US5453623A
Expired / Lapsed
US
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Positron emission tomography camera with quadrant-sharing photomultipliers and cross-coupled scintillating crystals
Assignee: The University of Texas System
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Filing: 1994-06-01
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Granted: 1995-09-26
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Expires: 2014-06-01
Abstract
Abstract A positron emission tomography camera is provided having an array of scintillation crystals placed adjacent other arrays to form an arcuate detection surface surrounding a patient area. Alternatively, the arrays may be placed in a planar configuration on opposing sides of the patient area. Either a three-dimensional image or a two-dimensional image can be formed from a patient's body placed within the patient area. Moreover, the edges between the arrays of crystals are offset in relation to the edges between the light detectors, allowing use of circular photomultiplier tubes instead of the more expensive square photomultiplier tubes. Each light detector is suitably positioned adjacent four adjacent quadrants of four respective arrays to detect radiation emitted from the four quadrants of each array. According to one aspect of the present invention, the crystals within the arrays are selectively polished and selectively bonded to adjacent crystals to present a cross-coupled interface which can tunably distribute light to adjacent light detectors. According to another aspect of the present invention, the crystal arrays are formed by optically bonding slabs of crystals (which may be optically treated for light control) into a "pre-array" and then cross-cutting the "pre-array" from one or more sides to form the final array. The grooves may be optically treated, such as with white reflective fillers, for further optical control within the array. In addition, optical jumpers may be coupled to the free end of the array to correct for decoding distortion.
Inventors
- 👤 Wai-Hoi Wong
- 👤 Jorge Uribe
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-10 02:34
CPC Classifications
G; G01; G01T; G01T1/00; G01T1/16; G01T1/161; G01T1/164; G01T1/1641; G01T1/1642; G01T1/20; G01T1/2002; G01T1/202
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 35
Claim 1
Independent Claim
54 words
A positron emission tomography camera comprising: a plurality of arrays of scintillation crystals placed in an arcuate position with adjacent arrays and adapted to surround a patient area; and a plurality of circular photomultiplier tubes positioned adjacent said plurality of arrays, each light detector being adjacent one quadrant of each of four adjacent arrays.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
54 words
A positron emission tomography camera comprising: a plurality of arrays of scintillation crystals placed in an arcuate position with adjacent arrays and adapted to surround a patient area; and a plurality of circular photomultiplier tubes positioned adjacent said plurality of arrays, each light detector being adjacent one quadrant of each of four adjacent arrays.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
16 words
The apparatus as recited in claim 1, wherein each array comprises at least thirty-six scintillation crystals.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
15 words
The apparatus as recited in claim 2, wherein said crystals are BGO or light-output-equivalent crystals.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
30 words
The apparatus as recited in claim 1, wherein said crystals are separate from each other and closely bonded together by a light controlling adhesive selectively placed between selected scintillation crystals.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
39 words
The apparatus as recited in claim 1, wherein said arrays each comprise crystal slabs optically coupled together with a light controlling adhesive along a first axis, said slabs having spaced cuts with varying depths along a second, perpendicular axis.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
21 words
The apparatus as recited in claim 5, wherein said cuts are all initiated from the same face of each said array.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
23 words
The apparatus as recited in claim 5, wherein said cuts are initiated from opposite faces of each said array in an alternating pattern.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
20 words
The apparatus as recited in claim 5, further comprising a light reflective barrier placed between at least two said slabs.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
30 words
The apparatus as recited in claim 1, further comprising at least one optically transparent jumper coupled to a face of at least one said array remote from said photomultiplier tubes.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
27 words
The apparatus as recited in claim 1, wherein at least a portion of a face of at least one said array is treated with optically reflective material.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
25 words
The apparatus as recited in claim 1, wherein a face of at least one said array is rimmed with black material adjacent said photomultiplier tubes.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
61 words
A positron emission tomography camera comprising: first and second planar members arranged on opposing sides of a patient area, each planar member including a plurality of adjacent arrays of scintillation crystals; and a plurality of circular photomultiplier tubes positioned adjacent said plurality of arrays in each planar member, each light detector being adjacent one quadrant of each of four adjacent arrays.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
61 words
A positron emission tomography camera comprising: first and second planar members arranged on opposing sides of a patient area, each planar member including a plurality of adjacent arrays of scintillation crystals; and a plurality of circular photomultiplier tubes positioned adjacent said plurality of arrays in each planar member, each light detector being adjacent one quadrant of each of four adjacent arrays.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
16 words
The apparatus as recited in claim 12, wherein each array comprises at least thirty-six scintillation crystals.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
15 words
The apparatus as recited in claim 13, wherein said crystals are BGO or light-output-equivalent crystals.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
34 words
The apparatus as recited in claim 12, wherein said crystals in each said array are separate from each other and closely bonded together by a light controlling adhesive selectively placed between selected scintillation crystals.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
42 words
The apparatus as recited in claim 12, wherein said crystals in each said array comprise crystal slabs optically coupled together with a light controlling adhesive along a first axis, said slabs having spaced cuts with varying depths along a second, perpendicular axis.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
21 words
The apparatus as recited in claim 16, wherein said cuts are all initiated from the same face of each said array.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
23 words
The apparatus as recited in claim 16, wherein said cuts are initiated from opposite faces of each said array in an alternating pattern.
Claim 21
Dependent Claim
20 words
The apparatus as recited in claim 16, further comprising a light reflective barrier placed between at least two said slabs.
Claim 22
Dependent Claim
30 words
The apparatus as recited in claim 12, further comprising at least one optically transparent jumper coupled to a face of at least one said array remote from said photomultiplier tubes.
Claim 23
Dependent Claim
38 words
The apparatus as recited in claim 12, wherein at least a portion of a face of at least one said array is treated with optically reflective material to distribute light away from dead areas of said photomultiplier tubes.
Claim 24
Dependent Claim
24 words
The apparatus as recited in claim 12, wherein a face at least one said array is rimmed with black material adjacent said photomultiplier tubes.
Claim 25
Dependent Claim
122 words
A positron emission tomography camera comprising: a plurality of adjacent arrays of scintillation crystals configured to enclose a patient area, wherein said arrays each comprise a plurality of crystal slabs optically coupled together with a light controlling adhesive along a first axis, said slabs having a plurality of spaced cuts with varying depths along a second, perpendicular axis to form an array of crystals; and a plurality of light detectors positioned adjacent said plurality of arrays, each light detector being adjacent one quadrant of each of four adjacent arrays, wherein each light detector is adapted to convert received light from said four adjacent arrays to an electrical signal in proportion to a location within each array from which said light is emitted.
Claim 26
Dependent Claim
122 words
A positron emission tomography camera comprising: a plurality of adjacent arrays of scintillation crystals configured to enclose a patient area, wherein said arrays each comprise a plurality of crystal slabs optically coupled together with a light controlling adhesive along a first axis, said slabs having a plurality of spaced cuts with varying depths along a second, perpendicular axis to form an array of crystals; and a plurality of light detectors positioned adjacent said plurality of arrays, each light detector being adjacent one quadrant of each of four adjacent arrays, wherein each light detector is adapted to convert received light from said four adjacent arrays to an electrical signal in proportion to a location within each array from which said light is emitted.
Claim 27
Dependent Claim
21 words
The apparatus as recited in claim 23, wherein said cuts are all initiated from the same face of each said array.
Claim 28
Dependent Claim
23 words
The apparatus as recited in claim 23, wherein said cuts are initiated from opposite faces of each said array in an alternating pattern.
Claim 29
Dependent Claim
20 words
The apparatus as recited in claim 23, further comprising a light reflective barrier placed between at least two said slabs.
Claim 30
Dependent Claim
21 words
The apparatus as recited in claim 23, wherein selected said crystals in selected said arrays have at least one polished surface.
Claim 31
Dependent Claim
33 words
The apparatus as recited in claim 23, wherein the surface of each slab interior to each said array is optically treated to reflect incident light for redistribution to adjacent areas of said array.
Claim 32
Dependent Claim
15 words
The apparatus as recited in claim 23, wherein said light detectors comprise circular photomultiplier tubes.
Claim 33
Dependent Claim
30 words
The apparatus as recited in claim 23, further comprising at least one optically transparent jumper coupled to a face of at least one said array remote from said light detectors.
Claim 34
Dependent Claim
27 words
The apparatus as recited in claim 23, wherein at least a portion of a face of at least one said array is treated with optically reflective material.
Claim 35
Dependent Claim
25 words
The apparatus as recited in claim 23, wherein a face of at least one said array is rimmed with black material adjacent said photomultiplier tubes.
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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) | 1998-09-25 | 1999-03-27 | 1999-09-26 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 2002-09-25 | 2003-03-27 | 2003-09-26 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 2006-09-25 | 2007-03-27 | 2007-09-26 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |