Patent US5134293A successfully refreshed from Google Patents.
US5134293A
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Scintillator material
Assignee: Fermi Research Alliance
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Filing: 1988-07-12
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Granted: 1992-07-28
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Expires: 2008-07-12
Abstract
Abstract An improved scintillator material comprising cerium fluoride is disclosed. Cerium fluoride has been found to provide a balance of good stopping power, high light yield and short decay constant that is superior to known scintillator materials such as thallium-doped sodium iodide, barium fluoride and bismuth germanate. As a result, cerium fluoride is favorably suited for use as a scintillator material in positron emission tomography.
Inventors
- 👤 David F. Anderson
- 👤 Brian J. Kross
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-06 08:34
CPC Classifications
G; G01; G01T; G01T1/00; G01T1/29; G01T1/2914; G01T1/2985; G01T1/16; G01T1/20; G01T1/202; A; A61; A61B; A61B6/00; A61B6/02; A61B6/03; A61B6/037
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 22
Claim 1
Independent Claim
14 words
A scintillator comprising cerium fluoride wherein said scintillator is used in positron emission tomography.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
14 words
A scintillator comprising cerium fluoride wherein said scintillator is used in positron emission tomography.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
37 words
The scintillator of claim 1 further comprising a scintillation-enhancing dopant wherein said dopant is a fluoride represented by the formula XF 3 , wherein X is selected from the group consisting of chromium, praseodymium, terbium and erbium.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
26 words
The scintillator of claim 2 wherein said dopant present in an amount ranging from about 0.5 percent to about 1.0 percent by weight of the scintillator.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
16 words
A scintillator consisting essentially of cerium fluoride wherein said scintillator is used in positron emission tomography.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
16 words
A scintillator consisting essentially of cerium fluoride wherein said scintillator is used in positron emission tomography.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
37 words
The scintillator of claim 4 further comprising a scintillation-enhancing dopant wherein said dopant is a fluoride represented by the formula XF 3 , wherein X is selected from the group consisting of chromium, praseodymium, terbium and erbium.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
27 words
The scintillator of claim 5 wherein said dopant is present in an amount ranging from about 0.5 percent to about 1.0 percent by weight of the scintillator.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
14 words
A camera for use in position emission tomography comprising cerium fluoride as a scintillator.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
14 words
A camera for use in position emission tomography comprising cerium fluoride as a scintillator.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
14 words
The camera of claim 7 further comprising a photomultiplier tube coupled to said scintillator.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
13 words
The camera of claim 7 wherein said scintillator further comprises a scintillation-enhancing dopant.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
32 words
The camera of claim 9 wherein said dopant is a fluoride represented by the formula XF 3 , wherein X is selected from the group consisting of chromium, praseodymium, terbium and erbium.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
27 words
The camera of claim 10 wherein said dopant is present in an amount ranging from about 0.5 percent to about 1.0 percent by weight of the scintillator.
Claim 15
Independent Claim
48 words
The method of detecting ionizing radiation which comprises using a scintillator comprising cerium fluoride, said scintillator further comprising a scintillation-enhancing dopant wherein said dopant is a fluoride represented by the formula XF 3 , wherein X is selected from the group consisting of chromium, praseodymium, terbium and erbium.
Claim 16
Independent Claim
48 words
The method of detecting ionizing radiation which comprises using a scintillator comprising cerium fluoride, said scintillator further comprising a scintillation-enhancing dopant wherein said dopant is a fluoride represented by the formula XF 3 , wherein X is selected from the group consisting of chromium, praseodymium, terbium and erbium.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
27 words
The method of claim 12 wherein said dopant is present in an amount ranging from about 0.5 percent to about 1.0 percent by weight of the scintillator.
Claim 18
Independent Claim
17 words
The method of performing positron emission tomography which comprises using photodetectors comprising cerium fluoride as a scintillator.
Claim 19
Independent Claim
17 words
The method of performing positron emission tomography which comprises using photodetectors comprising cerium fluoride as a scintillator.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
13 words
The method of claim 13 wherein said scintillator further comprises a scintillation-enhancing dopant.
Claim 21
Dependent Claim
32 words
The method of claim 14 wherein said dopant is a fluoride represented by the formula XF 3 , wherein X is selected from the group consisting of chromium, praseodymium, terbium and erbium.
Claim 22
Dependent Claim
27 words
The method of claim 15 wherein said dopant is present in an amount ranging from about 0.5 percent to about 1.0 percent by weight of the scintillator.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1995-07-28 | 1996-01-27 | 1996-07-28 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1999-07-28 | 2000-01-27 | 2000-07-28 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 2003-07-28 | 2004-01-27 | 2004-07-28 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |