Method and apparatus for gamma ray detection
OwnerTumay O. Tumerinventor
Life of this patent
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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.
Claims69
A method of imaging a portion of an object, the method comprising the steps of:
- providing at least one radiation producing substance to said portion of said object and said radiation producing substance producing particles;
- positioning at least one detection system proximate to said portion of said object, wherein said at least one detection system is comprised of at least one detector plane;
- detecting a portion of said particles that enter said detection system and make at least two interactions producing electron-hole pairs within said at least one detection system;
- producing at least one signal for said interaction of said portion of particles;
- measuring at least two positions of said at least two interactions using said at least one signal from each interaction;
- determining direction of a portion of said particles that interact in said at least one detection system using at least two measured positions;
- and
- processing said direction information for said portion of particles and producing at least one image of said portion of said object.
An imaging system for imaging a portion of an object, said portion treated with at least one radiation producing substance, said radiation producing substance producing particles, further comprising:
- at least one detection system comprised of at least one detector plane, wherein an entrance aperture of said detection system is external to said portion of said object and proximate to said portion of said object;
- wherein a portion of said particles enter into said detection system and a portion of said particles that enter into the detection system make at least two interactions producing electron-hole pairs within said at least one detection system;
- wherein the interaction of said portion of said particles in said at least one detection system produce at least one signal;
- wherein the at least two interactions are used to measure at least two positions by using at least one signal from each interaction;
- a readout system with plurality of channels is coupled to said detection system;
- a processor system is coupled to said readout system;
- wherein said processor system processes said at least one signal produced by said portion of said particles and produces direction information for said portion of said particles;
- and
- an image processing system for processing said direction information to produce at least one image of said portion of said object.
A method of photon imaging, the method comprising the steps of:
- having photons entering a detection system wherein a portion of said photons make at least two interactions within said detection system;
- producing energy and position information for said interactions;
- determining the energy and direction for said portion of photons;
- and
- producing at least one image using said energy and position information.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.