High resolution photon detector

A method for use with a photon source disposed within an imaging area and generating photon pairs which travel in opposite directions, each photon having energy within a known energy range, the method for determining the location of the source and comprising the steps of:

• for each oppositely traveling photon:
• intercepting the photon at a scattering event location thereby causing the photon to deposit scattering event energy and to scatter random a new trajectory;
• determining the scattering event location;
• determining the scattering event energy;
• absorbing the scattered photon thereby causing the photon to deposit absorption event energy;
• determining the absorption event energy;
• mathematically combining the scattering and absorption event energies to yield a sensed event energy;
• and
• identifying coincidence event pairs which have sensed event energies within the known energy range;
• and
• storing the coincidence event pairs as indications of the location of the photon source.

An imaging system for use with a photon source disposed within a portion of an object wherein a surface of the object adjacent the portion is characterized by a surface shape, the object within an imaging area, the source generating photons having energies within a known energy range, the system for determining the location of the source and comprising:

• at least one first detector unit having a detector surface and positioned within the imaging area, when photons enter the first unit, the first unit scattering the photons along trajectories having random angles and generating signals indicative of scattering event locations and energy deposits, the detector surface having a topology which mirrors the surface shape such that the object portion and the detector surface are complimentary;
• a second detector unit positioned outside the imaging area, when photons enter the second unit, the second unit absorbing the photons and generating signals indicative of absorbing event locations and energy deposits;
• and
• a processor receiving the signals from the first and second detectors and mathematically combining those signals to determine the photon source.

An imaging system for use with a photon source disposed within an object which is in turn within an imaging area, the source generating photons having energies within a known energy range, the system for determining the location of the source and comprising:

• a probe member having a distal end which is forcible into the object;
• a camera mounted to the distal end, the camera comprising:
• a first detector unit having a detector surface, when photons enter the first unit, the first unit scattering the photons along trajectories having random angles and generating signals indicative of scattering event locations and energy deposits;
• a second detector unit positioned with respect to the first unit such that at least a portion of the scattered photons impinge on the second unit, when photons impinge on the second unit, the second unit absorbing the photons and generating signals indicative of absorbing event locations and energy deposits;
• and
• a processor receiving the signals from the first and second detectors and mathematically combining those signals to determine the photon source.