# US 10,371,831 B2 · Mixed garnet oxide scintillators and corresponding systems and methods > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 10,371,831 B2 - Document ID: US10371831B2 - Status: Granted - Kind: B2 - Application number: 13/289,936 - Filed: 2011-11-04 - Published: 2012-09-06 - Granted: 2019-08-06 - Earliest claimed: 2010-11-04 - Assignees: Radiation Monitoring Devices, Inc. - Applicants: Kanai S. Shah; Charles Brecher; Yimin Wang; Gary Baldoni; William Rhodes - Inventors: Kanai S. Shah; Charles Brecher; Yimin Wang; Gary Baldoni; William Rhodes - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US10371831B2 ## CPC - G01T 1/202: the detector being a crystal - C01F 17/34: Aluminates, e.g. YAlO3 or Y3-xGdxAl5O12 - C04B 35/44: based on aluminates - C04B 35/6455: {Hot isostatic pressing} - C09K 11/7774: {Aluminates} - G21K 4/00: Conversion screens for the conversion of the spatial distribution of X-rays or particle radiation into visible images, e.g. fluoroscopic screens (photographic processes using X-ray intensifiers G03C5/17; discharge tubes comprising luminescent screens H01J1/62; cathode ray tubes for X-ray conversion with optical output H01J31/50) - C01P 2002/72: by d-values or two theta-values, e.g. as X-ray diagram - C01P 2004/01: depicted by an image - C01P 2004/03: obtained by SEM - C04B 2235/3224: Rare earth oxide or oxide forming salts thereof, e.g. scandium oxide - C04B 2235/3229: Cerium oxides or oxide-forming salts thereof - C04B 2235/3286: Gallium oxides, gallates, indium oxides, indates, thallium oxides, thallates or oxide forming salts thereof, e.g. zinc gallate - C04B 2235/6585: at an oxygen percentage above that of air - C04B 2235/764: Garnet structure A3B2(CO4)3 - C04B 2235/768: Perovskite structure ABO3 - C04B 2235/786: Micrometer sized grains, i.e. from 1 to 100 micron - C04B 2235/79: Non-stoichiometric products, e.g. perovskites (ABO3) with an A/B-ratio other than 1 - C04B 2235/81: Materials characterised by the absence of phases other than the main phase, i.e. single phase materials - C04B 2235/95: Products characterised by their size, e.g. microceramics - G01T: MEASUREMENT OF NUCLEAR OR X-RADIATION (radiation analysis of materials, mass spectrometry G01N23/00; tubes for determining the presence, intensity, density or energy of radiation or particles H01J47/00) - C01F: COMPOUNDS OF THE METALS BERYLLIUM, MAGNESIUM, ALUMINIUM, CALCIUM, STRONTIUM, BARIUM, RADIUM, THORIUM, OR OF THE RARE-EARTH METALS (metal hydrides {monoborane, diborane or addition complexes thereof} C01B6/00; salts of oxyacids of halogens C01B11/00; peroxides, salts of peroxyacids C01B15/00; sulfides or polysulfides of magnesium, calcium, strontium, or barium C01B17/42; thiosulfates, dithionites, polythionates C01B17/64; compounds containing selenium or tellurium C01B19/00; binary compounds of nitrogen with metals C01B21/06; azides C01B21/08; {compounds other than ammonia or cyanogen containing nitrogen and non-metals and optionally metals C01B21/082; amides or imides of silicon C01B21/087}; metal {imides or} amides C01B21/092, {C01B21/0923}; nitrites C01B21/50; {compounds of noble gases C01B23/0005}; phosphides C01B25/08; salts of oxyacids of phosphorus C01B25/16; carbides C01B32/90; compounds containing silicon C01B33/00; compounds containing boron C01B35/00; compounds having molecular sieve properties but not having base-exchange properties C01B37/00; compounds having molecular sieve and base-exchange properties, e.g. crystalline zeolites, C01B39/00; cyanides C01C3/08; salts of cyanic acid C01C3/14; salts of cyanamide C01C3/16; thiocyanates C01C3/20; {double sulfates of magnesium with sodium or potassium C01D5/12; with other alkali metals C01D15/00, C01D17/00}) - C04B: LIME, MAGNESIA; SLAG; CEMENTS; COMPOSITIONS THEREOF, e.g. MORTARS, CONCRETE OR LIKE BUILDING