Abstract: Disclosed are devices, systems and methods for providing sterile and cost-affordable handheld surgical devices with tactile operable controls. In some aspects, a surgical device includes a surgical probe including a probe detector and a set of operable controls; an exterior shell casing including an opening at one end leading to an interior cavity structured to have a size and shape to fit the surgical probe within and position the probe detector in a first region and a handle of the surgical probe in a second region, in which the first region of the exterior shell casing is configured to be inserted into an incision of a patient's body and the second region is configured to provide a user of the surgical device utilization of the operable controls of the surgical probe through the exterior shell casing; and a cap attachable to the exterior shell casing to close the opening.

Abstract: Disclosed are devices, systems and methods for providing sterile and cost-affordable handheld surgical devices with tactile operable controls. In some aspects, a surgical device includes a surgical probe including a probe detector and a set of operable controls; an exterior shell casing including an opening at one end leading to an interior cavity structured to have a size and shape to fit the surgical probe within and position the probe detector in a first region and a handle of the surgical probe in a second region, in which the first region of the exterior shell casing is configured to be inserted into an incision of a patient's body and the second region is configured to provide a user of the surgical device utilization of the operable controls of the surgical probe through the exterior shell casing; and a cap attachable to the exterior shell casing to close the opening.

Abstract: Apparatus, techniques and systems are described for facilitating identification of a target area during a probe-guided radio-localization surgical procedure. The described apparatus, techniques and systems can be used to implement a nuclear-uptake mode controller integrated into a probe to allow a user to instantly switch between multiple nuclear-uptake modes directly from the probe hand-piece. For example, a nuclear-uptake mode controller integrated into the probe can be used to instantly switch between a high-sensitivity nuclear-uptake mode and a high-resolution nuclear-uptake mode to effectively identify the target area in the presence of interfering nuclear signals by better matching the probe's nuclear detection parameters to a search task for that target area.

Abstract: A medical imaging system, e.g., a computed tomography system includes at least one radiation detector that is relatively rotatable with respect to an object of interest. The angular range is divided into discrete continuous acquisition ranges and unsampled angular ranges, wherein the discrete continuous acquisition ranges are separated by unsampled angular ranges.

Abstract: A detector head having a small field of view, for example one which receives information from less than half a body imaged, is used to form a transmission attenuation map. The same detector head both receives information for the transmission attenuation map and also receives imaging information e.g. from a radioisotope.

Abstract: An image from a gamma camera, e.g., from a radiopharmaceutical, is corrected for scatter. The image is approximated by estimating the center of the organ and supposing a Guassian response that is scatter-corrected.

Abstract: A detector head having a small field of view, for example one which receives information from less than half a body imaged, is used to form a transmission attenuation map. The same detector head both receives information for the transmission attenuation map and also receives imaging information e.g. from a radioisotope.

Abstract: A multiheaded camera which is formed with a number of heads on one support structure and a different support structure with other heads. At least one of the heads is movable, so that the patient can obtain ingress and egress to the area.

Abstract: Events of interest are detected within a gamma ray detection system. Characteristics of undesired signals, including a multiplicity of events within the signal, a density of events within the signal, and other aspects are determined. The signal is filtered based on its expected characteristics. A signal which does not have the expected characteristics is rejected, and an image is formed that excludes those rejected signals.

Abstract: Events of interest are detected within a gamma ray detection system. Characteristics of undesired signals, including a multiplicity of events within the signal, a density of events within the signal, and other aspects are determined. The signal is filtered based on its expected characteristics. A signal which does not have the expected characteristics is rejected, and an image is formed that excludes those rejected signals.

Abstract: A radiation detector for detecting ionizing radiation. The detector includes a semiconductor having at least two sides. A bias electrode is formed on one side of the semiconductor. A signal electrode is formed on a side of the semiconductor and is used to detect the energy level of the ionizing radiation. A third electrode (the control electrode) is also formed on the semiconductor. The control electrode shares charges induced by the ionizing radiation with the signal electrode, shielding the signal electrode until the charge clouds are close to the signal electrode. The control electrode also alters the electric field within the semiconductor, such that the field guides the charge clouds toward the signal electrode when the clouds closely approach the signal electrode. As a result, signal loss due to trapped charge carriers (i.e., electrons or holes) is minimized, and low-energy tailing is virtually eliminated.

Abstract: An improved semiconductor position-sensitive radiation detection device based on a photodiode array formed in a substrate. In one embodiment, the substrate has a first surface and a second surface opposing the first surface. The first surface is electrically conducting to provide a common bias potential to the photodiodes and is optically transparent to receive input photons to be detected. The device includes a grid of conducting wires formed over and in electrical contact with the first surface and configured to define an array of pixels corresponding to the array of photodiodes. A scintillation array of scintillation elements can be coupled to match the pixels defined by the grid of conducting wires and to convert incident radiation at a first wavelength outside the characteristic spectral response range of the substrate into secondary photons at a second wavelength within the spectral response range of the substrate.

Abstract: A radiation detector for detecting ionizing radiation. The detector includes a semiconductor having at least two sides. A bias electrode is formed on one side of the semiconductor. A signal electrode is formed on a side of the semiconductor and is used to detect the energy level of the ionizing radiation. A third electrode (the control electrode) is also formed on the semiconductor. The control electrode shares charges induced by the ionizing radiation with the signal electrode, shielding the signal electrode until the charge clouds are close to the signal electrode. The control electrode also alters the electric field within the semiconductor, such that the field guides the charge clouds toward the signal electrode when the clouds closely approach the signal electrode. As a result, signal loss due to trapped charge carriers (i.e., electrons or holes) is minimized, and low-energy tailing is virtually eliminated.

Abstract: A radiation detection device for gamma radiation is disclosed having an array of crystals optically positioned adjacent an optional collimator, the crystals emitting visible light upon illumination by the incident gamma radiation. An array of photodetectors is optically positioned adjacent the crystal array on the side of the crystal array opposite that of the collimator. A select photodetector in the photodetector array provides an output signal when the select photodetector is illuminated by the visible light. An integrated circuit having an input from the output signals of said array of photodetectors is used to process and output signals indicative of the intensity and position of the gamma radiation.

Abstract: A radiation detector for detecting ionizing radiation. The detector includes a semiconductor having at least two sides. A bias electrode is formed on one side of the semiconductor. A signal electrode is formed on a side of the semiconductor and is used to detect the energy level of the ionizing radiation. A third electrode (the control electrode) is also formed on the semiconductor. The control electrode shares charges induced by the ionizing radiation with the signal electrode, shielding the signal electrode until the charge clouds are close to the signal electrode. The control electrode also alters the electric field within the semiconductor, such that the field guides the charge clouds toward the signal electrode when the clouds closely approach the signal electrode. As a result, signal loss due to trapped charge carriers (i.e., electrons or holes) is minimized, and low-energy tailing is virtually eliminated.

Abstract: A radiation detector for detecting ionizing radiation. The detector includes a semiconductor having at least two sides. A bias electrode is formed on one side of the semiconductor. A signal electrode is formed on a side of the semiconductor and is used to detect the energy level of the ionizing radiation. A third electrode (the control electrode) is also formed on the semiconductor. The control electrode shares charges induced by the ionizing radiation with the signal electrode, until the charge clouds are close to the signal electrode. The control electrode also alters the electric field within the semiconductor, such that the field guides the charge clouds toward the signal electrode when the clouds closely approach the signal electrode. As a result, trapping of charge carrying radiation (i.e., electrons or holes) is minimized, and low-energy tailing is virtually eliminated.

Abstract: A material analyzer includes a container; a radiation source disposed within the container; a detector disposed within the container for detecting radiation that is secondarily emitted by a material sample within an activation region located between the radiation source and the detector when the material sample is bombarded by radiation from the radiation source and for producing signals in response to said secondarily emitted radiation; a computer for processing the signals to determine the content of the material sample; and a carousel for transporting a material sample from outside the container to within the activation region. The carousel is disposed about an axis of rotation located between the activation region and a receiving region located outside the container, and has a pair of sample containment chambers that are alternately moved between the receiving region and the activation region when the carousel is rotated about said axis.

Abstract: A complete PGNAA bulk material analyzer is self contained in a sealed and air conditioned housing. Bulk material is channeled by an open-ended vertical chute having a one-foot-by-three-foot cross-sectional dimension through an activation region between three neutron sources and two gamma ray detectors. The sources are symmetrically disposed on one of the three-foot long sides of the chute from one end of such side to the other. The detectors are symmetrically disposed on the opposite side of the chute between positions opposing the positions of the sources on the one side of the chute. The chute is dimensioned to enable free flow of various bulk materials. It handles coal of up to a top size of four inches and with typical surface moisture contents and agglomeration characteristics. The relative disposition of the sources and detectors results in the measurements being independent of the lateral distribution of the bulk material within the chute.

Abstract: A bulk material analyzer of the type in which the bulk material is transported through the material analyzer assembly on a conveyor belt between at least one radiation source and at least one radiation detector, includes a plurality of lower and upper modules that contain radiation shielding material and are so shaped as to define a passageway for the conveyor belt between the upper modules and the lower modules when the upper modules are placed on the lower modules. A primary centrally located lower module also includes the radiation sources and a primary centrally located upper module also includes the radiation detectors. Some of the outwardly located modules contain less radiation shielding material. The radiation shielding material includes a plurality of personally portable blocks. The conveyor belt is supported by compressed air passed through central upper wails in the outwardly located lower modules.