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US4700074A Expired / Lapsed US ⏱️ 0.0 years remaining

Scintillation crystal device and scintillation camera incorporating such device

Assignee: Individual
•
Filing: 1986-07-21
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Granted: 1987-10-13
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Expires: 2006-07-21
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Abstract

Abstract In order to match the trends and demands of modern nuclear medicine, a new scintillation camera head is designed, which features a new crystal-light guide-collimator unit for a single crystal scintillation camera. The effective crystal thickness is increased by crystal teeth designed as quadrilateral truncated crystal pyramids. The basis of each of these teeth is settled on top of a crystal plate of conventional thickness. The vertical axis of each of the teeth is aligned with the vertical axis of a particular collimator channel. Thus, the total number of crystal pyramids equals the number of (preferably squared) collimator holes. The space between the crystal pyramids is "filled" with an appropriate light guide material such as window glass. The crystal pyramid side is shaped, i.e. angled, according to the direction of the highest (gamma) photon energy the camera is designed for, after penetrating through the upper (close to crystal) portion of the collimator septum for a length equaling 2μ -1 ; where μ is the linear absorption coefficient for the (gamma) photon energy in the particular collimator material, such as tantalum (Ta). Thus, the increased crystal thickness is made effective only for photons coming from the "proper" collimator channel, while the absorption of photons from surrounding channels is basically prevented. Theoretical predictions indicate that about 90% of them will take their primary (and secondary) interactions with the light guide and not with the crystal material.

Inventors

  • 👤 Vladimir B. Bosnjakovic

Bibliographic Details

Application Number —
Jurisdiction US
Data Source google_patents
Last Synchronized 2026-11-07 18:15
CPC Classifications
G; G01; G01T; G01T1/00; G01T1/16; G01T1/20; G01T1/202; G01T1/161; G01T1/164; G01T1/1641; G01T1/1642; A; A61; A61B; A61B6/00; A61B6/42; A61B6/4208; A61B6/4258

Claims Analysis

Total Claims: 15
Claim 1
Independent Claim 56 words
A scintillation crystal device for application in a scintillation camera, comprising (a) a crystal base having a first end for receiving radiation, and a second end opposite to said first end; and (b) a plurality of crystal teeth in the form of truncated pyramids, said teeth being arranged on said second end of said crystal base.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim 56 words
A scintillation crystal device for application in a scintillation camera, comprising (a) a crystal base having a first end for receiving radiation, and a second end opposite to said first end; and (b) a plurality of crystal teeth in the form of truncated pyramids, said teeth being arranged on said second end of said crystal base.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim 14 words
The scintillation crystal device in accordance with claim 1, wherein said pyramids are quadrilateral.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim 26 words
The scintillation crystal device in accordance with claim 1, wherein said pyramids are arranged in a regular pattern on said second end of said crystal base.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim 23 words
The scintillation crystal device in accordance with claim 1, wherein the space between said crystal teeth is filled with a light guide material.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim 40 words
The scintillation crystal device in accordance with claim 4, wherein said light guide material extends beyond the full height of said crystal teeth, said light guide material thus covering said teeth and forming a plane surface for emitting light therefrom.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim 29 words
The scintillation crystal device in accordance with claim 5, wherein said crystal base and said crystal teeth comprise sodium iodide, and wherein said light guide comprises a quartz glass.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim 29 words
The scintillation crystal device in accordance with claim 1, wherein said crystal teeth are positioned in respective recesses of at least one body formed of a light guide material.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim 55 words
The scintillation crystal device in accordance with claim 7, wherein said body is formed as an elongated pyramid and contains a plurality of said recesses and of protrusions, and wherein said body is positioned adjacent to a further body formed of a light guide material, said further body being formed as an elongated continuous pyramid.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim 125 words
In a scintillation camera comprising (a) a collimator having a plurality of parallel channels for receiving and for transmitting radiation therethrough, (b) a predetermined number of photomultipliers arranged in an array, and (c) a scintillation crystal device disposed between said collimator and said photomultiplier array, the improvement wherein said scintillation crystal device comprises (d) a crystal base having a first end for receiving radiation transmitted through said collimator channels, and a second end opposite to said first end; and (e) a plurality of crystal teeth in the form of truncated pyramids having parallel longitudinal axes, said teeth being arranged on said second end of said crystal base such that said longitudinal axes of said pyramids are aligned with the longitudinal axes of said collimator channels.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim 125 words
In a scintillation camera comprising (a) a collimator having a plurality of parallel channels for receiving and for transmitting radiation therethrough, (b) a predetermined number of photomultipliers arranged in an array, and (c) a scintillation crystal device disposed between said collimator and said photomultiplier array, the improvement wherein said scintillation crystal device comprises (d) a crystal base having a first end for receiving radiation transmitted through said collimator channels, and a second end opposite to said first end; and (e) a plurality of crystal teeth in the form of truncated pyramids having parallel longitudinal axes, said teeth being arranged on said second end of said crystal base such that said longitudinal axes of said pyramids are aligned with the longitudinal axes of said collimator channels.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim 22 words
The scintillation camera according to claim 9, wherein said pyramids are quadrilateral, and wherein said collimator channels have a rectangular cross section.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim 42 words
The scintillation camera according to claim 9, wherein the space between said crystal teeth is filled with a material for guiding light, said light being generated when radiation transmitted through said collimator channels impinges on said crystal base and said crystal teeth.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim 45 words
The scintillation camera according to claim 11, wherein said light guiding material extends beyond the full height of said crystal teeth, said light guiding material thereby covering said crystal teeth, and wherein said light guiding material forms a plane surface for attaching said photomultipliers thereto.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim 17 words
The scintillation camera in accordance with claim 9, wherein said collimator channels are of a squared configuration.

References Cited (Backward Citations)

DE3001103A1 Cited
US4415808A Cited
US4560882A Cited

USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows

Annuity Stage Window Opens Payment Deadline Surcharge Period Until Estimated Fee Status
3.5 Years (Year 4) 1990-10-12 1991-04-13 1991-10-13 $2000.00 Window Closed / Lapsed
7.5 Years (Year 8) 1994-10-12 1995-04-13 1995-10-13 $3760.00 Window Closed / Lapsed
11.5 Years (Year 12) 1998-10-12 1999-04-13 1999-10-13 $7700.00 Window Closed / Lapsed

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