Radiation detecting apparatus

Claim 2

A light guide for improving the accuracy of locating and indicating the intensity of a radiation source using twodimensional coordinates in a radiation detecting apparatus employing an array of photodetectors each positioned at a unique location in a two-dimensional coordinate system, and for attenuating the erroneous registration in the two-dimensional coordinate system of apparent localized concentrations of radiation simulated internally within the radiation detecting apparatus, comprising a first surface having a highly transparent area for intimate contact with a face of a scintillating crystal assembly, a second surface having highly transparent areas for intimate contact with the light sensitive faces of the photodetectors, a boundary surface joining said first and second surfaces, and a highly light absorbent coating on the light guide surrounding the aforesaid highly transparent areas.

Claim 3

The light guide of claim 1 wherein said light absorbent coating is comprised of an interior layer of paint primer and an exterior layer of black paint.

Claim 4

The light guide of claim 1 wherein said second surface has indentations thereon encircling each of said highly transparent areas for intimate contact with the light sensitive faces of photomultiplier tubes.

Claim 5

The light guide of claim 3 wherein said indentations are of a uniform V-shaped cross section throughout.

Claim 6

The light guide of claim 1 wherein said light guide is a transparent plastic structure.

Claim 7

The light guide of claim 1 wherein said light guide is a transparent glass structure.

Claim 8

A radiation detecting apparatus for locating a radiation source in two-dimensional coordinates, for indicating the intensity of radiation produced by said radiation source, and for attenuating the erroneous registration in a two-dimensional coordinate system of apparent localized concentrations of radiation simulated internally within the radiation detecting apparatus, comprising: a. a planar scintillating crystal assembly having opposite faces, b. a plurality of photodetectors having light sensitive faces and lying at unique locations in the two dimensional coordinate system in a plane parallel to said scintillating crystal assembly and spaced therefrom, c. a light guide interposed between said scintillating crystal assembly and said photodetectors comprising an upstream surface having a highly transparent area in intimate contact with one of said faces of said scintillating crystal assembly, a downstream surface having highly transparent areas in intimate contact with said light sensitive faces of said photodetectors, a boundary surface joining said downstream and upstream surfaces and spanning the distance between said scintillating crystal assembly and said light sensitive faces of said photodetectors, and a highly light absorbent coating on said light guide surrounding the aforesaid areas of intimate contact with said scintillating crystal assembly and said light sensitive faces of said photodeTectors, d. amplifying and computing circuitry means coupled to each of said photodetectors for computing the two-dimensional coordinates of a scintillation produced in said scintillating crystal assembly according to the quanta of radiation produced by said scintillation and sensed by each of said photodetectors, and e. location registration means coupled to said amplifying and computing circuitry means for recording the coordinates of a scintillation.

Claim 9

A radiation detecting apparatus for locating a radiation source in two-dimensional coordinates, for indicating the intensity of radiation produced by said radiation source, and for attenuating the erroneous registration in a two-dimensional coordinate system of apparent localized concentrations of radiation simulated internally within the radiation detecting apparatus, comprising: a. a planar scintillating crystal assembly having opposite faces, b. a plurality of photodetectors having light sensitive faces and lying at unique locations in the two dimensional coordinate system in a plane parallel to said scintillating crystal assembly and spaced therefrom, c. a light guide interposed between said scintillating crystal assembly and said photodetectors comprising an upstream surface having a highly transparent area in intimate contact with one of said faces of said scintillating crystal assembly, a downstream surface having highly transparent areas in intimate contact with said light sensitive faces of said photodetectors, a boundary surface joining said downstream and upstream surfaces and spanning the distance between said scintillating crystal assembly and said light sensitive faces of said photodetectors, and a highly light absorbent coating on said light guide surrounding the aforesaid areas of intimate contact with said scintillating crystal assembly and said light sensitive faces of said photodeTectors, d. amplifying and computing circuitry means coupled to each of said photodetectors for computing the two-dimensional coordinates of a scintillation produced in said scintillating crystal assembly according to the quanta of radiation produced by said scintillation and sensed by each of said photodetectors, and e. location registration means coupled to said amplifying and computing circuitry means for recording the coordinates of a scintillation.

Claim 10

The radiation detecting apparatus of claim 7 wherein said location registration means is an image display means for visually indicating the two-dimensional coordinates of a scintillation.

Claim 11

In a radiation detecting apparatus utilizing a planar scintillating crystal assembly having opposite faces; a plurality of photodetectors having light sensitive faces and lying at unique locations in a two-dimensional coordinate system in a plane parallel to said scintillating crystal assembly and spaced therefrom; a light guide interposed between said scintillating crystal assembly and said photodetectors comprising an upstream surface having an area of intimate contact with one of said faces of said scintillating crystal assembly, a downstream surface having areas of intimate contract with said light sensitive faces of the photodetectors, and a boundary surface joining said downstream and upstream surfaces and spanning the distance between said scintillating crystal assembly and said light sensitive faces of said photodetectors; amplifying and computing circuitry means coupled to each of said photodetectors for computing the two-dimensional coordinates of a scintillation produced in said scintillating crystal assembly according to the quanta of radiation produced by said scintillation and sensed by each of said photodetectors; and location registration means connected to said amplifying and computing circuitry means for recording the coordinates of a scintillation; the improvement wherein the areas of the surfaces of said light guide in intimate contact with said scintillating crystal assembly and said light sensitive faces of said photomultiplier tubes are highly transparent, and the surfaces of said light guide are elsewhere covered with a highly light absorbent coating whereby erroneous registration in the two-dimensional coordinate system of apparent localized concentrations of radiation simulated internally within the radiation detecting apparatus is attenuated.

Claim 12

In a radiation detecting apparatus utilizing a planar scintillating crystal assembly having opposite faces; a plurality of photodetectors having light sensitive faces and lying at unique locations in a two-dimensional coordinate system in a plane parallel to said scintillating crystal assembly and spaced therefrom; a light guide interposed between said scintillating crystal assembly and said photodetectors comprising an upstream surface having an area of intimate contact with one of said faces of said scintillating crystal assembly, a downstream surface having areas of intimate contract with said light sensitive faces of the photodetectors, and a boundary surface joining said downstream and upstream surfaces and spanning the distance between said scintillating crystal assembly and said light sensitive faces of said photodetectors; amplifying and computing circuitry means coupled to each of said photodetectors for computing the two-dimensional coordinates of a scintillation produced in said scintillating crystal assembly according to the quanta of radiation produced by said scintillation and sensed by each of said photodetectors; and location registration means connected to said amplifying and computing circuitry means for recording the coordinates of a scintillation; the improvement wherein the areas of the surfaces of said light guide in intimate contact with said scintillating crystal assembly and said light sensitive faces of said photomultiplier tubes are highly transparent, and the surfaces of said light guide are elsewhere covered with a highly light absorbent coating whereby erroneous registration in the two-dimensional coordinate system of apparent localized concentrations of radiation simulated internally within the radiation detecting apparatus is attenuated.

Claim 13

In a radiation imaging apparatus utilizing a planar scintillating crystal assembly having opposite faces; a plurality of photodetectors having light sensitive faces and lying at unique locations in a two-dimensional coordinate system in a plane parallel to said scintillating crystal assembly and spaced therefrom; a light guide interposed between said scintillating crystal assembly and said photodetectors comprising an upstream surface having an area of intimate contact with one of said faces of said scintillating crystal assembly, a downstream surface having areas of intimate contact with said light sensitive faces of said photodetectors, and a boundary surface joining said downstream and upstream surfaces and spanning the distance between said scintillating crystal assembly and said light sensitive faces of said photodetectors; amplifying and computing circuitry means coupled to each of said photodetectors for computing the two-dimensional coordinates of a scintillation produced in said scintillating crystal assembly according to the quanta of radiation produced by said scintillation and sensed by each of said photodetectors; and an image display means connected to said amplifying and computing circuitry means for visually indicating the coordinates of a scintillation; the improvement wherein the areas of the surfaces of said light guide in intimate contact with said scintillating crystal assembly and said light sensitive faces of said photodetectors are highly transparent, and the surfaces of said light guide are elsewhere covered with a hIghly light absorbent coating whereby erroneous registration in the two-dimensional coordinate system of apparent localized concentrations of radiation simulated internally within the radiation detecting apparatus is attenuated.

Claim 14

In a radiation imaging apparatus utilizing a planar scintillating crystal assembly having opposite faces; a plurality of photodetectors having light sensitive faces and lying at unique locations in a two-dimensional coordinate system in a plane parallel to said scintillating crystal assembly and spaced therefrom; a light guide interposed between said scintillating crystal assembly and said photodetectors comprising an upstream surface having an area of intimate contact with one of said faces of said scintillating crystal assembly, a downstream surface having areas of intimate contact with said light sensitive faces of said photodetectors, and a boundary surface joining said downstream and upstream surfaces and spanning the distance between said scintillating crystal assembly and said light sensitive faces of said photodetectors; amplifying and computing circuitry means coupled to each of said photodetectors for computing the two-dimensional coordinates of a scintillation produced in said scintillating crystal assembly according to the quanta of radiation produced by said scintillation and sensed by each of said photodetectors; and an image display means connected to said amplifying and computing circuitry means for visually indicating the coordinates of a scintillation; the improvement wherein the areas of the surfaces of said light guide in intimate contact with said scintillating crystal assembly and said light sensitive faces of said photodetectors are highly transparent, and the surfaces of said light guide are elsewhere covered with a hIghly light absorbent coating whereby erroneous registration in the two-dimensional coordinate system of apparent localized concentrations of radiation simulated internally within the radiation detecting apparatus is attenuated.