US3919557A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Whole body line scanner
Assignee: General Electric Co
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Filing: 1974-05-15
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Granted: 1975-11-11
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Expires: 1994-05-15
Abstract
Abstract A bar-shaped scintillator converts incident collimated gamma rays to light pulses which are detected by a row of photoelectric tubes positioned along the output face of the scintillator wherein each tube has a convexly curved photocathode disposed in close proximity to the scintillator. Electronic circuitry connected to the output of phototubes develops the scintillation event x-axis position coordinate electrical signal with good linearity and with substantial independence of the spacing between the scintillator and photocathodes so that the phototubes can be positioned as close to the scintillator as possible to obtain reduced distortion in the field of view and improved spatial resolution. A mechanical drive of the scanner results in an image of the gamma ray source being formed by sequencing the developed scintillation position coordinate signals in the y-axis dimension.
Inventors
- 👤 Walter H Berninger
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-29 08:29
CPC Classifications
G; G01; G01T; G01T1/00; G01T1/29; G01T1/2914; G01T1/2978; A; A61; A61B; A61B6/00; A61B6/42; A61B6/4208; A61B6/4258; G01T1/16; G01T1/161; G01T1/164; G01T1/1641; G01T1/1642
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 36
Claim 1
Independent Claim
284 words
In an improved scanning radiation detector responding to incident nuclear particles or rays of electromagnetic radiation and producing electrical signals corresponding to the coordinate of position of each incident event linearly therewith and substantially independent of spacing between the light pulse producing means and photoelectric tube components of the detector, the combination comprising means for collimating incident nuclear particles or rays of electromagnetic radiation emitted from an external source, means having an input end at an output end of said collimating means for producing a pulse of light in response to an absorbed incident nuclear particle or ray of electromagnetic radiation, the number of optical photons in each light pulse being proportional to the energy of the absorbed incident particle or ray, an array of photoelectric tubes having geometrically corrected nonplanar photocathodes disposed in close proximity to an output end of said light pulse producing means for detecting the optical photons and emitting electrons in response thereto, outputs of said photoelectric tubes producing electrical signals in response to the detected optical photons, electronic circuit means connected to the outputs of said photoelectric tubes for resolving the photoelectric tubes output electrical signals into electrical signals representing the x-axis coordinate of position of each of the pulses of light produced in said light pulse producing means and substantially linearly therewith and substantially independent of spacing between said light pulse producing means and the photocathodes of said plurality of said photoelectric tubes as a direct result of the geometrically corrected nonplanar photocathodes so as to permit the close spacing of the photocathodes to said light pulse producing means, and means for scanning the external source of nuclear particles or rays of electromagnetic radiation in the y-axis direction.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
284 words
In an improved scanning radiation detector responding to incident nuclear particles or rays of electromagnetic radiation and producing electrical signals corresponding to the coordinate of position of each incident event linearly therewith and substantially independent of spacing between the light pulse producing means and photoelectric tube components of the detector, the combination comprising means for collimating incident nuclear particles or rays of electromagnetic radiation emitted from an external source, means having an input end at an output end of said collimating means for producing a pulse of light in response to an absorbed incident nuclear particle or ray of electromagnetic radiation, the number of optical photons in each light pulse being proportional to the energy of the absorbed incident particle or ray, an array of photoelectric tubes having geometrically corrected nonplanar photocathodes disposed in close proximity to an output end of said light pulse producing means for detecting the optical photons and emitting electrons in response thereto, outputs of said photoelectric tubes producing electrical signals in response to the detected optical photons, electronic circuit means connected to the outputs of said photoelectric tubes for resolving the photoelectric tubes output electrical signals into electrical signals representing the x-axis coordinate of position of each of the pulses of light produced in said light pulse producing means and substantially linearly therewith and substantially independent of spacing between said light pulse producing means and the photocathodes of said plurality of said photoelectric tubes as a direct result of the geometrically corrected nonplanar photocathodes so as to permit the close spacing of the photocathodes to said light pulse producing means, and means for scanning the external source of nuclear particles or rays of electromagnetic radiation in the y-axis direction.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
48 words
The combination set forth in claim 1 wherein the spacing between the output end of said light pulse producing means and a plane parallel thereto and defining the apexes of the photocathodes of said photoelectric tubes is less than 0.40 times the diameter of one of the photocathodes.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
43 words
The combination set forth in claim 1 wherein the spacing between the output end of said light pulse producing means and the photocathodes of said photoelectric tubes is less than 0.40 times the diameter of the photocathode of one of the photoelectric tubes.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
72 words
The combination set forth in claim 1 wherein the spacing between the output end of said light pulse producing means and the photocathodes of said photoelectric tubes is as small as approximately 0.10 times the diameter of the one of the photocathodes while maintaining the substantial linearity of position coordinate electrical signals with position of light pulse and substantially independent of the spacing between said light pulse producing means and the photocathodes.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
38 words
The combination set forth in claim 1 wherein said plurality of said photoelectric tubes have the apexes of their photocathode disposed in a plane parallel to a plane defining the output end of said light pulse producing means.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
22 words
The combination set forth in claim 1 wherein the photocathodes are each curved in the form of a portion of a hemisphere.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
19 words
The combination set forth in claim 1 wherein the photocathodes are each curved in the form of a hemisphere.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
14 words
The combination set forth in claim 1 wherein the photocathodes are each convexly curved.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
47 words
The combination set forth in claim 1 and further comprising a light pipe means disposed between the output end of said light pulse producing means and the photocathodes of said photoelectric tubes for increasing efficiency of light pulse transmission therebetween as well as strengthening the assembly thereof.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
36 words
The combination set forth in claim 1 and further comprising read-out means connected to outputs of said electronic circuit means and said source scanning means for recording dual axis coordinates of the incident ray or particle.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
17 words
The combination set forth in claim 1 wherein said photoelectric tubes are all oriented in parallel relationship.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
22 words
The combination set forth in claim 1 wherein all of the photoelectric tubes in said array have the geometrically corrected nonplanar photocathodes.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
27 words
The combination set forth in claim 1 wherein outermost photoelectric tubes in said array have planar photocathodes, the remaining photoelectric tubes having the geometrically corrected nonplanar photocathodes.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
46 words
The combination set forth in claim 13 wherein the outermost photoelectric tubes having planar photocathodes are tilted slightly toward each other in order to extend the field of view of said detector, the geometrically corrected nonplanar photocathode photoelectric tubes oriented in parallel relationship to each other.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
229 words
An improved line scanner comprising a housing having an input and an output end, a collimator for gamma radiation positioned at the input end of said housing for collimating incident rays of gamma radiation emitted from a source located external of said housing, a scintillator having an input face juxtaposed with an output end of said collimator for producing a pulse of light in response to an absorbed incident gamma ray, the number of optical photons in each light pulse being proportional to the energy of the absorbed gamma ray, an array of a plurality of photoelectric tubes positioned in said housing, at least some of said tubes each having a geometrically corrected nonplanar photocathode disposed in close proximity to an output face of said scintillator for detectinG the optical photons and emitting electrons in response thereto, outputs of said photoelectric tubes producing electrical signals in response to the detected optical photons, electronic circuit means connected to the outputs of said photoelectric tubes for resolving the photoelectric tubes output electrical signals into electrical signals representing the x-axis coordinate of position of each of the pulses of light produced in said scintillator and linearly therewith and substantially independent of spacing between the output face of said scintillator and a plane defining the apexes of the photocathodes, and means for scanning the external source of gamma radiation in the y-axis direction.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
229 words
An improved line scanner comprising a housing having an input and an output end, a collimator for gamma radiation positioned at the input end of said housing for collimating incident rays of gamma radiation emitted from a source located external of said housing, a scintillator having an input face juxtaposed with an output end of said collimator for producing a pulse of light in response to an absorbed incident gamma ray, the number of optical photons in each light pulse being proportional to the energy of the absorbed gamma ray, an array of a plurality of photoelectric tubes positioned in said housing, at least some of said tubes each having a geometrically corrected nonplanar photocathode disposed in close proximity to an output face of said scintillator for detectinG the optical photons and emitting electrons in response thereto, outputs of said photoelectric tubes producing electrical signals in response to the detected optical photons, electronic circuit means connected to the outputs of said photoelectric tubes for resolving the photoelectric tubes output electrical signals into electrical signals representing the x-axis coordinate of position of each of the pulses of light produced in said scintillator and linearly therewith and substantially independent of spacing between the output face of said scintillator and a plane defining the apexes of the photocathodes, and means for scanning the external source of gamma radiation in the y-axis direction.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
42 words
The improved line scanner set forth in claim 15 and further comprising read-out means connected to outputs of said electronic circuit means and said scanning means for recording the coordinates of position of the incident pulses of light produced in said scintillator.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
84 words
The improved line scanner set forth in claim 15 wherein the spacing between the output face of said scintillator and plane of photocathode apexes is as small as approximately 0.10 times the diameter of one of the photocathodes in which spacing the position coordinate electrical signals are substantially linear with the position of the corresponding pulse of light produced in said scintillator and substantially independent of the spacing between the output face of said scintillator and the plane of the apexes of the photocathode.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
40 words
The improved line scanner set forth in claim 15 wherein the spacing between the output face of said scintillator and the plane defining the apexes of the photocathodes is less than 0.40 times the diameter of one of the photocathodes.
Claim 21
Dependent Claim
27 words
The improved line scanner set forth in claim 15 wherein the plane defining the apexes of the photocathodes is parallel to the output face of said scintillator.
Claim 22
Dependent Claim
24 words
The improved line scanner set forth in claim 15 wherein the photocathodes are each curved in the form of a portion of a hemisphere.
Claim 23
Dependent Claim
21 words
The improved line scanner set forth in claim 15 wherein the photocathodes are each curved in the form of a hemisphere.
Claim 24
Dependent Claim
16 words
The improved line scanner set forth in claim 15 wherein the photocathodes are each convexly curved.
Claim 25
Dependent Claim
32 words
The improved line scanner set forth in claim 15 wherein the photocathode of each photoelectric tube being contained in an input end of said photoelectric tube which is circular in cross section.
Claim 26
Dependent Claim
32 words
The improved line scanner set forth in claim 15 wherein the photocathode of each photoelectric tube being contained in an input end of said photoelectric tube which is square in cross section.
Claim 27
Dependent Claim
29 words
The improved line scanner set forth in claim 24 wherein the photocathodes are each curved in the form of a half cylinder having cylinder axes oriented parallel to y-axis.
Claim 28
Dependent Claim
25 words
The improved line scanner set forth in claim 24 wherein the photocathodes are each curved in the form of a portion of a half cylinder.
Claim 29
Dependent Claim
90 words
The improved line scanner set forth in claim 15 and further comprising a solid light pipe member disposed in said housing between the output face of said scintillator and the photocathodes of said photoelectric tubes, said light pipe member having a planar input surface and an output surface containing concave depressions conforming to the shape of the photocathodes so that said light pipe member increases the efficiency of light pulse transmission from scintillator to photocathodes as well as strengthening the assembly thereof and aiding in alignment of the photoelectric tubes.
Claim 30
Dependent Claim
16 words
The improved line scanner set forth in claim 16 wherein said read-out means is an oscilloscope.
Claim 31
Dependent Claim
39 words
The improved line scanner set forth in claim 15 wherein the array of photoelectric tubes is a linear array, all of the tubes except the outermost two being parallel to each other and having the geometrically corrected nonplanar photocAthodes.
Claim 32
Dependent Claim
21 words
The improved line scanner set forth in claim 29 wherein the two outermost tubes are also parallel to the other tubes.
Claim 33
Dependent Claim
31 words
The improved line scanner set forth in claim 29 wherein the two outermost tubes being tilted slightly toward each other so that the photocathodes thereof are also tilted toward each other.
Claim 34
Dependent Claim
21 words
The improved line scanner set forth in claim 29 wherein the two outermost tubes also have the geometrically corrected nonplanar photocathodes.
Claim 35
Dependent Claim
17 words
The improved line scanner set forth in claim 29 wherein the two outermost tubes have planar photocathodes.
Claim 36
Dependent Claim
49 words
The improved line scanner set forth in claim 29 wherein said scintillator is bar-shaped of length substantially conforming to the length of the linear array of tubes and having a trapezoidal cross section, the input face of said scintillator having a smaller width dimension than the output face thereof.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1978-11-10 | 1979-05-12 | 1979-11-11 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1982-11-10 | 1983-05-12 | 1983-11-11 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1986-11-10 | 1987-05-12 | 1987-11-11 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |