Device for determining the spatial distribution of radioactivity within an object

Claim 3

The method of claim 1, further comprising the step of eliminating those particles which do not travel at an angle substantially perpendicular to said object.

Claim 4

The method of claim 1, wherein a plurality of objects are placed inside said chamber and the spatial distribution of radioactivity in all said objects is determined simultaneously.

Claim 5

The method of claim 1, wherein said spatial distribution is determined for more than one dimension.

Claim 6

In an apparatus for determining the spatial distribution of the radioactivity in an object, the combination comprising a detector having a completely enclosed chamber containing a ionizable gas, at least a portion of one wall of said chamber being removable, an elongated conductor extending longitudinally of and fixedly secured within said chamber, a support attached inside said chamber to said chamber walls in close proximity to said elongated conductor, said support being adapted to mount said object in close proximity and substantially in parallel to said elongated conductor, means operatively connected to said elongated conductor for determining the location along said elongated conductor of radioactive particles emitted by said object and reaching the proximity of said location, means connected to said determining means for counting the number of said particles at each one of a plurality of said locations, and a display device connected to the output of said counting means.

Claim 7

In an apparatus for determining the spatial distribution of the radioactivity in an object, the combination comprising a detector having a completely enclosed chamber containing a ionizable gas, at least a portion of one wall of said chamber being removable, an elongated conductor extending longitudinally of and fixedly secured within said chamber, a support attached inside said chamber to said chamber walls in close proximity to said elongated conductor, said support being adapted to mount said object in close proximity and substantially in parallel to said elongated conductor, means operatively connected to said elongated conductor for determining the location along said elongated conductor of radioactive particles emitted by said object and reaching the proximity of said location, means connected to said determining means for counting the number of said particles at each one of a plurality of said locations, and a display device connected to the output of said counting means.

Claim 8

The apparatus of claim 5, wherein said removably fastened chamber wall portion is made of a relatively thick material strong enough to withstand pressures significantly higher than atmospheric pressure.

Claim 9

The apparatus of claim 6, wherein said gas is under pressure significantly higher than atmospheric pressure.

Claim 10

The apparatus of claim 5, further comprising a collimator placed between said object and said elongated conductor.

Claim 11

The apparatus of claim 5, further including means connected to said counting means for preventing the counting of those particles not travelling at an angle substantially perpendicular to said object.

Claim 12

The apparatus of claim 5, further comprising a holder mounted on said support comprised of a bottom surface which is transparent to radiation and a plurality of spaced walls impenetrable to radiation, and wherein said holder is adapted to support a plurality of said objects within said chamber with each object resting on said bottom surface between adjacent walls.

Claim 13

The apparatus of claim 5, wherein a plurality of said elongated conductors are fixedly attached to said chamber walls parallel to each other in a plane and further including a delay line operatively connected to said plurality of elongated members, said determining means being operatively connected to said conductors and to said delay line, whereby a two-dimensional spatial distribution is obtained.

Claim 14

The apparatus of claim 5, wherein said elongated conductor consists of a series of short parallel conductors each connected to a delay line.

Claim 15

The apparatus of claim 5, wherein two sets of detecting electrodes and electronics, one above and one below the radioactive object, are placed so as to detect radiation emitted in directions both above and below the object.

Claim 16

The apparatus of claim 12 wherein a plurality of said elongated conductors are fixedly attached to said chamber walls parallel to each other in a plane and further including a delay line operatively connected to said plurality of said elongated members, said determining means being operatively connected to said conductors and to said delay line, whereby a two-dimensional spatial distribution is obtained.