Abstract: A system and method of computer tomography imaging using a cerium-doped lutetium orthosilicate scintillator are provided. The system includes a high frequency electromagnetic energy projection source to project high frequency energy toward an object, such as a patient. A scintillator array having a plurality of cerium-doped lutetium orthosilicate scintillators therein receives the high frequency energy attenuated by the object and emits light energy based on the attenuated energy received. A photodiode array including a plurality of photodiodes is optically-coupled to the scintillator array and configured to detect the light energy and discharge output to a data processing system to produce a visual display. Each scintillator of the scintillator array is formed into a transparent glass ceramic having a high crystalline phase by combing glass-forming compounds in a glass forming system.

Abstract: A green light emitting from a terbium-samarium co-activated alkaline earth metal rare earth oxide phosphor which is composed of an oxygen atom and a composition of the formula:

Abstract: The present invention discloses a method of aligning scintillator crystalline structures for computed tomography imaging and a system of use. Crystal seeds are deposited inside a glass melt and are then grown to form a plurality of layer crystallites. While growing the crystallites, a field is applied to align each crystallite structure in a uniform orientation. As a result, the crystallites are configured to reduce light scattering and improve the overall efficiency of the CT system. A CT system is disclosed implementing a scintillator array having a plurality of scintillators, each scintillator being formed of a plurality of uniformly aligned crystallites. Each crystallite includes a receiving surface and an exiting surface configured perpendicular to an x-ray beam. Further, the receiving surface and the exiting surface are connected by a plurality of surface walls arranged parallel to the x-ray beam.

Abstract: A scintillation detector having reduced temperature sensitivity is provided by having two circuits for temperature compensation. The two circuits may be a thermistor in parallel with both a resistive element and a switching element. The switching element can be various devices including a zener diode, a Schottky barrier diode or an MIM. The temperature compensation circuit may be included in the circuit of a photo-detector such as a photomultiplier tube.

Abstract: A method of measuring the movement of solid particles and particle interactions in a flowing system includes the step of providing two gamma cameras set up at right angles to each other to periodically record the position of a radioactively tagged particle in the flowing system. Probability distribution functions, particle positions, particle velocities, amongst other useful information, may be determined from the camera data.

Abstract: This device comprises a chamber (4) with a pinhole, the walls of the chamber acting as shielding (6) that absorbs radiation. The chamber contains means of forming images of the sources, due to radiation, and the area in which the sources are located, due to visible light from this area. A part (36) of the shielding in which the pinhole (32) is located, is free to move and is fixed to an optical system (34) capable of providing sharp images in visible light over the required field depth by replacing the pinhole for the formation of the image of the area, and vice versa for formation of the image of the sources. Application to localizing gamma radiation sources.

Abstract: A system calibrates a user's brain region (e.g., the primary visual cortex or V1 region) to actual sensory information (e.g., the visual field), and enables imagined sensory information (e.g.; dynamic mental imagery) to be interpreted as computer input. The system includes a configuration engine and an input device control engine. The configuration engine includes a test pattern; a functional information gatherer for presenting the test pattern to a user; a brain-scanning device interface for obtaining functional information from a region in the user's brain that provides a physiological response to the test pattern and that receives feedback corresponding to imagined sensory information; and a mapping engine for using the functional information to map the user's brain region to the test pattern.

Abstract: A spectroscopy system is provided having an automatic pole-zero error correction circuit. A gated integrator of the system integrates a shaped pulse and trailing edge of the shaped pulse for sampling by an analog-to-digital converter. A pair of samples are converted along the slope of each integrated shaped pulse passing through the system. The two samples are compared on a pulse by pulse basis. An algorithm generates a control word for affecting a change in a pole-zero network coupled along a shaping amplifier of the system. In response to the control word, an MDAC of the pole-zero network affects a change in the system to correct the pole-zero error. When the pole-zero error is eliminated or reaches an acceptable user level, the correction circuitry automatically shuts off.

Abstract: A scintillation detector which includes a plurality of discrete scintillators composed of one or more scintillator materials. The discrete scintillators interact with incident radiation to produce a quantifiable number of photons with characteristic emission wavelength and decay time. A light guide is operatively associated with the scintillation crystals and may be either active or non-active and segmented or non-segmented depending upon the embodiment of the design. Photodetectors are provided to sense and quantify the scintillation light emissions. The process and system embodying various features of the present invention can be utilized in various applications such as SPECT, PET imaging and simultaneous PET systems.

Abstract: An apparatus for identifying the location of a photon source within an imaging area and which generates photons having energies within a known energy range, the apparatus including two oppositely facing cameras disposed on opposite sides of the imaging area, each camera including a first detector unit which causes scattering when a photon enters the unit and generates signals indicative of the scattering event location, energy and time and a second detector unit which absorbs the scattered photon and generates signals indicative of the absorption event energy and time, the generated signals are then mathematically combined to determine the location of the source. Also a Compton camera including a first detector unit which is anatomically configured to generally mirror the external surface of a portion of a patient including an object to be imaged, a second detector unit positioned outside an imaging area to receive scattered photons from the first unit.

