US5694933A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Apparatus and methods for determining spatial coordinates of radiolabelled tissue using gamma-rays and associated characteristic X-rays
Assignee: Southern Scientific Ltd
•
Filing: 1995-04-28
•
Granted: 1997-12-09
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Expires: 2015-04-28
Abstract
Abstract A system and method for diagnostic testing of structures within a body, e.g., organs within the body of a living being, which has been provided with a radioactive imaging agent, e.g., a radiotracer, to cause the structure to produce gamma rays, associated characteristic x rays, and a continuum of Compton-scattered photons. The system includes a radiation receiving device, e.g., a hand-held probe or camera, an associated signal processor, and an analyzer. The radiation receiving device is arranged to be located adjacent the body and the structure for receiving gamma rays and characteristic x rays emitted from the structure and for providing a processed electrical signal representative thereof. The processed electrical signal includes a first portion representing the characteristic x rays received and a second portion representing the gamma rays received. In a preferred embodiment of the invention the signal processor removes the signal corresponding to the Compton-scattered photons from the electrical signal in the region of the full-energy gamma ray and the characteristic x ray. The analyzer is arranged to selectively use the x-ray portion of said processed signal to provide near-field information about the structure, to selectively use both the x-ray and the gamma-ray portions of said processed signal to provide near-field and far-field information about the structure, and to selectively use the gamma-ray portion of said processed signal to provide extended field information about the structure.
Inventors
- 👤 Norman Madden
- 👤 Richard Pehl
- 👤 Robert G. Carroll
- 👤 Louis McKellar
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-28 11:45
CPC Classifications
A; A61; A61B; A61B6/00; A61B6/48; A61B6/482; A61B6/40; A61B6/4057; A61B6/42; A61B6/4208; A61B6/4258; G; G01; G01T; G01T1/00; G01T1/16; G01T1/161; A61B90/00; A61B90/39; A61B2090/392
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 97
Claim 1
Independent Claim
199 words
A system for determining the location of a mass of radiolabelled tissue with respect to a reference point, the tissue having been provided with at least one radiolabelled tracer producing gamma-ray photons, characteristic x-ray photons, and an associated continuum of Compton-scattered photons, said system comprising radiation detecting means, signal processing means and signal analyzing means, said radiation detecting means being positionable to a location adjacent the radiolabelled tissue for detecting the photons emitted thereby and for providing an electrical signal representative of the received photons, said radiation detecting means and its position relative to the tissue establishing the reference point, said signal processing means utilizing said electrical signal to produce a processed electrical signal being representative of the number of photons detected as a function of their energies, said analyzing means being arranged for analyzing portions of said processed signal utilizing the known naturally occurring abundance of emitted photons of different energies represented by said processed signal for said at least one radiolabelled tracer as a reference factor in such analysis, whereupon said analysis of portions of said processed signal utilizing said reference factor establishes the location of the mass of radiolabelled tissue with respect to the reference point.
Claim 2
Independent Claim
199 words
A system for determining the location of a mass of radiolabelled tissue with respect to a reference point, the tissue having been provided with at least one radiolabelled tracer producing gamma-ray photons, characteristic x-ray photons, and an associated continuum of Compton-scattered photons, said system comprising radiation detecting means, signal processing means and signal analyzing means, said radiation detecting means being positionable to a location adjacent the radiolabelled tissue for detecting the photons emitted thereby and for providing an electrical signal representative of the received photons, said radiation detecting means and its position relative to the tissue establishing the reference point, said signal processing means utilizing said electrical signal to produce a processed electrical signal being representative of the number of photons detected as a function of their energies, said analyzing means being arranged for analyzing portions of said processed signal utilizing the known naturally occurring abundance of emitted photons of different energies represented by said processed signal for said at least one radiolabelled tracer as a reference factor in such analysis, whereupon said analysis of portions of said processed signal utilizing said reference factor establishes the location of the mass of radiolabelled tissue with respect to the reference point.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
25 words
The system of claim 1 wherein said system includes first means to ensure that only minimal portions of said processed signal represent Compton scattered photons.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
40 words
The system of claim 2 wherein said signal processing means includes said first means, and wherein said first means is arranged to substantially remove from said electrical signal portions which represent the Compton scattered photons received by said detecting means.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
70 words
The system of claim 2 wherein said detecting means has a field of view for the detection of the photons and includes said first means, said first means comprising collimation means to restrict said field of view of said detecting means, to thereby reduce the number of Compton scattered photons and virtually eliminate x-ray photons and gamma-ray photons received by said detecting means from origins outside said field of view.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
55 words
