Positron source position sensing detector and electronics

Patent · Tue Jan 01 00:00:00 EST 1985

OSTI ID:865526

Burnham, Charles A ^[1]; Kaufman, David E ^[2]; Chesler, David A ^[3]; Brownell, Gordon L ^[4]

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1. South Essex, MA
2. Brockton, MA
3. Newton Highlands, MA
4. Cambridge, MA

A positron source, position sensing device, particularly with medical applications, in which positron induced gamma radiation is detected using a ring of stacked, individual scintillation crystals, a plurality of photodetectors, separated from the scintillation crystals by a light guide, and high resolution position interpolation electronics. Preferably the scintillation crystals are several times more numerous than the photodetectors with each crystal being responsible for a single scintillation event from a received gamma ray. The light guide will disperse the light emitted from gamma ray absorption over several photodetectors. Processing electronics for the output of the photodetectors resolves the location of the scintillation event to a fraction of the dimension of each photodetector. Because each positron absorption results in two 180.degree. oppositely traveling gamma rays, the detection of scintillation in pairs permits location of the positron source in a manner useful for diagnostic purposes. The processing electronics simultaneously responds to the outputs of the photodetectors to locate the scintillations to the source crystal. While it is preferable that the scintillation crystal include a plurality of stacked crystal elements, the resolving power of the processing electronics is also applicable to continuous crystal scintillators.

• Research Organization: Sandia National Laboratories (SNL), Albuquerque, NM, and Livermore, CA (United States)
• DOE Contract Number: AC04-76
• Assignee: Massachusetts General Hospital (Boston, MA)
• Patent Number(s): US 4531058
• OSTI ID: 865526
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

positron
source
position
sensing
detector
electronics
device
particularly
medical
applications
induced
gamma
radiation
detected
stacked
individual
scintillation
crystals
plurality
photodetectors
separated
light
guide
resolution
interpolation
preferably
times
numerous
crystal
responsible
single
event
received
ray
disperse
emitted
absorption
processing
output
resolves
location
fraction
dimension
photodetector
results
180
degree
oppositely
traveling
rays
detection
pairs
permits
manner
useful
diagnostic
purposes
simultaneously
responds
outputs
locate
scintillations
preferable
elements
resolving
power
applicable
continuous
scintillators
position sensing
processing electronics
scintillation crystals
medical applications
gamma rays
gamma ray
gamma radiation
sensing device
light guide
light emitted
sensing detector
resolution position
source position
positron source
scintillation crystal
diagnostic purposes
crystal elements
resolving power
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