Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 9
Claim 1
Independent Claim
210 words
A collimator suitable for use in forming multiple, simultaneous images of a radioactive object upon a radiation sensitive member of a radiation receiving and imaging device, said collimator being formed of material opaque to radiation from said radioactive object, adapted for mounting between a radioactive object and the radiation sensitive member of a radiation receiving and imaging device, and comprising a top surface, a bottom surface, and at least two adjacent collimating sections separated by a bonding joint; each said collimating section being a grid-like arrangement of wall portions adapted to absorb substantially all radiation from said radioactive object which impinges thereon extending between said top surface and said bottom surface defining a plurality of holes therebetween so disposed relative to each other that the radiation from said object passing through said holes from said bottom surface to said top surface converges upon a focal point located on a line passing through the center of the top surface of the section, which line forms an acute angle with the perpendicular axis of the top surface of the section, said acute angle being so chosen that radiation which has passed through the holes of one section will not interfere with radiation which has passed through the holes of any other section.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
210 words
A collimator suitable for use in forming multiple, simultaneous images of a radioactive object upon a radiation sensitive member of a radiation receiving and imaging device, said collimator being formed of material opaque to radiation from said radioactive object, adapted for mounting between a radioactive object and the radiation sensitive member of a radiation receiving and imaging device, and comprising a top surface, a bottom surface, and at least two adjacent collimating sections separated by a bonding joint; each said collimating section being a grid-like arrangement of wall portions adapted to absorb substantially all radiation from said radioactive object which impinges thereon extending between said top surface and said bottom surface defining a plurality of holes therebetween so disposed relative to each other that the radiation from said object passing through said holes from said bottom surface to said top surface converges upon a focal point located on a line passing through the center of the top surface of the section, which line forms an acute angle with the perpendicular axis of the top surface of the section, said acute angle being so chosen that radiation which has passed through the holes of one section will not interfere with radiation which has passed through the holes of any other section.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
36 words
The collimator of claim 1 wherein there are only two collimating sections, the value of the acute angle for both sections is chosen to be the same and both angles are located in the same plane.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
20 words
The collimator of claim 2 wherein the value of the acute angles is chosen to be between 15° and 25°.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
29 words
The collimator of claim 1 wherein the material opaque to radiation from the radioactive object is selected from the group consisting of lead, tungsten, tantalum, depleted uranium, and aluminum.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
19 words
The collimator of claim 1 wherein the radiation receiving and imaging device is an Anger camera or simliar device.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
186 words
The collimator of claim 1 wherein the bottom surface defines an open, substantially V-shaped trough extending inwardly of the collimator along the bonded joint between each pair of adjacent collimating sections; each said trough comprising a first substantially flat side surface associated with the first of the adjacent collimating sections and a second substantially flat side surface associated with the second of the adjacent collimating sections, each said side surface defining a whole number of openings into holes defined by the wall portions of the collimating section with which it is associated; said first and second side surfaces meeting at an angle along the bonding joint between their associated collimating sections, such that no portion of the first of said adjacent collimating sections interferes with radiation from the radioactive object passing through the holes of the second of the adjacent collimating section which open into the second side surface and no portion of the second of said adjacent collimating sections interferes with radiation from the radioactive object passing through the holes of the first of the adjacent collimating sections which open into the first side surface.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
43 words
The collimator of claim 6 wherein the first and second side surfaces of the trough are covered with a layer of radiation absorbing material, thin enough to allow the passage of radiation convergent upon the focal points of the associated collimating sections respectively.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
20 words
The collimator of claim 6 wherein the value of the acute angles are chosen to be between 15° and 45°.