The system of claim 2 wherein said signal analyzing means comprises window setting means to establish at least one range of photon energy encompassing at least a portion of a selected one of portions of said processed signal representing characteristic x-ray photons received and gamma-ray photons received, while excluding other portion of said processed signal.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
30 words
The system of claim 5 wherein said window setting means establishes a range of photon energy encompassing at least a portion of said processed signal representing characteristic x-ray photons received.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
29 words
The system of claim 5 wherein said window setting means establishes a range of photon energy encompassing at least a portion of said processed signal representing gamma-ray photons received.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
58 words
The system of claim 5 wherein said window setting means establishes a first range of photon energy and a second range of photon energy, said first range encompassing at least a portion of said processed signal representing characteristic x-ray photons received, and said second range encompassing at least a portion of said processed signal representing gamma-ray photons received.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
28 words
The system of claim 8 wherein said window setting means is selectable to select one of said first range, said second range, and said first and second ranges.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
47 words
The system of claim 1 wherein said signal analyzing means comprises window setting means to establish at least one range of photon energy encompassing at least a portion of a selected one of said portions of said processed signal, while excluding other portions of said processed signal.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
30 words
The system of claim 10 wherein said window setting means establishes a range of photon energy encompassing at least a portion of said processed signal representing characteristic x-ray photons received.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
29 words
The system of claim 10 wherein said window setting means establishes a range of photon energy encompassing at least a portion of said processed signal representing gamma-ray photons received.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
58 words
The system of claim 10 wherein said window setting means establishes a first range of photon energy and a second range of photon energy, said first range encompassing at least a portion of said processed signal representing characteristic x-ray photons received, and said second range encompassing at least a portion of said processed signal representing gamma-ray photons received.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
28 words
The system of claim 13 wherein said window setting means is selectable to select one of said first range, said second range, and said first and second ranges.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
69 words
The system of claim 10 wherein said signal analyzing means comprises peak identification means, and wherein said processed signal is provided to said peak identification means, said peak identification mean being arranged to provide a predetermined reference characteristic x-ray peak signal and a predetermined reference gamma-ray peak signal, to compare said portion of said processed signal representing characteristic x-ray photons received to said predetermined reference characteristic x-ray peak signal.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
89 words
The system of claim 10 wherein said signal analyzing means comprises peak identification means, and wherein said processed signal is provided to said peak identification means, said peak identification means being arranged to provide a predetermined reference characteristic x-ray peak signal and a predetermined reference gamma-ray peak signal and to compare said portion of said processed signal representing characteristic x-ray photons received to said predetermined reference characteristic x-ray peak signal and compare said portion of said processed signal representing gamma-ray photons received to said predetermined reference gamma-ray peak signal.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
60 words
The system of claim 10 wherein said signal analyzing means comprises peak identification means, and wherein said processed signal is provided to said peak identification means, said peak identification means being arranged to provide a predetermined reference gamma-ray peak signal and to compare said portion of said processed signal representing gamma-ray photons received to said predetermined reference gamma-ray peak signal.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
55 words
The system of claim 10 wherein said analyzing means comprises a multichannel analyzer having plural bandwidths, each of said bandwidths defining a respective one of said range of photon energy encompassing at least a portion of a selected one of said portions of said processed signal representing characteristic x-ray photons received and gamma-ray photons received.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
14 words
The system of claim 18 wherein each of said bandwidths is approximately 1 kev.
Claim 21
Dependent Claim
143 words
The system of claim 1 wherein said signal analyzing means comprises ratio calculation means, and wherein said processed electrical signal is provided to said ratio calculation means, said ratio calculation means being arranged to utilize plural predetermined reference ratios, each of said reference ratios being a ratio of the gamma-ray photons emitted and the characteristic x-ray photons emitted from at least one radiolabelled tracer after passing a predetermined distance through a predetermined type of tissue, said ratio calculation means utilizing said processed signal to provide a calculated ratio representing the ratio of the number of characteristic x-ray photons making up said portion of said processed signal representing characteristic x-ray photons received to the number of gamma-ray photons making up said portion of said processed signal representing gamma-ray photons received, and comparing said calculated ratio to at least one of said predetermined reference ratios.
Claim 22
Dependent Claim
53 words
The system of claim 20 wherein said signal analyzing means comprises subtraction calculation means for subtracting the gamma-ray photons corresponding to the characteristic x-ray photons of said portion of said processed signal representing characteristic x-ray photons received from the total gamma-ray photons of said portion of said processed signal representing gamma-ray photons received.
Claim 23
Dependent Claim
42 words
The system of claim 1 wherein said signal analyzing means comprises spectral line shape analyzing means for analyzing the shape of at least a selected one of said portions of said processed signal representing characteristic x-ray photons received and gamma-ray photons received.
Claim 24
Dependent Claim
39 words
The system of claim 22 wherein said spectral line shape analyzing means determines the degree of asymmetry of at least a selected one of said portions of said processed signal representing characteristic x-ray photons received and gamma-ray photons received.
Claim 25
Dependent Claim
91 words
The system of claim 22 wherein said spectral line shape analyzing means utilizes plural reference shapes, at least one of said reference shapes representing at least a selected one of said portions of said processed signal representing characteristic x-ray photons received and gamma-ray photons received resulting from at least one radiolabelled tracer after passing a predetermined distance through a predetermined type of tissue, said spectral line shape analyzing means comparing the shape of the at least one portion of said processed signal to at least one of said plural reference shapes.
Claim 26
Dependent Claim
112 words
The system of claim 22 wherein said spectral line shape analyzing means utilizes plural reference shapes, at least one of said reference shapes representing the gamma-ray portion of said processed signal resulting from at least one radiolabelled tracer after passing a predetermined distance through a predetermined type of tissue, and at least another of said reference shapes representing the characteristic x-ray portion of said processed signal resulting from at least one radiolabelled tracer after passing a predetermined distance through a predetermined type of tissue, said spectral line shape analyzing means comparing the shape of the at least one portion of said processed signal to at least one of said plural reference shapes.
Claim 27
Dependent Claim
78 words
The system of claim 1 wherein said radiation detecting means is arranged to be disposed adjacent an exposed or exterior tissue plane and wherein said signal analyzing means comprises spectral line shape analyzing means for analyzing the shape of at least a selected one of said portions of said processed signal representing characteristic x-ray photons received and gamma-ray photons received to provide an indication of the depth of the radiolabelled tissue beneath the exposed or exterior tissue plane.
Claim 28
Dependent Claim
57 words
The system of claim 26 wherein said spectral line shape analyzing means determines the degree of asymmetry of at least a selected one of said portions of said processed signal representing characteristic x-ray photons received and gamma-ray photons received to provide an indication of the depth of the radiolabelled tissue beneath the exposed or exterior tissue plane.
Claim 29
Dependent Claim
107 words
The system of claim 26 wherein said spectral line shape analyzing means utilizes plural reference shapes, one of said reference shapes representing at least a selected one of said portions of said processed signal representing characteristic x-ray photons received and gamma-ray photons received resulting from at least one radiolabelled tracer after passing a predetermined distance through a predetermined type of tissue, said spectral line shape analyzing means comparing the shape of the at least one portion of said processed signal to at least one of said plural reference shapes to provide an indication of the depth of the radiolabelled tissue beneath the exposed or exterior tissue plane.
Claim 30
Dependent Claim
130 words
The system of claim 26 wherein said spectral line shape analyzing means utilizes plural reference shapes, at least one of said reference shapes representing the gamma-ray portion of said processed signal resulting from at least one radiolabelled tracer after passing a predetermined distance through a predetermined type of tissue, and at least another of said reference shapes representing the characteristic x-ray portion of said processed signal resulting from at least one radiolabelled tracer after passing a predetermined distance through a predetermined type of tissue, said spectral line shape analyzing means comparing the shape of the at least one portion of said processed signal to at least one of said plural reference shapes to provide an indication of the depth of the radiolabelled tissue beneath the exposed or exterior tissue plane.
Claim 31
Dependent Claim
50 words
The system of claim 1 wherein said radiation detection means has a field of view and is arranged to be oriented at various orientations with respect to the tissue so that said processed electrical signal can be analyzed at each of said orientations and fields of view of said device.
Claim 32
Dependent Claim
15 words
The system of claim 30 wherein said radiation detecting means comprises a nuclear uptake probe.
Claim 33
Dependent Claim
10 words
The system of claim 31 wherein said probe is hand-holdable.
Claim 34
Dependent Claim
57 words
The system of claim 1 wherein said signal analyzing means comprises audible intensity determination means, and wherein said processed electrical signal is provided to said audible intensity determination means, said audible intensity determination means being arranged to emit audible signals representative of the rate at which said characteristic x-ray photons are detected by said radiation detection means.
Claim 35
Dependent Claim
56 words
The system of claim 1 wherein said signal analyzing means comprises audible intensity determination means, and wherein said processed electrical signal is provided to said audible intensity determination means, said audible intensity determination means being arranged to emit audible signals representative of the rate at which said gamma-ray photons are detected by said radiation detection means.
Claim 36
Dependent Claim
80 words
The system of claim 1 wherein said signal analyzing means comprises audible intensity determination means, and wherein said processed electrical signal is provided to said audible intensity determination means, said audible intensity determination means being arranged to emit first audible signals representative of the rate at which said characteristic x-ray photons are detected by said radiation detection means and to emit second audible signals representative of the rate at which said gamma-ray photons are detected by said radiation detection means.
Claim 37
Dependent Claim
54 words
The system of claim 1 wherein said signal analyzing means comprises signaling means to provide at least one signal representative of the ratio of the characteristic x-ray photons received to the gamma ray photons received, said signal indicating when said ratio is appropriate for the natural abundance of said photons of the radiolabelled tracer.
Claim 38
Dependent Claim
32 words
The system of claim 36 wherein said signaling means produces a pair of visible graphic displays, one for said characteristic x-ray photons received, and the other for said gamma ray photons received.
Claim 39
Dependent Claim
34 words
The system of claim 37 further comprises means for normalizing wherein said graphic displays to the ratio of the naturally occurring abundance of characteristic x-ray photons and gamma ray photons of the radiolabelled tracer.
Claim 40
Dependent Claim
31 words
The system of claim 36 wherein said signaling means produces a pair of audible signals, one for said characteristic x-ray photons received, and the other for said gamma ray photons received.
Claim 41
Dependent Claim
34 words
The system of claim 39 further comprises means for normalizing said audible signals to for the ratio of the naturally occurring abundance of characteristic x-ray photons and gamma ray photons of the radiolabelled tracer.
Claim 42
Independent Claim
171 words
A method for determining the location of a mass of radiolabelled tissue with respect to a reference point comprising: a) providing the tissue with at least one radiolabelled tracer that produces gamma-ray photons, characteristic x-ray photons, and an associated continuum of Compton scattered photons; b) providing radiation detecting means adjacent the tissue, detecting the photons therefrom, and for providing an electrical signal representative of the received photons; c) utilizing said radiation detecting means to establish said reference point; d) processing said electrical signal to produce a processed electrical signal representative of the number of photons detected as a function of their energies; and e) analyzing portions of said processed signal by utilizing the known naturally occurring abundance of emitted photons of different energies represented by said processed signal for said at least one radiolabelled tracer as a reference factor in such analysis, whereupon said analysis of portions of said processed signal utilizing said reference factor establishes the spatial coordinates of the mass of radiolabelled tissue with respect to the reference point.
Claim 43
Independent Claim
171 words
A method for determining the location of a mass of radiolabelled tissue with respect to a reference point comprising: a) providing the tissue with at least one radiolabelled tracer that produces gamma-ray photons, characteristic x-ray photons, and an associated continuum of Compton scattered photons; b) providing radiation detecting means adjacent the tissue, detecting the photons therefrom, and for providing an electrical signal representative of the received photons; c) utilizing said radiation detecting means to establish said reference point; d) processing said electrical signal to produce a processed electrical signal representative of the number of photons detected as a function of their energies; and e) analyzing portions of said processed signal by utilizing the known naturally occurring abundance of emitted photons of different energies represented by said processed signal for said at least one radiolabelled tracer as a reference factor in such analysis, whereupon said analysis of portions of said processed signal utilizing said reference factor establishes the spatial coordinates of the mass of radiolabelled tissue with respect to the reference point.
