Modular scintillation camera

Patent · Tue Apr 30 00:00:00 EDT 1985

OSTI ID:5329237

Barrett, H H

Improved optical coupling modules to be used in coded-aperture-type radiographic imaging systems. In a first system, a rotating slit coded-aperture is employed between the radioactive object and the module. The module consists of one pair of side-by-side photomultipliers receiving light rays from a scintillation crystal exposed to the object via the coded-aperture. The light rays are guided to the photomultipliers by a mask having a central transverse transparent window, or by a cylindrical lens, the mask or lens being mounted in a light-conveying quartz block assembly providing internal reflections at opposite faces of the assembly. This generates output signals from the photomultipliers which can be utilized to compute one-dimensional coordinate values for restoring the image of the radioactive object on a display screen. In another form of optical coupling module, usable with other types of coded-apertures, four square photomultipliers form a substantially square block and receive light rays from scintillations from a scintillation crystal exposed to the radioactive object via the coded-aperture. The light rays are guided to the photomultipliers by a square mask or a centrally transparent square lens configuration mounted in a light-conveying assembly formed by internally reflecting quartz blocks, the optical rays being directed to the respective photomultipliers so as to generate resultant output signals which can be utilized to compute image coordinate values for two-dimensional representation of the radioactive object being examined.

• Assignee: The United States of America as represented by the Department of Health and Human Services
• Patent Number(s): US 4514632
• OSTI ID: 5329237
• Resource Relation: Patent File Date: Filed date 24 Nov 1981; Other Information: PAT-APPL-324464
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

46 INSTRUMENTATION RELATED TO NUCLEAR SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY
GAMMA CAMERAS
DESIGN
BIOMEDICAL RADIOGRAPHY
GAMMA RADIATION
IMAGE PROCESSING
OPTICAL SYSTEMS
PHOTOMULTIPLIERS
SOLID SCINTILLATION DETECTORS
CAMERAS
DIAGNOSTIC TECHNIQUES
ELECTROMAGNETIC RADIATION
IONIZING RADIATIONS
MEASURING INSTRUMENTS
MEDICINE
NUCLEAR MEDICINE
PHOTOTUBES
PROCESSING
RADIATION DETECTORS
RADIATIONS
RADIOLOGY
SCINTILLATION COUNTERS
440103* - Radiation Instrumentation- Nuclear Spectroscopic Instrumentation