Particle emission tomography
AssigneesArizona Board of Regents on Behalf of the University of Arizona, inviCro, LLC
InventorsHarrison H. Barrett, Yijun Ding, Luca Caucci, John William Hoppin
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Abstract
The present invention provides autoradiography methods and systems for imaging via the detection of alpha particles, beta particles, or other charged particles. Embodiments of the methods and systems provide high-resolution 3D imaging of the distribution of a radioactive probe, such as a radiopharmaceutical, on a tissue sample. Embodiments of the present methods and systems provide imaging of tissue samples by reconstruction of a 3D distribution of a source of particles, such as a radiopharmaceutical. Embodiments of the methods and systems provide tomographic methods including microtomography, macrotomography, cryomicrotomography and cryomacrotomography.
Claims13
A device for reconstructing a 3D distribution of a source of particles from within a tissue sample, wherein the particles comprise beta particles, alpha particles, positrons, or conversion electrons, the device comprising:
- a particle-processing detector for detecting particles;
- a processor positioned in data communication with the particle-processing detector, wherein the processor is configured for:
- determining attributes of the particle;
- wherein the attributes include:
- (i) a particle interaction time;
- and
- (ii) energy of the particle upon interacting with the detector;
- and wherein the attributes additionally include at least two of:
- (iii) a two dimensional position corresponding to an interaction point where the particle interacts with the particle-processing detector;
- (iv) an energy that is deposited in the particle-processing detector by the particle;
- or
- (v) a direction of travel of the particle;
- and
- storing the attributes of the particle;
- thereby generating attributes for each of a plurality of particles from the source;
- and
- reconstructing the 3D distribution of the source of particles using at least a portion of the attributes for each of the plurality of particles.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.