Method of and apparatus for producing images for stereoscopic viewing of annihilation radiation sources

Claim 1

An apparatus for producing images for stereoscopic viewing of an object having annihilation radiation therein comprising: a first position-sensitive radiation detector; a second radiation detector, said second detector designed to sense radiation impinging upon a surface of generally small area, said second detector positioned with respect to said first detector and said object such that photons of a photon pair may impinge simultaneously on said first detector and said second detector; a third radiation detector, said third detector designed to sense radiation impinging upon a surface of generally small area, said third detector spaced apart from said second detector by a preselected distance, said third detector positioned with respect to said first detector and said object such that photons of a photon pair may impinge simultaneously on said first and third detectors; means responsive to said first and second and third detectors for producing an image of said object which can be viewed stereoscopically; said means for producing an image including first means for determining coincidence of impinging radiation on said first and second detectors; second means for determining coincidence of impinging radiation on said first and third detectors; means for generating an image responsive to radiation detected by said first detection means which means for generating is responsive to said first and second coincidence means; and means for preventing the generation of said image when said second and third detectors simultaneously sense impinging radiation.

Claim 2

An apparatus for producing images for stereoscopic viewing of an object having annihilation radiation therein comprising: a first position-sensitive radiation detector; a second radiation detector, said second detector designed to sense radiation impinging upon a surface of generally small area, said second detector positioned with respect to said first detector and said object such that photons of a photon pair may impinge simultaneously on said first detector and said second detector; a third radiation detector, said third detector designed to sense radiation impinging upon a surface of generally small area, said third detector spaced apart from said second detector by a preselected distance, said third detector positioned with respect to said first detector and said object such that photons of a photon pair may impinge simultaneously on said first and third detectors; means responsive to said first and second and third detectors for producing an image of said object which can be viewed stereoscopically; said means for producing an image including first means for determining coincidence of impinging radiation on said first and second detectors; second means for determining coincidence of impinging radiation on said first and third detectors; means for generating an image responsive to radiation detected by said first detection means which means for generating is responsive to said first and second coincidence means; and means for preventing the generation of said image when said second and third detectors simultaneously sense impinging radiation.

Claim 6

A method of producing images of an annihilation radiation source for stereoscopic viewing, comprising the steps of: positioning a first position-sensitive detector in a region of said source; positioning a second detector such that the source is substantially between said first and second detectors, said second detector having the ability to detect radiation passing through a generally small area; and positioning a third detector such that the source is substantially between said first and third detector, said third detector having the ability to detect radiation impinging on a generally small area, said third detector located a preselected distance from the area of detection of said second detector. generating a first signal upon the occurrence of coincidence of impinging radiation on said first and second detectors; generating a second signal upon the occurrence of coincidence of impinging radiation on said first and third detectors; generating a third signal corresponding to the position of the impinging radiation on said first detector responsive to either said first or second signals; and blocking the generation of said third signal when said first signal and said second signal are generated simultaneously.

Claim 7

A method of producing images of an annihilation radiation source for stereoscopic viewing, comprising the steps of: positioning a first position-sensitive detector in a region of said source; positioning a second detector such that the source is substantially between said first and second detectors, said second detector having the ability to detect radiation passing through a generally small area; and positioning a third detector such that the source is substantially between said first and third detector, said third detector having the ability to detect radiation impinging on a generally small area, said third detector located a preselected distance from the area of detection of said second detector. generating a first signal upon the occurrence of coincidence of impinging radiation on said first and second detectors; generating a second signal upon the occurrence of coincidence of impinging radiation on said first and third detectors; generating a third signal corresponding to the position of the impinging radiation on said first detector responsive to either said first or second signals; and blocking the generation of said third signal when said first signal and said second signal are generated simultaneously.

Claim 9

An apparatus for producing images for stereoscopic viewing of an object which generates annihilation radiation, comprising: a first position-sensitive radiation detector; a second position-sensitive radiation detector, said second detector positioned with respect to said first detector and said object such that photons of a photon pair may impinge on said first detector and said second detector; means for generating a first set of position coordinates responsive to photons detected by said first detecting means; means for generating a second set of position coordinates responsive to photons detected by said second detecting means; means for calculating a third set of position coordinates, said third set of coordinates being indicative of the coordinates where the line defined by a photon pair would intersect a known surface in space; first means for comparing said third set of position coordinates with a fourth set of preselected position coordinates, said first comparing means generating signals when said third set of position coordinates are equal to said fourth set of said preselected position coordinates; second means for comparing said third set of position coordinates, said second comparing means generating signals when said third set of position coordinates are equal to a fifth set of said preselected position coordinates; and means responsive to said signals generated by said first and second comparing means for displaying a plurality of images which may be viewed sterescopically.

Claim 10

An apparatus for producing images for stereoscopic viewing of an object which generates annihilation radiation, comprising: a first position-sensitive radiation detector; a second position-sensitive radiation detector, said second detector positioned with respect to said first detector and said object such that photons of a photon pair may impinge on said first detector and said second detector; means for generating a first set of position coordinates responsive to photons detected by said first detecting means; means for generating a second set of position coordinates responsive to photons detected by said second detecting means; means for calculating a third set of position coordinates, said third set of coordinates being indicative of the coordinates where the line defined by a photon pair would intersect a known surface in space; first means for comparing said third set of position coordinates with a fourth set of preselected position coordinates, said first comparing means generating signals when said third set of position coordinates are equal to said fourth set of said preselected position coordinates; second means for comparing said third set of position coordinates, said second comparing means generating signals when said third set of position coordinates are equal to a fifth set of said preselected position coordinates; and means responsive to said signals generated by said first and second comparing means for displaying a plurality of images which may be viewed sterescopically.