Design concepts for a low cost nuclear medicine computer

Having data processing capabilities linked to a scintillation camera is becoming essential in order to provide a full range of standard clinical examinations such as kidney function studies, cardiac studies and stomach emptying studies. Improved scintillation camera quality control is also possible. In addition, the computer allows recall and reprocessing of clinical data, ease of data storage and manipulation of patient information. The cost of current commercial systems is between US $60,000 and $100,000, an amount many laboratories in both developed and developing countries cannot afford. For this reason, Diagnostic Technology Consultants is designing a computer system for acquisition and processing of planar studies based on an IBM AT compatible computer. The system collects in digital matrices up to 256x256, in static, dynamic or gated frame mode, and gated or ungated list mode. A zoomed collection can be made from a region selected by the user. The maximum count rate capability is over 100,000 c/s. EKG gating allows real time rejection of bad beats and the data can be collected from five separate beat lengths. The monitor is a high resolution display with 256 colours and the system is controlled by 'mouse' or keyboard interactions. The system provides a full range of processing and clinical protocols with the exception of SPECT data processing, and will be available at less than half the cost of current systems. (author)