Method and apparatus for gamma ray detection
AssigneeTumay O. Tumer
InventorTümay O. Tümer
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Abstract
A high sensitivity, three-dimensional gamma ray detection and imaging system is provided. The system uses the Compton double scatter technique with recoil electron tracking. The system preferably includes two detector subassemblies; a silicon microstrip hodoscope and a calorimeter. In this system the incoming photon Compton scatters in the hodoscope. The second scatter layer is the calorimeter where the scattered gamma ray is totally absorbed. The recoil electron in the hodoscope is tracked through several detector planes until it stops. The x and y position signals from the first two planes of the electron track determine the direction of the recoil electron while the energy loss from all planes determines the energy of the recoil electron.
Claims32
A method of imaging a portion of a human body, the method comprising the steps of:
- providing a radiopharmaceutical to said portion of said human body, said radiopharmaceutical producing gamma ray photons;
- positioning a detection system proximate to said portion of said human body, wherein said detection system is comprised of a hodoscope and a calorimeter, wherein said hodoscope is comprised of a plurality of detector planes;
- determining a direction and an energy for a portion of said gamma ray photons entering said detection system from a plurality of hodoscope output signals and from a plurality of calorimeter output signals;
- processing said direction and energy data for said portion of gamma ray photons;
- and
- displaying an image of said portion of said human body, wherein said image is based on said processed direction and energy data.
A medical imaging system for imaging a portion of a living organism, said portion treated with a radiopharmaceutical, said radiopharmaceutical emitting gamma ray photons, comprising:
- a hodoscope comprised of a plurality of silicon detection planes, wherein an entrance aperture of said hodoscope is external to said living organism and proximate to said portion of said living organism, wherein emitted gamma ray photons pass into said hodoscope and are scattered within said hodoscope;
- a multi-channel readout system coupled to said plurality of silicon detection planes;
- a processor coupled to said multi-channel readout system;
- and
- a monitor coupled to said processor, said monitor displaying an image of said portion of said living organism.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.