US5039858A
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US
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Divalent fluoride doped cerium fluoride scintillator
Assignee: EMD Millipore Corp
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Filing: 1990-01-31
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Granted: 1991-08-13
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Expires: 2010-01-31
Abstract
Abstract The use of divalent fluoride dopants in scintillator materials comprising cerium fluoride is disclosed. The preferred divalent fluoride dopants are calcium fluoride, strontium fluoride, and barium fluoride. The preferred amount of divalent fluoride dopant is less than about two percent by weight of the total scintillator. Cerium fluoride scintillator crystals grown with the addition of a divalent fluoride have exhibited better transmissions and higher light outputs than crystals grown without the addition of such dopants. These scintillators are useful in radiation detection and monitoring applications, and are particularly well suited for high-rate applications such as positron emission tomography (PET).
Inventors
- 👤 David F. Anderson
- 👤 Robert W. Sparrow
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-06 08:29
CPC Classifications
G; G01; G01T; G01T1/00; G01T1/16; G01T1/20; G01T1/202
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 37
Claim 1
Independent Claim
36 words
A scintillator comprising cerium fluoride and a divalent fluoride dopant, said scintillator having a fast component with a decay constant of about 5 nanoseconds and a slow component with a decay constant of about 30 nanoseconds.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
36 words
A scintillator comprising cerium fluoride and a divalent fluoride dopant, said scintillator having a fast component with a decay constant of about 5 nanoseconds and a slow component with a decay constant of about 30 nanoseconds.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
11 words
The scintillator of claim 1 wherein said dopant is calcium fluoride.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
11 words
The scintillator of claim 1 wherein said dopant is strontium fluoride.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
11 words
The scintillator of claim 1 wherein said dopant is barium fluoride.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
24 words
The scintillator of claim 1 wherein said dopant is present in an amount less than about two percent by weight of the total scintillator.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
14 words
The scintillator of claim 1 wherein said scintillator is used to detect ionizing radiation.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
17 words
The scintillator of claim 6 wherein said ionizing radiation is in the form of high energy photons.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
16 words
The scintillator of claim 6 wherein said ionizing radiation is in the form of gamma rays.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
14 words
The scintillator of claim 1 wherein said scintillator is used in position emission tomography.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
29 words
A scintillator comprising cerium fluoride and a scintillation-enhancing dopant represented by the formula XF 2 , wherein X is selected from the group consisting of calcium, strontium and barium.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
29 words
A scintillator comprising cerium fluoride and a scintillation-enhancing dopant represented by the formula XF 2 , wherein X is selected from the group consisting of calcium, strontium and barium.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
24 words
The scintillator of claim 10 wherein said dopant is present in an amount less than about two percent by weight of the total scintillator.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
14 words
The scintillator of claim 10 wherein said scintillator is used to detect ionizing radiation.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
17 words
The scintillator of claim 12 wherein said ionizing radiation is in the form of high energy photons.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
16 words
The scintillator of claim 12 wherein said ionizing radiation is in the form of gamma rays.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
14 words
The scintillator of claim 10 wherein said scintillator is used in position emission tomography.
Claim 18
Independent Claim
16 words
A method of preparing a scintillator comprising cerium fluoride comprising adding a scintillation-enhancing divalent fluoride dopant.
Claim 19
Independent Claim
16 words
A method of preparing a scintillator comprising cerium fluoride comprising adding a scintillation-enhancing divalent fluoride dopant.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
11 words
The method of claim 16 wherein said dopant is calcium fluoride.
Claim 21
Dependent Claim
11 words
The method of claim 16 wherein said dopant is strontium fluoride.
Claim 22
Dependent Claim
11 words
The method of claim 16 wherein said dopant is barium fluoride.
Claim 23
Dependent Claim
24 words
The method of claim 16 wherein said dopant is added in an amount less than about two percent by weight of the total scintillator.
Claim 24
Dependent Claim
45 words
A camera for use in positron emission tomography comprising a scintillator comprising cerium fluoride and a divalent fluoride dopant, said scintillator having a fast component with a decay constant of about 5 nanoseconds and a slow component with a decay constant of about 30 nanoseconds.
Claim 25
Dependent Claim
45 words
A camera for use in positron emission tomography comprising a scintillator comprising cerium fluoride and a divalent fluoride dopant, said scintillator having a fast component with a decay constant of about 5 nanoseconds and a slow component with a decay constant of about 30 nanoseconds.
Claim 26
Dependent Claim
29 words
The camera of claim 21 wherein said dopant is represented by the formula XF 2 , wherein X is selected from the group consisting of calcium, strontium and barium.
Claim 27
Dependent Claim
24 words
The camera of claim 21 wherein said dopant is present in an amount less than about two percent by weight of the total scintillator.
Claim 28
Independent Claim
45 words
The method of detecting ionizing radiation which comprises using a scintillator comprising cerium fluoride and a divalent fluoride dopant, said scintillator having a fast component with a decay constant of about 5 nanoseconds and a slow component with a decay constant of about 30 nanoseconds.
Claim 29
Independent Claim
45 words
The method of detecting ionizing radiation which comprises using a scintillator comprising cerium fluoride and a divalent fluoride dopant, said scintillator having a fast component with a decay constant of about 5 nanoseconds and a slow component with a decay constant of about 30 nanoseconds.
Claim 30
Dependent Claim
17 words
The method of claim 24 wherein said ionizing radiation is in the form of high energy photons.
Claim 31
Dependent Claim
16 words
The method of claim 25 wherein said ionizing radiation is in the form of gamma rays.
Claim 32
Dependent Claim
29 words
The method of claim 24 wherein said dopant is represented by the formula XF 2 , wherein X is selected from the group consisting of calcium, strontium and barium.
Claim 33
Dependent Claim
24 words
The method of claim 24 wherein said dopant is present in an amount less than about two percent by weight of the total scintillator.
Claim 34
Independent Claim
46 words
The method of performing positron emission tomography which comprises using a scintillator comprising cerium fluoride and a divalent fluoride dopant, said scintillator having a fast component with a decay constant of about 5 nanoseconds and a slow component with a decay constant of about 30 nanoseconds.
Claim 35
Independent Claim
46 words
The method of performing positron emission tomography which comprises using a scintillator comprising cerium fluoride and a divalent fluoride dopant, said scintillator having a fast component with a decay constant of about 5 nanoseconds and a slow component with a decay constant of about 30 nanoseconds.
Claim 36
Dependent Claim
29 words
The method of claim 29 wherein said dopant is represented by the formula XF 2 , wherein X is selected from the group consisting of calcium, strontium and barium.
Claim 37
Dependent Claim
24 words
The method of claim 29 wherein said dopant is present in an amount less than about two percent by weight of the total scintillator.
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USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1994-08-12 | 1995-02-11 | 1995-08-13 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1998-08-12 | 1999-02-11 | 1999-08-13 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 2002-08-12 | 2003-02-11 | 2003-08-13 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |