Scintillation camera with removable subassembly

Claim 2

In a gamma imaging device, the improved detector head comprising: a. a housing; b. a collimator connected to said housing c. a lift-out subassembly within the housing and removable as a unit; d. means for lifting the subassembly; and, e. said subassembly including a scintillation crystal, a plurality of phototubes, an optical coupling means between said crystal and said phototubes, and means to maintain the subassembly in an assembled condition as it is inserted in and removed from the housing.

Claim 3

The device of claim 1 additionally including: an apertured cover plate around the phototubes; and, spacers maintaining the plates in predetermined spaced relationship.

Claim 4

The device of claim 2 wherein bushings are around each of said phototubes and interposed between said cover plate and said phototubes and wherein the means to maintain the subassembly in assembled condition includes clamping means clamping said bushings against said phototubes and said crystal housing against said optical coupling means whereby the phototubes and the optical coupling means are maintained in close juxtaposed relationship to maintain an optical coupling from said crystal to said phototubes.

Claim 5

In a gamma imaging device, the improved detector head comprising: a. a housing; b. a collimator connected to the housing; c. a removable assembly within said housing comprising; i. a scintillation crystal and a plurality of phototubes carried by the housing and adapted to emit electric signals in response to light scintillations occurring in the crystal; ii. a crystal housing around the crystal and including an output window between the crystal and the phototubes; iii. an optical coupling means connecting said window to the phototubes; iv. an apertured cover plate around the phototubes; v. spacers maintaining the plate in predetermined spaced relationship; vi. bushings around each of the phototubes and interposed between the cover plate and the phototubes; and; vii. clamping means clamping the bushings against the phototubes and the crystal housing against the optical coupling means whereby to maintain the phototubes and the optical coupling means in close juxtaposed relationship and whereby to maintain an optical coupling from said crystal to said phototubes.

Claim 6

In a gamma imaging device, the improved detector head comprising: a. a housing; b. a collimator connected to the housing; c. a removable assembly within said housing comprising; i. a scintillation crystal and a plurality of phototubes carried by the housing and adapted to emit electric signals in response to light scintillations occurring in the crystal; ii. a crystal housing around the crystal and including an output window between the crystal and the phototubes; iii. an optical coupling means connecting said window to the phototubes; iv. an apertured cover plate around the phototubes; v. spacers maintaining the plate in predetermined spaced relationship; vi. bushings around each of the phototubes and interposed between the cover plate and the phototubes; and; vii. clamping means clamping the bushings against the phototubes and the crystal housing against the optical coupling means whereby to maintain the phototubes and the optical coupling means in close juxtaposed relationship and whereby to maintain an optical coupling from said crystal to said phototubes.

Claim 7

The head of claim 4 wherein the lifting means comprises a pair of handles removably connected to said subassembly at diametrically opposite locations.

Claim 8

In a gamma imaging device, the improved detector head comprising: a. a housing; b. a collimator connected to the housing; c. a removable assembly within said housing comprising: i. a scintillation crystal carried by the housing inwardly of said collimator; ii. a plurality of phototubes within the housing and adapted to emit electric signals in response to light scintillations occurring in the crystal; iii. a crystal housing around the crystal and including an output window between the crystal and the phototubes; iv. a light pipe optically connecting said window to the phototubes; v. an apertured locator plate around the phototubes and maintaining the phototubes in predetermined spaced relationship; vi. an apertured cover plate around the phototubes; vii. spacers maintaining the plates in predetermined spaced relationship; viii. bushings around each of the phototubes and interposed between the cover plate and the phototubes; and, ix. clamping means clamping the bushings against the phototubes and the crystal housing against the light pipe whereby to maintain the phototubes and the light pipe in close juxtaposed relationship and whereby to maintain an optical coupling from said crystal to said phototubes.

Claim 9

In a gamma imaging device, the improved detector head comprising: a. a housing; b. a collimator connected to the housing; c. a removable assembly within said housing comprising: i. a scintillation crystal carried by the housing inwardly of said collimator; ii. a plurality of phototubes within the housing and adapted to emit electric signals in response to light scintillations occurring in the crystal; iii. a crystal housing around the crystal and including an output window between the crystal and the phototubes; iv. a light pipe optically connecting said window to the phototubes; v. an apertured locator plate around the phototubes and maintaining the phototubes in predetermined spaced relationship; vi. an apertured cover plate around the phototubes; vii. spacers maintaining the plates in predetermined spaced relationship; viii. bushings around each of the phototubes and interposed between the cover plate and the phototubes; and, ix. clamping means clamping the bushings against the phototubes and the crystal housing against the light pipe whereby to maintain the phototubes and the light pipe in close juxtaposed relationship and whereby to maintain an optical coupling from said crystal to said phototubes.