. Townsend, Dr. Ronald Nutt

Assignee: CTI PET Systems, Inc.

Commercial Name: N/A

Patent 6,631,284: The abstract of both patents are identical. The difference between the two lies in the claims of the patent. The "476" patent's claims are for the method used to acquire the combined image, while the "284" patent's claims are to the mechanics of the device.

Filed: June 12, 2002

Inventors: Dr. Ronald Nutt, Dr. David W. Townsend

Assignee: CTI PET Systems, Inc.

Commercial Name: N/A