Claim 44
Dependent Claim
23 words
The method of claim 41 additionally comprising the step of ensuring that only minimal portions of said processed signal represent Compton scattered photons.
Claim 45
Dependent Claim
32 words
The method of claim 42 additionally comprising the step of substantially removing from said electrical signal portions of said electrical signal which represent the Compton scattered photons received by said detecting means.
Claim 46
Dependent Claim
59 words
The method of claim 42 wherein said radiation detecting means has a field of view for detecting the photons, said method additionally comprising the step of restricting said field of view of said detecting means, to thereby reduce the number of Compton scattered photons and gamma-ray photons received by said detecting means from origins outside said field of view.
Claim 47
Dependent Claim
51 words
The method of claim 41 additionally comprising the step of establishing at least one range of photon energy encompassing at least a portion of a selected one of said portions of said processed signal representing characteristic x-ray photons received and gamma-ray photons received, while excluding other portions of said processed signal.
Claim 48
Dependent Claim
28 words
The method of claim 45 wherein said range of photon energy encompasses at least a portion of said portion of said processed signal representing characteristic x-ray photons received.
Claim 49
Dependent Claim
27 words
The method of claim 45 wherein said range of photon energy encompasses at least a portion of said portion of said processed signal representing gamma-ray photons received.
Claim 50
Dependent Claim
59 words
The method of claim 45 wherein a first and a second range of photon energy are established, and wherein said first range encompasses at least a portion of said portion of said processed signal representing characteristic x-ray photons received, and said second range encompasses at least a portion of said portion of said processed signal representing gamma-ray photons received.
Claim 51
Dependent Claim
24 words
The method of claim 48 wherein said method comprises selecting either said first range, or said second range, or said first and second ranges.
Claim 52
Dependent Claim
41 words
The method of claim 45 additionally comprising the steps of: f) providing a predetermined reference characteristic x-ray peak signal; and g) comparing said portion of said processed signal representing characteristic x-ray photons received to said predetermined reference characteristic x-ray peak signal.
Claim 53
Dependent Claim
66 words
The method of claim 45 additionally comprising the steps of: f) providing a predetermined reference characteristic x-ray peak signal and predetermined reference gamma-ray peak signal; and g) comparing said portion of said processed signal representing characteristic x-ray photons received to said predetermined reference characteristic x-ray peak signal, and comparing said portion of said processed signal representing gamma-ray photons received to said predetermined reference gamma-ray peak signal.
Claim 54
Dependent Claim
38 words
The method of claim 45 additionally comprising the steps of: f) providing a predetermined reference gamma-ray peak signal; and g) comparing said portion of said processed signal representing gamma-ray photons received to said predetermined reference gamma-ray peak signal.
Claim 55
Dependent Claim
118 words
The method of claim 41 additionally comprising the steps of: f) providing plural predetermined reference ratios, each of said ratios being the ratio of the gamma-ray photons emitted and the characteristic x-ray photons from at least one radiolabelled tracer after passing a predetermined distance through a predetermined type of tissue; and g) utilizing said processed electrical signal to provide a calculated ratio representing the ratio of the number of characteristic x-ray photons making up said portion of said processed signal representing characteristic x-ray photons received to the number of gamma-ray photons making up said portion of said processed signal representing gamma-ray photons received; and h) comparing said calculated ratio to at least one of said predetermined reference ratios.
Claim 56
Dependent Claim
48 words
The method of claim 53 additionally comprising the step of subtracting the gamma-ray photons corresponding to the characteristic x-ray photons of the portion of said processed signal representing characteristic x-ray photons received from the total gamma-ray photons of the portion of said processed signal representing gamma-ray photons received.
Claim 57
Dependent Claim
40 words
The method of claim 41 additionally comprising the step of analyzing a shape of at least one portion of said processed signal to provide an indication of the depth of the radiolabelled tissue beneath the exposed or exterior tissue plane.
Claim 58
Dependent Claim
57 words
The method of claim 55 wherein said step of analyzing the shape of at least one portion of said processed signal is accomplished by determining the degree of asymmetry of the at least one portion of said processed signal to provide the indication of the depth of the radiolabelled tissue beneath the exposed or exterior tissue plane.
Claim 59
Dependent Claim
85 words
The method of claim 56 wherein plural reference shapes are utilized, with at least one of said reference shapes representing at least a selected one of said portions of said processed signal representing characteristic x-ray photons received and gamma-ray photons received resulting from said at least one radiolabelled tracer after passing a predetermined distance through a predetermined type of tissue, and wherein the shape of the at least one portion of said processed signal is compared to at least one of said plural reference shapes.
Claim 60
Dependent Claim
105 words
The method of claim 56 wherein plural reference shapes are utilized, with at least one of said reference shapes representing the gamma-ray portion of said processed signal resulting from the least one radiolabelled tracer after passing a predetermined distance through a predetermine type of tissue, and at least another of said reference shapes representing the characteristic x-ray portion of said processed signal resulting from the least one radiolabelled tracer after passing a predetermined distance through a predetermined type of tissue, and wherein the shape of the at least one portion of said processed signal is compared to at least one of said plural reference shapes.
Claim 61
Dependent Claim
57 words
The method of claim 41 wherein said radiation detection means has a field of view, and wherein said method comprises the step of orienting said radiation detecting means at various orientations with respect to the tissue so that said processed electrical signal can be analyzed at each of said orientations and fields of view of said device.
Claim 62
Dependent Claim
28 words
The method of claim 59 wherein said radiation detecting means comprises a nuclear uptake probe, and further including the step of orientating said probe is accomplished by hand.
Claim 63
Dependent Claim
30 words
The method of claim 41 additionally comprising the step of emitting audible signals representative of the rate at which said characteristic x-ray photons are detected by said radiation detection means.
Claim 64
Dependent Claim
29 words
The method of claim 41 additionally comprising the step of emitting audible signals representative of the rate at which the gamma-ray photons are detected by said radiation detection means.
Claim 65
Dependent Claim
54 words
The method of claim 41 additionally comprising the steps of: f) emitting first audible signals representative of the rate at which the characteristic x-ray photons are detected by said radiation detection means; and g) emitting second audible signals representative of the rate at which the gamma-ray photons are detected by said radiation detection means.
Claim 66
Dependent Claim
17 words
The method of claim 41 wherein said tissue is located within the body of a living being.
Claim 67
Dependent Claim
18 words
The method of claim 41 wherein said tissue has been removed from the body of a living being.
Claim 68
Dependent Claim
50 words
The method of claim 41 additionally comprising the steps of providing at least one signal representative of the ratio of the characteristic x-ray photons received to the gamma ray photons received, said signal indicating when said ratio is appropriate for the natural abundance of said photons of the radiolabelled tracer.
Claim 69
Dependent Claim
34 words
The method of claim 66 wherein said at least one signal comprises a pair of visible graphic displays, one for said characteristic x-ray photons received, and the other for said gamma ray photons received.
Claim 70
Dependent Claim
31 words
The method of claim 67 wherein said graphic displays are normalized for the ratio of the naturally occurring abundance of characteristic x-ray photons and gamma ray photons of the radiolabelled tracer.
Claim 71
Dependent Claim
33 words
The method of claim 66 wherein said at least one signal comprises a pair of audible signals, one for said characteristic x-ray photons received and the other for said gamma ray photons received.
Claim 72
Dependent Claim
31 words
The method of claim 69 wherein said audible signals are normalized for the ratio of the naturally occurring abundance of characteristic x-ray photons and gamma ray photons of the radiolabelled tracer.
Claim 73
Independent Claim
155 words
A system for the localization of a radiation detecting device used in nuclear medicine applications with tissue having been provided with at least one radiolabelled tracer producing gamma-ray photons, characteristic x-ray photons, and an associated continuum of Compton scattered photons, said system comprising a radiation detecting device and processing means, said radiation detecting device for receiving said gamma-ray photons characteristic x-ray photons, and Compton scattered photons and providing an electrical signal representative of the photons received thereby, said processing means being coupled to said radiation detecting means and arranged to establish a narrow energy window of no more than approximately 10 keV and no less than approximately 1 keV centered on the peak of the characteristic x-ray photons produced by the at least one radiolabelled tracer and excluding the peak of the gamma ray photons for providing an output signal representative of the photons received by said radiation detecting device within said narrow energy window.
