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US 7,732,773 B2Granted
Gamma-ray tracking method for pet systems
AssigneeLawrence Livermore National Security, LLC
InventorsLucian Mihailescu, Kai M. Vetter
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Abstract
Gamma-ray tracking methods for use with granular, position sensitive detectors identify the sequence of the interactions taking place in the detector and, hence, the position of the first interaction. The improved position resolution in finding the first interaction in the detection system determines a better definition of the direction of the gamma-ray photon, and hence, a superior source image resolution. A PET system using such a method will have increased efficiency and position resolution.
Claims6
A method, comprising:
- positioning a radioactive tracer inside a sample, wherein said tracer interacts with said sample to emit a first annihilation gamma-ray and a second annihilation gamma-ray, wherein said first annihilation gamma-ray and said second annihilation gamma-ray are emitted at about 180 degrees from each other;
- intercepting said first annihilation gamma-ray with a first position sensitive detector (PSD), wherein said first annihilation gamma-ray produces a first plurality of photon reactions comprising a first photon reaction A in said first PSD and at least one subsequent photon reaction A′ in said first PSD;
- intercepting said second annihilation gamma-ray with a second PSD, wherein said second annihilation gamma-ray produces a second plurality of photon reactions comprising a first photon reaction B in said second PSD and at least one subsequent photon reaction B′ in said second PSD;
- determining, with a Bayesian probability theory based gamma-ray tracking algorithm, which photon of said first plurality of photon reactions has the highest probability of being said first photon reaction A;
- determining, with said gamma-ray tracking algorithm, which photon of said second plurality of photon reactions has the highest probability of being a first photon reaction B;
- and
- producing a line of response between said first photon reaction A and said first photon reaction B.
4 more elements
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.