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US 6,713,765 B2Granted
Scintillating fiber radiation detector for medical therapy
AssigneeGalileo Scientific, Inc.
InventorLouis R. Testardi
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A portable dosimetry system measures individual seed strengths of fully loaded multi-seed holders. The system includes a 5 mm diameter scintillating fiber disposed in a groove on a rigid bed. A photomultiplier tube (PMT) is supported on the rigid bed and is coupled to an end surface of the scintillating fiber. Attachments are provided for positioning multi-seed holders adjacent the peripheral surface of the scintillating fiber, and movable shield plates are provided for inhibiting stray radiation (produced by neighboring seeds) from reaching the scintillating fiber. The system is useful for calibrating 100% of the seeds in a holder in less time than it currently takes to calibrate 10% of the seeds in the holder.
Claims40
A dosimetry system for measuring radiation produced by radioactive seeds, comprising:
- a rigid structure;
- a scintillating fiber mounted on the rigid structure in a substantially relatively immovable manner, the scintillating fiber having a cylindrical peripheral surface and first and second end surfaces, the scintillating fiber being substantially immovable relative to the rigid structure;
- a light intensity measuring device attached to the rigid structure in a substantially relatively immovable manner;
- coupling means for optically coupling the first end surface of the scintillating fiber to an active portion of the light intensity measuring device;
- wherein the light intensity measuring device produces an output signal in accordance with an amount of light generated by the scintillating fiber;
- and
- wherein the scintillating fiber is mounted on the rigid structure in such a manner that a longitudinal axis of the scintillating fiber extends in a direction away from the active portion of the light intensity measuring device, with a distance between the active portion of the light intensity measuring device and the second end surface of the scintillating fiber being between substantially 15 mm and substantially 200 mm, and wherein a portion of the cylindrical peripheral surface of the scintillating fiber is both unshielded from radiation and accessible;
- and wherein radiation measurement is carried out adjacent the unshielded and accessible portion of the cylindrical peripheral surface of the scintillating fiber.
5 more elements
A dosimetry system for measuring radiation produced by radioactive seeds comprising:
- a rigid structure;
- a scintillating fiber mounted on the rigid structure in a substantially relatively immovable manner, the scintillating fiber having a cylindrical peripheral surface and first and second end surfaces;
- a light intensity measuring device attached to the rigid structure in a substantially relatively immovable manner;
- coupling means for optically coupling the first end surface of the scintillating fiber to an active portion of the light intensity measuring device;
- wherein the light intensity measuring device produces an output signal in accordance with an amount of light generated by the scintillating fiber;
- wherein the scintillating fiber is mounted on the rigid structure in such a manner that a longitudinal axis of the scintillating fiber extends in a direction away from the active portion of the light intensity measuring device, with a distance between the active portion of the light intensity measuring device and the second end surface of the scintillating fiber being between substantially 15 mm and substantially 200 mm, and wherein a portion of the cylindrical peripheral surface of the scintillating fiber is unshielded from radiation and accessible;
- wherein radiation measurement is carried out adjacent the accessible portion of the cylindrical peripheral surface of the scintillating fiber;
- and wherein the dosimetry system further comprises:
- an attachment piece which is fixed to the rigid structure and which includes an opening therein adjacent the accessible portion of the cylindrical peripheral surface of the scintillating fiber for receiving and positioning a multi-seed holder relative to the scintillating fiber during radiation measurement.
6 more elements
A dosimetry system for measuring radiation for medical applications comprising:
- a rigid structure;
- a scintillating fiber mounted on the rigid structure in a substantially relatively immovable manner, the scintillating fiber having a cylindrical peripheral surface and first and second end surfaces;
- a light intensity measuring device attached to the rigid structure in a substantially relatively immovable manner;
- coupling means for optically coupling the first end surface of the scintillating fiber to an active portion of the light intensity measuring device;
- means for shielding the scintillating fiber from ambient light;
- wherein the light intensity measuring device produces an output signal in accordance with an amount of light generated by the scintillating fiber;
- wherein the scintillating fiber is mounted on the rigid structure in such a manner that a longitudinal axis of the scintillating fiber extends in a direction away from the active portion of the light intensity measuring device, with a distance between the active portion of the light intensity measuring device and the second end surface of the scintillating fiber being between substantially 15 mm and substantially 200 mm, and wherein a portion of the cylindrical peripheral surface of the scintillating fiber is unshielded from radiation and accessible;
- wherein radiation measurement is carried out adjacent the accessible portion of the cylindrical peripheral surface of the scintillating fiber;
- and wherein a cross-sectional dimension of the scintillating fiber is approximately 5 mm.
6 more elements
A dosimetry system for measuring radiation for medical applications comprising:
- a rigid structure;
- a scintillating fiber mounted on the rigid structure in a substantially relatively immovable manner, the scintillating fiber having a cylindrical peripheral surface and first and second end surfaces;
- a light intensity measuring device attached to the rigid structure in a substantially relatively immovable manner;
- coupling means for optically coupling the first end surface of the scintillating fiber to an active portion of the light intensity measuring device;
- means for shielding the scintillating fiber from ambient light;
- wherein the light intensity measuring device produces an output signal in accordance with an amount of light generated by the scintillating fiber;
- wherein the scintillating fiber is mounted on the rigid structure in such a manner that a longitudinal axis of the scintillating fiber extends in a direction away from the active portion of the light intensity measuring device, with a distance between the active portion of the light intensity measuring device and the second end surface of the scintillating fiber being between substantially 15 mm and substantially 200 mm, and wherein a portion of the cylindrical peripheral surface of the scintillating fiber is unshielded from radiation to be measured and accessible;
- wherein radiation measurement is carried out adjacent the accessible portion of the cylindrical peripheral surface of the scintillating fiber;
- and wherein the rigid structure is a rigid bed, and wherein the scintillating fiber is disposed within a groove on the rigid bed.
6 more elements
A compact dosimetry system for measuring radiation for medical applications, comprising:
- a rigid bed having a length of between about 75 mm and 260 mm;
- a scintillating fiber mounted in a groove on the rigid bed in a substantially relatively immovable manner, the scintillating fiber having a cylindrical peripheral surface and first and second end surfaces;
- a photomultiplier tube attached to a tail portion of the rigid bed in a substantially relatively immovable manner;
- an optical fiber adapter which is fixed to the photomultiplier tube and which snugly receives a portion of the cylindrical peripheral surface of the scintillating fiber adjacent to the first end surface thereof, the optical fiber adapter optically coupling the first end surface of the scintillating fiber to an active face of the photomultiplier tube;
- and
- means for shielding the scintillating fiber from ambient light;
- wherein the photomultiplier tube produces an output signal in accordance with an amount of light generated in the scintillating fiber;
- wherein the scintillating fiber is supported on the rigid bed in such a manner that a longitudinal axis of the scintillating fiber extends in a direction away from the active face of the photomultiplier tube, with the second end surface of the scintillating fiber being disposed in a portion of the groove on the rigid bed and with a distance between the active face of the photomultiplier tube and the second end surface of the scintillating fiber being between substantially 15 mm and substantially 200 mm, and wherein radiation measurement is carried out adjacent an accessible portion of the cylindrical peripheral surface of the scintillating fiber.
5 more elements
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.