US3825757A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Nuclear imaging system
Assignee: Raytheon Co
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Filing: 1973-05-14
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Granted: 1974-07-23
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Expires: 1993-05-14
Abstract
Abstract A nuclear imaging system for mapping the source of high energy nuclear particles from a living organ which has selectively absorbed a radioactive compound by spatially coding the energy from the source in a Fresnel pattern on a detector and decoding the detector output to produce an image of the source. The coding is produced by a Fresnel zone plate interposed between the nuclear energy source and the detector whose position is adjustable with respect to the detector to focus the slices of the nuclear source on the detector. By adjusting the zone plate to a plurality of positions, data from a plurality of crosssectional slices are produced from which a three-dimensional image of the nuclear source may be obtained.
Inventors
- 👤 H Barrett
- 👤 F Horrigan
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-01 13:29
CPC Classifications
G; G21; G21K; G21K1/00; G21K1/10; A; A61; A61B; A61B6/00; A61B6/42; A61B6/4208; A61B6/4258; G01; G01T; G01T1/00; G01T1/16; G01T1/161; G01T1/164; G01T1/1641; G01T1/1642; G01T1/1645; G01T1/29; G01T1/2914; G01T1/2921; G01T1/295
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 23
Claim 1
Independent Claim
158 words
The method comprising the steps of: introducing radioactive material into an organ of a living body; forming a spatially coded pattern of high energy particles emitted from said radioactive material with a spatial code having at least a component which is substantially symmetrical about an axis substantially parallel to the average direction of motion of said particles by directing said particles through a structure comprising a plurality of regions of different sizes substantially permeable to said particles separated by intervening differently spaced regions substantially less permeable to said high energy particles than said substantially permeable regions, with the average thickness of said less permeable regions in a direction along said axis being on the same order of magnitude as the average of said spacings in a direction transverse to said axis; spatially detecting at least a portion of said pattern; and deriving an image of said radioactive material in said organ from said spatial detection of said pattern.
Claim 2
Independent Claim
158 words
The method comprising the steps of: introducing radioactive material into an organ of a living body; forming a spatially coded pattern of high energy particles emitted from said radioactive material with a spatial code having at least a component which is substantially symmetrical about an axis substantially parallel to the average direction of motion of said particles by directing said particles through a structure comprising a plurality of regions of different sizes substantially permeable to said particles separated by intervening differently spaced regions substantially less permeable to said high energy particles than said substantially permeable regions, with the average thickness of said less permeable regions in a direction along said axis being on the same order of magnitude as the average of said spacings in a direction transverse to said axis; spatially detecting at least a portion of said pattern; and deriving an image of said radioactive material in said organ from said spatial detection of said pattern.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
51 words
The method in accordance with claim 1 wherein said spatially coded pattern is formed at least in part by selectively absorbing certain of said particles as a function of said spatial code, with particles emitted from any point in said radioactive material passing through any of a majority of said apertures.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
38 words
The method in accordance witH claim 2 wherein said spatially detecting step comprises converting the energy level of said nuclear particles radiated from said organ to radiation of a lower intensity than the intensity of said nuclear particles.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
39 words
The method in accordance with claim 2 wherein said image deriving step comprises recording a spatial pattern having at least a component of said spatially coded pattern and deriving an image therefrom with a beam of substantially coherent light.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
23 words
The method in accordance with claim 1 wherein said detection comprises producing electrical signals in response to the detection of said nuclear particles.
Claim 7
Independent Claim
171 words
The method comprising the steps of: introducing radioactive material into an organ of a living body; spatially coding high energy particles emitted from said radioactive material in accordance with a spatial coding pattern having at least a component which is substantially symmetrical about an axis parallel to the average direction of motion of the spatially coded pattern of said particles; forming a spatially coded pattern of high energy particles emitted from said radioactive material with a spatial code having at least a component which is substantially symmetrical about an axis substantially parallel to the average direction of motion of said particles by directing said particles through a structure having a plurality of regions substantially permeable to said particles separated by differently spaced intervening regions substantially less permeable to said high energy particles, with the thickness of said regions in a direction parallel to said axis being less than the largest of said spacings in a direction perpendicular to said axis; and spatially detecting said spatially coded pattern of high energy particles.
Claim 8
Independent Claim
171 words
The method comprising the steps of: introducing radioactive material into an organ of a living body; spatially coding high energy particles emitted from said radioactive material in accordance with a spatial coding pattern having at least a component which is substantially symmetrical about an axis parallel to the average direction of motion of the spatially coded pattern of said particles; forming a spatially coded pattern of high energy particles emitted from said radioactive material with a spatial code having at least a component which is substantially symmetrical about an axis substantially parallel to the average direction of motion of said particles by directing said particles through a structure having a plurality of regions substantially permeable to said particles separated by differently spaced intervening regions substantially less permeable to said high energy particles, with the thickness of said regions in a direction parallel to said axis being less than the largest of said spacings in a direction perpendicular to said axis; and spatially detecting said spatially coded pattern of high energy particles.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
64 words
The method in accordance with claim 6 wherein: said spatial coding step comprises absorbing certain of said particles by said coding structure as a function of said spatial code; and the distance between said radioactive material and said coding structure is on the same order of magnitude as the distance between the coding structure and the region where said spatially coded pattern is detected.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
27 words
The method in accordance with claim 6 wherein at least a component of said spatially coded pattern comprises at least a portion of a Fresnel zone pattern.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
24 words
The method in accordance with claim 6 wherein at least a component of said pattern comprises an off-center section of a Fresnel zone pattern.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
16 words
The method in accordance with claim 9 wherein said spatially detecting step comprises producing electrical signals.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
27 words
The method in accordance with claim 9 wherein the spatial frequency response of the detection is matched to at least a component of said spatially coded pattern.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
157 words
Apparatus for detecting a spatially coded pattern of radiation having an energy level above visible radiation derived from a radiopharmaceutical selectively absorbed by an organ of a living body comprising: means for forming a spatially coded pattern of high energy particles emitted from a plurality of areas of said radiopharmaceutical with a spatial code having at least a component which is substantially symmetrical about an axis substantially parallel to the average direction of motion of said particles comprising a structure having a plurality of regions of different sizes substantially permeable to said particles separated by intervening regions of different sizes which are substantially less permeable to said high energy particles than said permeable regions, with the thickness of said intervening regions in a direction parallel to said axis being less than the average width of said intervening regions in a direction perpendicular to said axis; and means for spatially detecting at least a portion of said pattern.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
157 words
Apparatus for detecting a spatially coded pattern of radiation having an energy level above visible radiation derived from a radiopharmaceutical selectively absorbed by an organ of a living body comprising: means for forming a spatially coded pattern of high energy particles emitted from a plurality of areas of said radiopharmaceutical with a spatial code having at least a component which is substantially symmetrical about an axis substantially parallel to the average direction of motion of said particles comprising a structure having a plurality of regions of different sizes substantially permeable to said particles separated by intervening regions of different sizes which are substantially less permeable to said high energy particles than said permeable regions, with the thickness of said intervening regions in a direction parallel to said axis being less than the average width of said intervening regions in a direction perpendicular to said axis; and means for spatially detecting at least a portion of said pattern.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
45 words
The apparatus in accordance with claim 12 wherein: the spacing of said permeable regions and said thickness of said intervening regions permit high energy particles emitted fRom a point in said radiopharmaceutical in said organ to pass through any of the majority of said apertures.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
16 words
The apparatus in accordance with claim 12 wherein: said permeable regions are of different arcuate sizes.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
40 words
The apparatus in accordance with claim 12 wherein: said spatial code has spatial frequencies lying in the same frequency range as the majority of the spatial frequency components of the spatial informational content of said particles emitted from the radiopharmaceutical.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
15 words
The apparatus in accordance with claim 15 wherein: said regions are of different arcuate sizes.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
24 words
The apparatus in accordance with claim 16 wherein: said coding structure comprises a mask forming at least a portion of a Fresnel zone pattern.
Claim 21
Dependent Claim
19 words
The apparatus in accordance with claim 17 wherein: said mask forms the off-center section of a Fresnel zone pattern.
Claim 22
Dependent Claim
35 words
The apparatus in accordance with claim 18 wherein: said detecting means comprises means for converting said high energy particles to radiation of a lower energy level and means for spatially detecting said lower energy level.
Claim 23
Dependent Claim
27 words
The apparatus in accordance with claim 19; and means for reproducing an image of the locations of said radiopharmaceutical in said organ from said spatially detected pattern.
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USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1977-07-22 | 1978-01-21 | 1978-07-23 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1981-07-22 | 1982-01-21 | 1982-07-23 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1985-07-22 | 1986-01-21 | 1986-07-23 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |