Methods and apparatus for adjusting emission imaging system detector attitude

An emission tomographic system which includes a gantry and a detector is described. The system automatically adjusts the detector attitude to maintain the detector at a desired orientation with respect to a patient during a scan. The system includes a tilt drive and processor coupled to the gantry and the detector. The processor receives signals indicative of changes in the gantry pitch angle, and uses such signals to determine appropriate changes in detector tilt. For each change in gantry pitch angle, the processor executes an algorithm relating gantry pitch angle to detector tilt angle, and determines an appropriate responsive change in detector tilt angle. The tilt drive then tilts the detector in accordance with the appropriate responsive change.