Abstract:
An apparatus and method are disclosed for detecting and locating the origin of a gamma ray in a medical diagnostic imaging system. At least one primary fiber, which is a scintillating optical fiber, is positioned to receive radiation from a gamma ray source. At least one secondary fiber intersects the primary fiber at a non-zero angle and is in optical contact with the primary fiber. Both the primary and secondary fibers are provided with means for detecting light propagated in the fibers. The interaction of a gamma ray with the primary fiber will result in the propagation of light in both the primary and secondary fibers, thereby permitting the determination of the site of impact of the gamma ray in the detector, and possibly also enabling the determination of the path of incidence of the gamma ray.
Abstract:
A device and method for detecting gamma rays in a diagnostic imaging system preferably utilizing fast step index scintillating fibers and photomultipliers is provided by the present invention. A plurality of scintillating fibers are formed into layers comprising substantially parallel fibers positioned lengthwise each other in each layer. Each layer is positioned parallel each adjacent layer with each layer having its respective fibers at an angle of substantially either 60 or 90° to each adjacent layer. Preferably, position sensitive photomultipliers are provided and each photomultiplier is coupled to a plurality of fibers and each fiber has at least one end coupled to a photomultiplier. Data output from each photomultiplier is collected and processed to determine spatial coordinates of the origination position of a detected gamma ray. The present invention provides a high resolution gamma ray detector having an improved signal-to-noise ratio. This improves significantly the diagnostic power of the presently used PET and SPECT systems, and greatly extends the field of their application both in medical diagnosis and research. In addition, the present invention enables use of longer-lived positron emitting radiactive isotopes than presently used in typical PET systems.
Abstract:
PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a detector module for X-rays or gamma rays that achieves a plurality of detector columns at low cost and has small weight. SOLUTION: The detector module for X-rays or gamma rays includes one or more optical waveguide sections 2 that are arranged in parallel to constitute one or more detector columns and are optically interconnected in series. The optical waveguide sections 2 include one or more convertor materials for converting the incident X-rays or gamma rays 3 into light beams, and are constituted so that light beams of different wavelengths are generated in adjacent regions along the optical waveguide section 2 when the X-rays or gamma rays 3 come. COPYRIGHT: (C)2007,JPO&INPIT
Abstract:
PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To measure the flying direction of radiation entering from far, and to miniaturize a device and reduce its weight. SOLUTION: This device is equipped with a radiation detection system 12 having a scintillation optical fiber 10 for converting the entering radiation into a light signal, light receiving elements 14a, 14b connected to both ends thereof, for converting light signals propagating in two directions in the scintillation optical fiber into electric signals respectively, and a radiation analysis system 16 for determining the entering position of the radiation based on the arrival time difference between the electric signals from both light receiving elements. The scintillation optical fiber is installed in the arc-shaped bent state, and many plate-shaped collimators 18 are arrayed radially at approximately equal intervals on the outside of the scintillation optical fiber. COPYRIGHT: (C)2005,JPO&NCIPI