Localization of a radioactive source
AssigneeNavotek Medical Ltd.
InventorsDavid Maier Neustadter, Giora Kornblau
Life of this patent
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Abstract
An angle-responsive sensor, comprising: a radiation detector adapted to detect ionizing radiation; at least one radiation absorbing element arranged to block radiation from reaching said detector in a manner dependent on a relative orientation of a radiation source, said detector and said element, said detector and said element defining an aim for said sensor; and circuitry coupled to said detector and which generates an output signal which varies as a function of said relative orientation, wherein said detector and said element are arranged to have a working volume of at least 10 cm in depth and having an angular width, such that said signal defines an accuracy of better than 3 mm within one standard deviation, over said working volume.
Claims19
A method of tracking a radioactive object, comprising:
- (a) aiming at least one sensor at said object, where said sensor comprises at least one first radiation detector capable of receiving ionizing radiation from said object and generating first output signals, and said sensor comprises at least one second radiation detector capable of receiving ionizing radiation from said object and generating second output signals, and where said sensor has an associated aiming line;
- (b) determining an angular offset of said object from said aiming line of said sensor, based on said first output signals and said second output signals;
- (c) adjusting an orientation of said at least one sensor and said aiming line according to said angular offset by automatic circuitry;
- and
- (d) repeating (b)-(c) at least 10 times within a minute.
A system for tracking a radioactive object, comprising:
- a sensor comprising a first radiation detector and a second radiation detector;
- a processing unit;
- and
- a motor;
- wherein the first radiation detector is capable of receiving ionizing radiation from the radioactive object and generating first output signals;
- wherein the second radiation detector is capable of receiving ionizing radiation from the radioactive object and generating second output signals;
- wherein the sensor has an associated aiming line;
- wherein the motor is configured to rotate the sensor and thereby change an orientation of the aiming line of the sensor;
- and
- wherein the processing unit is configured to determine an angular offset of said radioactive object from the aiming line of the sensor using the first output signals and the second output signals;
- wherein the processing unit is configured to control the motor to adjust the aiming line of the sensor according to the angular offset;
- and
- wherein the processing unit is further configured to determine the angular offset and to control the motor to adjust the aiming line of the sensor at least 10 times a minute.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.