Technology and Design

The D-SPECT open gantry design is about patient access and comfort. The scanner is designed so nuclear departments or cardiology offices can image even the most challenging patients. During a cardiac scan, such as myocardial perfusion imaging, there is no gantry motion, so patients can easily be positioned and scanned. ​ The chair provides the flexibility to image the patient supine position, upright position or any angle in between. It supports up to 1000lb/454kg.​

Spectrum Dynamics’ unique implementation of CZT solid-state detectors has established the design as the gold standard of CZT-based SPECT cameras used in Nuclear Medicine.

CZT detectors technical advantages for SPECT imaging, when compared to traditional NaI detectors, include higher sensitivity, improved energy resolution, and increased sensitivity.. CZT eliminates the need for photomultiplier tubes.

Spectrum Dynamics combines the CZT modules in a proprietary and patented column design. These detector columns swivel during a SPECT scan acquisition, while the gantry is in a fixed position and close to the patient There is no perceivable motion for the patient during the scanning session. This design is beneficial in more than one way: focus the field of view in a specific or an for even higher sensitivity  gains during a scan acquisition; 3D dynamic imaging of any organ;  lower dose protocols; scanner throughput.

The D-SPECT camera contains 6 or 9 detector columns.
Spectrum Dynamics’ patented swivel head detectors are
pixelated to align with the parallel hole tungsten collimators
to allow for faster acquisition.
Each scanner design is optimized to allow for the gantry to be
positioned as close as possible to the patient: this ensures the
best image quality in a nuclear medicine scan: proximity with
no gantry rotation or motion.

Guided Patient Positioning for Efficient Workflow

D-SPECT: Utilizes digital technology in a unique design for high quality imaging

A Breakthrough in Nuclear Cardiac Imaging

Unique Approach in SPECT Myocardial Perfusion Imaging

D-SPECT Image Gallery

D-SPECT Series Page Case1 Image1 Analog D-SPECT Series Page Case1 Image2 Digital

Analog

Digital

D-SPECT Series Page Case2 Image1 Analog D-SPECT Series Page Case2 Image2 Digital

Analog

Digital

D-SPECT Series Page Case3 Image1 Supine D-SPECT Series Page Case3 Image2 Upgright

Supine

Upright

myocardial perfusion imaging
4min stress / 6min rest

myocardial perfusion imaging
4min stress / 6min rest

myocardial perfusion imaging
7min rest upright / supine

Testimonials

I have worked on the DSPECT camera since 2008.  The image quality, patient throughput, capabilities and efficiency of this camera has been top notch.  The providers continue to be satisfied with the image quality and reliability of each scan.  We are able to identify minimal defects and continue patient care accordingly.  The patients are extremely pleased with the ease and speed of imaging.  The overall throughput of the system allows us to run a highly effective and efficient department and maximize patient turnaround time.  I continue to enjoy the DSPECT camera and would recommend this system to any clinic or patient. 
Julia Tubb, B.S., CNMT, ARRT
Cardiology & Nuclear Medicine Clinical Manager Regional Clinics of Longview, TX USA
The D-SPECT camera has improved our lab in all of the following areas:  Efficiency, quality, accuracy, decreased radiation exposure and increased patient satisfaction.  We’ve had it for 3 years now have had 0% downtime.  We absolutely love it! 
De De Etherton
Nuclear Medicine Department Manager Baptist Health/Louisville Cardiology, Louisville KY, USA
The DSPECT-L camera has proven to be quite beneficial in differentiating attenuation artifacts from true defects with the added supine imaging. The added supine imaging time wasn’t an inconvenience at all. The seating has been comfortable for both average as well as obese patients. 
Lisa Gonzales, CNMT
Technical Director Cardiovascular Institute of NW FL Panama City FL
We are an outpatient cardiology office working with the nine detector D-SPECT Cardio MPI Imaging System since April 2020. We have performed over 1,700 single day rest-stress sestamibi studies on the system. Ninety-eight percent of our scans are performed in the upright position. We have scanned patient up to 485 pounds. We use the Cedars-Sinai QGS+QPS quantitative software package. All of our experience has been during the covid-19 pandemic which is a challenge. Spectrum Dynamics installed the camera and provided remote site applications training in April followed by onsite training in June. Dine Badri, the instructor, was knowledgeable and patient with us. He set the system acquisition and processing preferences to our specifications. The daily quality control procedure is timesaving and reveals a very stable system. We have experienced no downtime with the system. The system connectivity imports patient demographic data and transfers scan data to our hospital PACS. Phone support is excellent. We have been more efficient with our patient throughput. We have reduced patient sestamibi doses and reduced study acquisition time. The stationary gantry has greatly reduced patient motion artifact. Patients we have been following for years have commented how they like this system over the previous imaging systems we have used. The image quality is great. In summary we are pleased with the technical support, service support and quality of the images. The reduction in radiation exposure for the patients and technical staff is measurable. Patient comfort and throughput are improved. We are happy with the system. Thanks,
Stanley Johnson
Nuclear Medicine Lead Technologist St. Joseph’s/Candler
From the nuclear medicine physicians' perspective: "Having equipment with such a high level of performance improves clinical confidence and produces better results in less time and in the best ergonomic condition for the patients. The possibility of assessing CFR with CZT is very important in management and in making clinical decisions, especially in patients with multiverses coronary artery disease, in particular populations as diabetic patients and patients with microvascular non-obstructive heart disease.“

From the medical physicist's perspective: “The new D-SPECT CARDIO quality control is much faster and easier. The software is user-friendly, and daily QC and calibrations are very quick and easy to perform with a unique and well-defined procedure. As far as radiation protection is concerned, the D-SPECT allows injection of a lower administered activity to reduce radiation exposure while providing high-quality diagnostic images within a shorter acquisition time. It results in lower exposure to the staff.”

From the technologist's standpoint: “The D-SPECT system presents the latest generation of highly sensitive detectors arranged on a stationary gantry in a curved configuration to accommodate the patient’s heart. The unique aspect of the D-SPECT system allows patients to be imaged while sitting and positioned upright and/or supine. Upright positioning is an enhancement and an improvement for dedicated cardiac systems, especially helpful when imaging patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease or dyspnea, as lying flat often exacerbates shortness of breath. Superior image quality, low doses, and fast acquisition times, combined with optimal patient comfort, demonstrate that D-SPECT technology is advantageous both for the patient and the nuclear medicine professionals acquiring and reading the study."
Dr. Maria Koutelou, MD, PhD, MSc
Nuclear Medicine Physician Director of Nuclear Medicine Dept Onassis Cardiac Surgery Center

Customer Sites

The Louis Pradel Hospital, Lyon France

Morbihan Nuclear Medicine Center (CMNM), Vannes and Lorient France

Centre Georges-François Leclerc, France

Emory University Hospital Midtown, Atlanta, USA

John Radcliffe Hospital, Oxford United Kingdom

Downloads

White Paper: Calculating Flow Reserve with CZT SPECT: Fundamentals and Applications

D-SPECT CARDIO Brochure