US5015860A
Expired / Lapsed
US
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Scintillator materials containing lanthanum fluorides
Assignee: CALIFORNIA A CORP OF, University of, Regents of
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Filing: 1990-04-03
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Granted: 1991-05-14
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Expires: 2010-04-03
Abstract
Abstract An improved radiation detector containing a crystalline mixture of LaF3 and CeF3 as the scintillator element is disclosed. Scintillators made with from 25% to 99.5% LaF3 and the remainder CeF3 have been found to provide a balance of good stopping power, high light yield and short decay constant that is equal to or superior to other known scintillator materials, and which may be processed from natural starting materials containing both rare earth elements. The radiation detectors disclosed are favorably suited for use in general purpose detection and in positron emission tomography.
Inventors
- 👤 William W. Moses
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-06 02:23
CPC Classifications
G; G01; G01T; G01T1/00; G01T1/16; G01T1/20; G01T1/202; C; C09; C09K; C09K11/00; C09K11/08; C09K11/77; C09K11/7704; C09K11/7715; C09K11/7719
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 18
Claim 1
Independent Claim
59 words
A radiation detection device comprising: (a) a scintillator consisting essentially of a crystalline mixture of LaF 3 and CeF 3 wherein the amounts of LaF 3 is from about 25% to about 99.5% and the CeF 3 is from about 0.5% to about 75%; and (b) means connected to the scintillator for converting scintillating light into an electrical pulse.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
59 words
A radiation detection device comprising: (a) a scintillator consisting essentially of a crystalline mixture of LaF 3 and CeF 3 wherein the amounts of LaF 3 is from about 25% to about 99.5% and the CeF 3 is from about 0.5% to about 75%; and (b) means connected to the scintillator for converting scintillating light into an electrical pulse.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
15 words
The radiation detection of claim 1 wherein said scintillator crystal is responsive to ionizing radiation.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
14 words
The scintillator of claim 2 wherein said scintillator crystal is responsive to gamma rays.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
26 words
The radiation detector of claim 1 wherein the scintillator element consists essentially of 50 to 99% LaF 3 and 1 to 50% of CeF 3 .
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
126 words
A radioisotope camera comprising: (a) a plurality of scintillator elements capable of converting gamma radiation to optical radiation consisting essentially of a crystalline mixture of LaF 3 and CeF 3 wherein the amount of LaF 3 is from about 25% to 99.5% and the amount of CeF 3 is from about 0.5% to 75%, each scintillator element being arranged in close proximity to each other and positioned to receive gamma radiation from a subject; (b) a plurality of photodetectors positioned to receive optical radiation directly from the scintillator elements and convert the optical radiation into electrical pulses; and (c) means connected to the photodetectors for responding to the electrical pulses generated by the photodetector elements and reconstructing the spatial distribution of gamma radiation from the subject.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
126 words
A radioisotope camera comprising: (a) a plurality of scintillator elements capable of converting gamma radiation to optical radiation consisting essentially of a crystalline mixture of LaF 3 and CeF 3 wherein the amount of LaF 3 is from about 25% to 99.5% and the amount of CeF 3 is from about 0.5% to 75%, each scintillator element being arranged in close proximity to each other and positioned to receive gamma radiation from a subject; (b) a plurality of photodetectors positioned to receive optical radiation directly from the scintillator elements and convert the optical radiation into electrical pulses; and (c) means connected to the photodetectors for responding to the electrical pulses generated by the photodetector elements and reconstructing the spatial distribution of gamma radiation from the subject.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
18 words
The radioisotope camera of claim 5 wherein each photodetector comprises a photomultiplier tube coupled to a scintillator element.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
18 words
The radioisotope camera of claim 5 wherein each photodetector comprises a solid-state photodiode coupled to a scintillator element.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
33 words
The radioisotope camera of claim 5 wherein said scintillator elements consist essentially of a crystalline mixture containing from about 50% to 99% LaF 3 and from about 1% to 50% CeF 3 .
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
23 words
The radioisotope camera of claim 5 wherein the scintillator elements are in a circular array configuration and comprise means for detecting positron emission.
Claim 12
Independent Claim
77 words
The method of detecting non-optical radiation comprising: (a) providing a radiation detector comprising (i) a scintillator crystal element composed of a mixture of from about 25% to 99.5% LaF 3 and from about 0.5% to 75% CeF 3 , and (ii) a photodetector positioned to receive optical radiation directly from the scintillator element and convert it into an electrical pulse; (b) exposing the scintillator element to non-optical radiation; and (c) measuring the electrical pulses generated by photodetector.
Claim 13
Independent Claim
77 words
The method of detecting non-optical radiation comprising: (a) providing a radiation detector comprising (i) a scintillator crystal element composed of a mixture of from about 25% to 99.5% LaF 3 and from about 0.5% to 75% CeF 3 , and (ii) a photodetector positioned to receive optical radiation directly from the scintillator element and convert it into an electrical pulse; (b) exposing the scintillator element to non-optical radiation; and (c) measuring the electrical pulses generated by photodetector.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
19 words
The method of claim 10 wherein said non-optical radiation is ionizing radiation in the form of high energy photons.
Claim 15
Independent Claim
128 words
The method of measuring the position of gamma radiation from a subject comprising: (a) providing a radiation detector comprising (i) a plurality of scintillator elements capable of converting gamma radiation to optical radiation composed of a crystalline mixture of from 25% to 99.5% LaF 3 and from 0.5% to 75% CeF 3 , (ii) a plurality of photodetectors positioned to receive optical radiation directly from the scintillator elements and convert it into electrical pulses and (iii) means connected to the photodetectors for responding to the electrical pulses generated by the photodetectors and reconstructing the spatial distribution of gamma radiation from the subject; (b) exposing the scintillator elements to radioactive emissions; and (c) reconstructing the spatial distribution of the radioactive emissions from the electrical pulses generated by the photodetector.
Claim 16
Independent Claim
128 words
The method of measuring the position of gamma radiation from a subject comprising: (a) providing a radiation detector comprising (i) a plurality of scintillator elements capable of converting gamma radiation to optical radiation composed of a crystalline mixture of from 25% to 99.5% LaF 3 and from 0.5% to 75% CeF 3 , (ii) a plurality of photodetectors positioned to receive optical radiation directly from the scintillator elements and convert it into electrical pulses and (iii) means connected to the photodetectors for responding to the electrical pulses generated by the photodetectors and reconstructing the spatial distribution of gamma radiation from the subject; (b) exposing the scintillator elements to radioactive emissions; and (c) reconstructing the spatial distribution of the radioactive emissions from the electrical pulses generated by the photodetector.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
19 words
The method of claim 12 wherein said radiation is high energy radiation in the form of high energy photons.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
36 words
The method of claim 12 wherein the scintillator elements of the radiation detector are in a circular array configuration and disposed around a radioactive emitting subject whereby the reconstructing step results in a position emission tomograph.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
US4889996A
Cited
US4761347A
Cited
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1994-05-13 | 1994-11-12 | 1995-05-14 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1998-05-13 | 1998-11-12 | 1999-05-14 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 2002-05-13 | 2002-11-12 | 2003-05-14 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |