# US 6,703,622 B2 · Scintillation optical fibre device for collecting ionizing radiation > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 6,703,622 B2 - Document ID: US6703622B2 - Status: Granted - Kind: B2 - Application number: 10/279,970 - Filed: 2002-10-25 - Published: 2003-05-29 - Granted: 2004-03-09 - Earliest claimed: 2000-04-25 - Assignees: Dimason - Inventors: Henri Joubert - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US6703622B2 ## CPC - G01T 1/201: {using scintillating fibres} - 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) ## Abstract A device (1) for collecting ionizing radiation comprises a scintillating optical fiber (4) received in an opaque sheath, having a first end (7) for receiving ionizing radiation and a second end (14), the fiber is arranged to convert the ionizing radiation received via its first end into light signals and to deliver the signals via its second end. The device further comprises filter elements (9) placed at the first end (10) of the sheath (3) to prevent external photons (ν) and gamma type (γ) ionizing radiation from gaining access to the first end (7) of the scintillating fiber (4), and at the second end (14) of the scintillating fiber (4), first connection elements (16) suitable for connection to light guide elements (2) for enabling the second end (14) of the fiber to be coupled to the end (17) of a light guide (18) of the light guide elements. ## Claims ### Claim 1 A device (1) for collecting ionizing radiation, comprising: an opaque sheath (3) with first and second ends (10, 15); a scintillating element (4) housed inside the opaque sheath, having a first end (7) suitable for receiving ionizing radiation and a second end (14) opposite its first end, the scintillating element being arranged to convert the ionizing radiation received via its first end into light signals and to deliver said signals through its second end; filter means (9) placed at the first end (10) of the sheath (3) to prevent at least external photons (ν) gaining access to the first end (7) of the scintillating element (4); and first connection means (16; 22) at the second end (15) of the opaque sheath (3) and suitable for connection to light guide means (2) to enable said second end (14) of the scintillating element to be coupled to a light guide (18) of said light guide means. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) A device according to claim 1, characterized in that the second end (14) of the scintillating element (4) is coupled to said light guide (18) via a coupling element (19). ### Claim 3 (depends on 2) A device according to claim 2, characterized in that the coupling element (19) is made of a material presenting a refractive index that is substantially equal to that of glass. ### Claim 4 (depends on 1) A device according to claim 1, characterized in that said second end (15) of the opaque sheath (3) extends beyond the second end (14) of the scintillating element (4) to form an extension of selected length, and in that said first connection means (16) is made by deforming said extension of the opaque sheath (3), said deformation being suitable for enabling at least one end (17) of the light guide (18) to be inserted inside the opaque sheath (3). ### Claim 5 (depends on 1) A device according to claim 1, characterized in that said first connection means (22) is a fitted part having first retention means (25) suitable for being connected to said light guide means (2). ### Claim 6 (depends on 5) A device according to claim 5, characterized in that said first retention means (25) are snap-fastening means suitable for co-operating with complementary second retention means (27) formed on second connection means (23) of the light guide means (2). ### Claim 7 (depends on 5) A device according to claim 5, characterized in that the first retention means (25) have a thread suitable for co-operating with a corresponding thread (27) formed on second connection means (23) of the light guide means (2). ### Claim 8 (depends on 5) A device according to claim 5, characterized in that said first connection means (22) comprise a hollow portion (24) suitable for closely receiving the second end (14) of the scintillating element (4) and for being covered at least in part by the second end (15) of the opaque sheath (3). ### Claim 9 (depends on 1) A device according to claim 1, characterized in that the second material in sheet form (11) is of the polyethylene terephthalate type, and the bonding layer (13) is an adhesive that is transparent to ionizing radiation. ### Claim 10 (depends on 1) A device according to claim 1, characterized in that the scintillating element is selected from a group comprising one or more scintillating optical fibers, scintillating grains, scintillating crystals selected from the group comprising at least Csl, Nal, and BGO, a scintillating plastics material, a scintillating liquid, and a scintillating gel. ### Claim 11 (depends on 10) A device according to claim 10, characterized in that said scintillating element has a first portion (4a) placed downstream from the filter means and suitable for converting γ type ionizing radiation into photons, and a second portion (4b) placed downstream from said first portion and suitable for converting β type ionizing radiation into photons. ### Claim 12 (depends on 11) A device according to claim 11, characterized in that the first portion (4a) is constituted by scintillating crystals selected from the group comprising at least CsI, NaI, and BGO, and the second portion (4b) is a scintillating plastics material. ### Claim 13 (depends on 1) A device according to claim 1, characterized in that the scintillating element is made up of a plurality of substantially identical scintillating fibers (4-i) arranged in a bundle and suitable for being coupled to a bundle of light guides (18-i) of the light guide means (2). ### Claim 14 (depends on 1) A device according to claim 1, characterized in that the scintillating element (4) extends over a length lying substantially in the range about 0.1 mm to about 1 m. ### Claim 15 (depends on 1) A device according to claim 1, characterized in that the scintillating element (4) extends over a length lying substantially in the range about 0.1 mm to about 50 cm. ### Claim 16 (depends on 1) A device according to claim 1, characterized in that the scintillating element (4) extends over a length lying substantially in the range about 0.1 mm to about 5 cm. ### Claim 17 (depends on 1) The use of a collection device according to claim 1 for detecting cells, or organs, or tumors, or metastases containing radioactive nuclei suitable for radiating ionizing radiation. ### Claim 18 A device (1) for collecting ionizing radiation, comprising: an opaque sheath (3) with first and second ends (10, 15); a scintillating element (4) housed inside the opaque sheath, having a first end (7) suitable for receiving ionizing radiation and a second end (14) opposite its first end, the scintillating element being arranged to convert the ionizing radiation received via its first end into light signals and to deliver said signals through its second end; filter means (9) placed at the first end (10) of the sheath (3) to prevent at least external photons (ν) gaining access to the first end (7) of the scintillating element (4); and first connection means (16; 22) at the second end (14) of the scintillating element (4) and suitable for connection to light guide means (2) to enable said second end (14) of the scintillating element to be coupled to a light guide (18) of said light guide means, wherein said filter means (9) are made in the form of an endpiece having a first material in sheet form (12) presenting weight lying in the range 40 g/m2 to 300 g/m2, and in particular black paper. ### Claim 19 (depends on 18) A device according to claim 18, characterized in that said endpiece (9) has a second material in sheet form (11) suitable for blocking γ type ionizing radiation and secured to the first material in sheet form (12) via an intermediate bonding layer (13). ### Claim 20 (depends on 19) A device according to claim 19, wherein the scintillating element is made up of a plurality of substantially identical scintillating fibers arranged in a bundle, characterized in that said filter means (9) include a selected zone of small extent arranged to allow γ type and β type ionizing radiation to enter into the first end of at least one of the scintillating fibers (4-i) of the bundle, such that said scintillating fiber can convert received γ and β ionizing radiation into light signals. ### Claim 21 An assembly for collecting ionizing radiation, comprising: light guide means (2) suitable for being connected to a device for collecting ionizing radiation (1), the device for collecting ionization radiation comprising, an opaque sheath (3) with first and second ends (10, 15); a scintillating element (4) housed inside the opaque sheath, having a first end (7) suitable for receiving ionizing radiation and a second end (14) opposite its first end, the scintillating element being arranged to convert the ionizing radiation received via its first end into light signals and to deliver said signals through its second end; filter means (9) placed at the first end (10) of the sheath (3) to prevent at least external photons (ν) gaining access to the first end (7) of the scintillating element (4); and first connection means (16; 22) at the second end (14) of the opaque sheath and suitable for connection to light guide means (2) to enable said second end (14) of the scintillating element to be coupled to a light guide (18) of said light guide means. ### Claim 22 (depends on 21) An assembly according to claim 21, characterized in that the light guide means (2) include second connection means (23) suitable for co-operating with the first connection means (22) of the device (1). ### Claim 23 (depends on 22) An assembly according to claim 22, characterized in that said second connection means (23) is a fitted part suitable for co-operating with another fitted part (22) forming the first connection means of the collection device (1). ### Claim 24 (depends on 23) An assembly according to claim 23, characterized in that the second connection means (23) has snap-fastening means suitable for co-operating with complementary snap-fastening means of the first connection means (22) of the collection device (1). ### Claim 25 (depends on 23) An assembly according to claim 23, characterized in that the second connection means (23) has a thread (27) suitable for co-operating with a complementary thread (25) of the first connection means (22) of the collection device (1). ### Claim 26 (depends on 21) An assembly according to claim 21, characterized in that the light guide means have an end facing the collection device (1) and provided with a material presenting a refractive index substantially equal to that of glass. ### Claim 27 (depends on 21) The use of a collection assembly according to claim 21 for detecting cells, or organs, or tumors, or metastases containing radioactive nuclei suitable for radiating ionizing radiation.