MATERIALS; ARTIFICIAL STONE {(roofing granules E04D7/005)}; CERAMICS (devitrified glass-ceramics C03C10/00); REFRACTORIES; TREATMENT OF NATURAL STONE - C09K: MATERIALS FOR MISCELLANEOUS APPLICATIONS, NOT PROVIDED FOR ELSEWHERE - G21K: HANDLING OF PARTICLES OR IONISING RADIATION NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR; IRRADIATION DEVICES; GAMMA RAY OR X-RAY MICROSCOPES - C01P: INDEXING SCHEME RELATING TO STRUCTURAL AND PHYSICAL ASPECTS OF SOLID INORGANIC COMPOUNDS ## Abstract Scintillator materials based on mixed garnet compositions, as well as corresponding methods and systems, are described. ## Claims ### Claim 1 A scintillator comprising a garnet composition comprising Gd, Lu, Al and Ga, wherein the composition has the representative formula: (Gd, Lu)x(Ga, Al)5, and x is greater than 3, wherein the composition further comprises O and Ce and the composition is a polycrystalline ceramic, wherein x is greater than 3 and less than or equal to 3.04. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The scintillator of claim 1, wherein the composition comprises between 0.5-45 weight percent Gd, 12-60 weight percent Lu, 1-20 weight percent Al, and 1-35 weight percent Ga. ### Claim 3 (depends on 1) The scintillator of claim 1, wherein Lu is present in amounts in the range of 1 mol % to 50 mol %. ### Claim 4 (depends on 1) The scintillator of claim 1, wherein Ga is present in amounts in the range of 1 mol% to 50 mol %. ### Claim 5 (depends on 1) The scintillator of claim 1 further comprising lutetium aluminum garnet (LuAG) Lu3Al5O12. ### Claim 6 (depends on 5) The scintillator of claim 5, wherein lutetium aluminum perovskite (LuAP), LuAlO3:Ce is substituted for at least a portion of the LuAG. ### Claim 7 (depends on 1) The scintillator of claim 1, wherein the scintillator is transparent. ### Claim 8 (depends on 1) The scintillator of claim 1, wherein the composition has a timing resolution with a value of approximately 500 ps or less. ### Claim 9 (depends on 1) The scintillator of claim 1, wherein the scintillator has a cross-sectional area of greater than 16 in2. ### Claim 10 (depends on 1) A detection system comprising: the scintillator of claim 1; and a detector assembly coupled to the scintillator to detect a light pulse luminescence from the scintillator as a measure of a scintillation event. ### Claim 11 (depends on 1) A detection method comprising: providing a detection system comprising the scintillator of claim 1; and positioning the system such that a radiation source is within a field of view of the system so as to detect emissions from the source; and, measuring a scintillation event luminescence signal from the scintillator with the detection assembly. ### Claim 12 (depends on 1) A positron emission tomography scanner system comprising: an imaging area; at least one radiation detector disposed adjacent the imaging area, wherein the at least one radiation detector comprises: the scintillator of claim 1; a detector assembly coupled to the scintillator to detect a light pulse luminescence from the scintillator as a measure of a scintillation event; and electronics coupled to the at least one detector so as to output image data in response to radiation detected by the at least one detector. ### Claim 13 (depends on 1) A method of performing time-of-flight positron emission tomography comprising: positioning a patient within a field of view of a positron emission tomography scanner system, the system comprising the scintillator of claim 1; detecting positron annihilation emissions from the patient using the positron emission tomography scanner system; and generating patient image data in response to the detected emissions. ### Claim 14 (depends on 1) The scintillator of claim 1, wherein x is greater than or equal to 3.02 and less than or equal to 3.04.