Abstract: A method for monitoring a biological tissue includes illuminating the tissue, including a fluorophore, with a wavelength of light, the wavelength selected for exciting the fluorophore, determining a fluorescent emission of the fluorophore, the emission indicating the presence of the fluorophore, and correlating an emission of the fluorophore to an extent and degree of damage to the tissue. Damage to the tissue includes a breakdown of the fluorophore, resulting in a reduced level of emission. The fluorophore can include one of collagen and elastin. The fluorophore can include tryptophan, nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide, flavin and porphyrin. Correlating the emission of the fluorophore to the extent and degree of damage further includes processing a correlation of the emission over time, controlling the power of a laser welder based on the processed correlation, and preventing overheating of the tissue by the laser welder.

Abstract: A radiation detector D comprises: a scintillator 1, a main light guide 4, a wavelength shift fiber 5 passing through the main light guide 4, and an auxiliary light guide 2 provided between the scintillator 1 and the main light guide 4. The scintillator 1 is designed to emit scintillation light in response to incoming radiation. The main light guide 4 is surrounded by a plane 4a of incidence, for allowing the scintillation light to be incident thereon, and a reflecting surface for inwardly reflecting the scintillation light entering the plane 4a of incidence. The wavelength shift fiber 5 is designed to absorb the scintillation light entering the main light guide 4 to re-emit the scintillation light as fluorescent pulses of a longer wavelength to allow the re-emitted fluorescent pulses to simultaneously leave both ends 5a, 5b.

Abstract: A composite phosphor screen for converting radiation, such as X-rays, into visible light. The screen includes a planar surface, which can be formed from glass, silicon or metal, which has etched therein a multiplicity of closely spaced microchannels having diameters of the order of 10 microns or less. Deposited within each of the microchannels is a multiplicity of phosphors which emit light when acted upon by radiation. The walls of the microchannels and/or the substrate surfaces include light reflective coatings so as to reflect the light emitted by the phosphors to the light collecting devices, such as film or an electronic detector. The coatings can be either radiation transparent or filtering/attenuating depending on the particular application.

Abstract: A method for characterizing a test sample of biological tissue is disclosed. The method includes obtaining a radiation scattering pattern produced by the test sample of biological tissue and processing the radiation scattering pattern to determine a pair distance distribution function for the test sample. The method also includes comparing sample data derived from the pair distance distribution function with known data derived from known samples which each have one or more known characteristics.

Abstract: Transmission and scatter detectors for an x-ray inspection system preferably employing a moving pencil beam comprise a solid plastic scintillating material having a front planar surface that is impinged by incident x-ray energy. The detectors also include light detectors that are cooperatively mounted to the plastic scintillating material to detect photons within the plastic scintillating material created in response to x-rays incident on the front planar surface. The detector may be a transmission detector or a scatter detector. The detectors of the present invention are relatively thin in comparison to prior art detectors, which allows shielding to be reduced. In addition, the detectors of the present invention have a greater efficiency of detection in comparison to the prior art detectors.

Abstract: An apparatus for providing a radiation point source for testing PET scanner detector accuracy in an annular PET scanner which defines a scanning region, the apparatus including a supporter positioned axially adjacent a scanner, a support member which supports a radiation source at a distal end and is moveable between an extended position within the scanning region and a retracted position outside the scanning region and a motivator for rotating the support member about the scanning region when the support member is extended.

Abstract: A positioner for a scintillation camera detector head is designed for use with a detector head of the type having a center of gravity dependent upon the weight of a removable collimator plate and being supported between a pair of substantially parallel support arms such that the detector head is rotatable relative to the support arms about an axis of rotation passing through the support arms. The positioner includes a pair of rigid detector head links for aligning the center of gravity of the detector head relative to the support arms. Each detector head link includes an arm end rotatably attached to the adjacent support arm by way of an arm axle, and a head end rotatably attached to the detector head by way of a head axle. The positioner also includes a lock for selectively securing the relative positions of the detector head and the detector head links.

Abstract: A tomographic imaging system which images ionizing radiation such as gamma rays or x rays and which: 1) can produce tomographic images without requiring an orbiting motion of the detector(s) or collimator(s) around the object of interest, 2) produces smaller tomographic systems with enhanced system mobility, and 3) is capable of observing the object of interest from sufficiently many directions to allow multiple time-sequenced tomographic images to be produced. The system consists of a plurality of detector modules which are distributed about or around the object of interest and which fully or partially encircle it. The detector modules are positioned close to the object of interest thereby improving spatial resolution and image quality. The plurality of detectors view a portion of the patient or object of interest simultaneously from a plurality of positions.

Abstract: X-ray phosphor powders and a method for making phosphor powders. The phosphor powders have a small particle size, narrow particle size distribution and are substantially spherical. The method of the invention advantageously permits the economic production of such powders. The invention also relates to improved devices, such as x-ray image intensifiers, incorporating the phosphor powders.