EP0450388A2
Expired / Lapsed
EP
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Scintillation camera apparatus and method implementing a localized positioning algorithm
Assignee: Siemens AG
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Filing: 1991-03-18
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Granted: —
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Expires: 2011-03-18
Abstract
Abstract A scintillation camera detector includes a plurality of photomultiplier tubes (PMTs). The location of a scintillation event is initially approximated. This approximate location is used to determine which of the PMTs ought to contribute to a calculation of the location of the scintillation event and to assign weights to the outputs of the PMTs so determined. The location of the event is then calculated more accurately.
Inventors
- 👤 Ronald E. Dr. Malmin
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
EP
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-07 09:21
CPC Classifications
G; G01; G01T; G01T1/00; G01T1/16; G01T1/161; G01T1/164; G01T1/1641; G01T1/1642
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 4
Claim 1
Independent Claim
111 words
A detector for use in scintillation cameras, comprising: a scintillator; a plurality of photodetectors in optically communicative relationship with the scintillator and producing electrical outputs representative of scintillation events which take place therein; means for approximating, from said electrical outputs relating to a single scintillation event, the physical location of said event with respect to the scintillator; means for identifying, from said approximation, those photodetector outputs which should be taken into account to determine said physical location and the weights which should be assigned to said outputs in such determination; and means for calculating, from said approximation and said identification, the physical location of said event with respect to the scintillator.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
13 words
The detector of claim 1, wherein said identifying means comprises a look-up table.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
125 words
A scintillation camera, comprising: a scintillator; a plurality of photodetectors in optically communicative relationship with the scintillator and producing electrical outputs representative of scintillation events which take place therein; means for approximating, from said electrical outputs relating to a single scintillation event, the physical location of said event with respect to the scintillator; means for identifying, from said approximation, those photodetector outputs which should be taken into account to determine said physical location and the weights which should be assigned to said outputs in such determination; means for calculating, from said approximation and said identification, the physical location of said event with respect to the scintillator; means for determining the energy of said event; and means for creating images from a plurality of said events.
Claim 4
Independent Claim
138 words
A method of approximating, to a desired degree of accuracy, the location of a scintillation event in a scintillation crystal to which are coupled, in operative optical relationship, a plurality of photodetectors, comprising the following steps: approximating the location of a scintillation event in the scintillation crystal; selecting, from said approximation, a subset of said plurality of photodetectors and a set of weighting factors which apply to said subset; calculating, from outputs of said subset and in accordance with said set of weighting factors, a location of a scintillation event; determining whether said calculated location is calculated to said desired degree of accuracy; if said calculated location is not calculated to said desired degree of accuracy, repeating at least once, said selecting step based on said calculated location and said calculating step based on the repeated selecting step.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
No citation records indexed.
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