Title: Transparent ceramic garnet scintillator detector for positron emission tomography

Abstract

In one embodiment, a method includes forming a powder having a composition with the formula: A_hB_iC_jO₁₂, where h is 3.+-.10%, i is 2.+-.10%, j is 3.+-.10%, A includes one or more rare earth elements, B includes aluminum and/or gallium, and C includes aluminum and/or gallium. The method additionally includes consolidating the powder to form an optically transparent ceramic, and applying at least one thermodynamic process condition during the consolidating to reduce oxygen and/or thermodynamically reversible defects in the ceramic. In another embodiment, a scintillator includes (Gd_3-a-cY_a)_x(Ga_5-bAl_b)_yO₁₂D_c, where a is from about 0.05-2, b is from about 1-3, x is from about 2.8-3.2, y is from about 4.8-5.2, c is from about 0.003-0.3, and D is a dopant, and where the scintillator is an optically transparent ceramic scintillator having physical characteristics of being formed from a ceramic powder consolidated in oxidizing atmospheres.

Inventors:

Cherepy, Nerine; Payne, Stephen A.; Seeley, Zachary; Cohen, Peter Carl; Andreaco, Mark S.; Schmand, Matthias J.

Issue Date:

2018-06-19

Research Org.:

Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory (LLNL), Livermore, CA (United States)

Sponsoring Org.:

USDOE

OSTI Identifier:

1459539

Patent Number(s):

10000698

Application Number:

15/064,509

Assignee:

Lawrence Livermore National Security, LLC (Livermore, CA)

Patent Classifications (CPCs):

C - CHEMISTRY C04 - CEMENTS C04B - LIME, MAGNESIA

C - CHEMISTRY C09 - DYES C09K - MATERIALS FOR MISCELLANEOUS APPLICATIONS, NOT PROVIDED FOR ELSEWHERE

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C - CHEMISTRY C04 - CEMENTS C04B - LIME, MAGNESIA

C04B2235/3217 - Aluminum oxide or oxide forming salts thereof, e.g. bauxite, alpha-alumina
C04B2235/3224 - Rare earth oxide or oxide forming salts thereof, e.g. scandium oxide
C04B2235/3225 - Yttrium oxide or oxide-forming salts thereof
C04B2235/3286 - Gallium oxides, gallates, indium oxides, indates, thallium oxides, thallates or oxide forming salts thereof, e.g. zinc gallate
C04B2235/6583 - Oxygen containing atmosphere, e.g. with changing oxygen pressures
C04B2235/764 - Garnet structure A3B2
C04B2235/9653 - Translucent or transparent ceramics other than alumina
C04B35/44 - based on aluminates
C04B35/6267 - {Pyrolysis, carbonisation or auto-combustion reactions}

C - CHEMISTRY C09 - DYES C09K - MATERIALS FOR MISCELLANEOUS APPLICATIONS, NOT PROVIDED FOR ELSEWHERE

C09K11/7774 - {Aluminates

G - PHYSICS G01 - MEASURING G01T - MEASUREMENT OF NUCLEAR OR X-RADIATION

G01T1/2002 - {Optical details, e.g. reflecting or diffusing layers}
G01T1/2018 - {Scintillation-photodiode combination}
G01T1/202 - the detector being a crystal
G01T1/249 - {specially adapted for use in SPECT or PET

G - PHYSICS G21 - NUCLEAR PHYSICS G21K - TECHNIQUES FOR HANDLING PARTICLES OR IONISING RADIATION NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR

G21K4/00 - Conversion screens for the conversion of the spatial distribution of X-rays or particle radiation into visible images, e.g. fluoroscopic screens

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DOE Contract Number:  

AC52-07NA27344

Resource Type:

Patent

Resource Relation:

Patent File Date: 2016 Mar 08

Country of Publication:

United States

Language:

English