A real time motion correction technique for a small-field γ-Camera system

Abstract

A small-field portable γ-Camera system based on a Position Sensitive Photomultiplier Tube (PSPMT) has been recently developed in our Lab. This prototype is to be engaged to clinical applications for planar imaging of <sup xmlns:mml="http://www.w3.org/1998/Math/MathML" xmlns:xlink="http://www.w3.org/1999/xlink">99</sup> Tc-radiotracers during breast cancer operations. Among the basic requirements during data-taking operation is the absence of any distorting motion which can drastically affect the quality of the image. In the present work, a simple and low cost solution to overcome this stability problem by means of commercially available equipment is proposed. It is based on the Nintendo's Wii Remote sensors, a small handheld device which can be easily coupled to the portable camera. It comprises both, a 3D-accelerometer and an infrared-sensor and operates with modern communication protocols (Bluetooth). Based on the received accelerometer and infrared-sensor data, a procedure has been further developed which calculates any real time movement of the system. The γ-Camera's DAQ system, realized on the LabVIEW environment, is capable to store all these primary parameters on a event-by-event basis and to perform the necessary motion correction in real time. Some typical image correction results are presented in the current work.