Method and apparatus for measuring lung density by Compton backscattering

Patent · Tue Apr 02 04:00:00 EST 1991

OSTI ID:5729778

Loo, B W; Goulding, F S

This patent describes a non-invasive method for measuring lung density comprising the steps of: irradiating a target lung with a single collimated beam of monochromatic photons; using a single high-resolution detector, detecting photons which are Compton backscattered by the target lung; measuring energies of the backscattered photons; determining relative intensities of scattering at successive points along the collimated beam inside the target lung by comparing the intensity of each of the successive points with the intensity of each adjacent point along the collimated beam; determining attenuation constant of the target lung from the relative intensities; and determining density of the target lung from the attenuation constant. The patent also describes a Compton densitometer for measuring lung density through a wall of unknown composition and thickness.

• Assignee: The Regents of the Univ. of California, Berkeley, CA
• Patent Number(s): A; US 5003980
• Application Number: PPN: US 7-470420A
• OSTI ID: 5729778
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

550602* -- Medicine-- External Radiation in Diagnostics-- (1980-)
62 RADIOLOGY AND NUCLEAR MEDICINE
BASIC INTERACTIONS
BEAMS
BIOMEDICAL RADIOGRAPHY
BODY
COMPTON EFFECT
DENSITOMETERS
DENSITY
DIAGNOSTIC TECHNIQUES
ELASTIC SCATTERING
ELECTROMAGNETIC INTERACTIONS
INTERACTIONS
IRRADIATION
LUNGS
MEASURING INSTRUMENTS
MEASURING METHODS
MEDICINE
NUCLEAR MEDICINE
ORGANS
PHOTOMETERS
PHOTON BEAMS
PHYSICAL PROPERTIES
RADIATION DETECTORS
RADIOLOGY
RESOLUTION
RESPIRATORY SYSTEM
SCATTERING