Claim 74
Independent Claim
155 words
A system for the localization of a radiation detecting device used in nuclear medicine applications with tissue having been provided with at least one radiolabelled tracer producing gamma-ray photons, characteristic x-ray photons, and an associated continuum of Compton scattered photons, said system comprising a radiation detecting device and processing means, said radiation detecting device for receiving said gamma-ray photons characteristic x-ray photons, and Compton scattered photons and providing an electrical signal representative of the photons received thereby, said processing means being coupled to said radiation detecting means and arranged to establish a narrow energy window of no more than approximately 10 keV and no less than approximately 1 keV centered on the peak of the characteristic x-ray photons produced by the at least one radiolabelled tracer and excluding the peak of the gamma ray photons for providing an output signal representative of the photons received by said radiation detecting device within said narrow energy window.
Claim 75
Dependent Claim
27 words
The system of claim 71 wherein only said system is used for the localization of said radiation detecting device, and wherein said device comprises a surgical probe.
Claim 76
Dependent Claim
26 words
The system of claim 71 wherein only said system is used for the localization of said radiation detecting device, and wherein said device comprises a gamma-camera.
Claim 77
Dependent Claim
28 words
The system of claim 71 wherein only said system is used for the localization of said radiation detecting device, and wherein said device comprises a percutaneous biopsy probe.
Claim 78
Dependent Claim
27 words
The system of claim 71 wherein only said system is used for the localization of said radiation detecting device, and wherein said device comprises an endoscopic probe.
Claim 79
Dependent Claim
21 words
The system of claim 71 including means for minimizing the representation of the Compton scattered photons within said narrow energy window.
Claim 80
Dependent Claim
70 words
The system of claim 71 wherein said output signal is also representative of gamma-ray photons received by said radiation detecting device, and wherein said system additionally comprises signaling means to provide at least one signal representative of a ratio of the characteristic x-ray photons received to the gamma ray photons received, said signal indicating when said ratio is representative of the natural abundance of said photons of the radiolabelled tracer.
Claim 81
Dependent Claim
30 words
The system of claim 77 wherein said signaling means produces a pair of visible graphic displays, one for said characteristic x-ray photons and the other for said gamma ray photons.
Claim 82
Dependent Claim
34 words
The system of claim 78 wherein further comprises means for normalizing said graphic displays to the ratio of the naturally occurring abundance of characteristic x-ray photons and gamma ray photons of the radiolabelled tracer.
Claim 83
Dependent Claim
29 words
The system of claim 77 wherein said signaling means produces a pair of audible signals, one for said characteristic x-ray photons and the other for said gamma ray photons.
Claim 84
Dependent Claim
33 words
The system of claim 80 further comprises means for normalizing said audible signals to the ratio of the naturally occurring abundance of characteristic x-ray photons and gamma ray photons of the radiolabelled tracer.
Claim 85
Independent Claim
143 words
A method of positioning a radiation detecting device in a nuclear medicine application involving tissue having been provided with at least one radiolabelled tracer producing gamma-ray photons, characteristic x-ray photons, and an associated continuum of Compton scattered photons, said method comprising: (a) positioning a radiation detecting device in proximity with tissue having been provided with the at least one radiolabelled tracer; (b) receiving said gamma-ray photons, characteristic x-ray photons and Compton scattered photons with said device; (c) establishing a narrow energy window of no more than approximately 10 keV and no less than approximately 1 keV centered on the peak of the characteristic x-ray photons produced by the at least one radiolabelled tracer and excluding the peak of the gamma ray photons; and (d) providing an output signal representative of the photons received by said radiation detecting device within said narrow energy window.
Claim 86
Independent Claim
143 words
A method of positioning a radiation detecting device in a nuclear medicine application involving tissue having been provided with at least one radiolabelled tracer producing gamma-ray photons, characteristic x-ray photons, and an associated continuum of Compton scattered photons, said method comprising: (a) positioning a radiation detecting device in proximity with tissue having been provided with the at least one radiolabelled tracer; (b) receiving said gamma-ray photons, characteristic x-ray photons and Compton scattered photons with said device; (c) establishing a narrow energy window of no more than approximately 10 keV and no less than approximately 1 keV centered on the peak of the characteristic x-ray photons produced by the at least one radiolabelled tracer and excluding the peak of the gamma ray photons; and (d) providing an output signal representative of the photons received by said radiation detecting device within said narrow energy window.
Claim 87
Dependent Claim
29 words
The method of claim 82 additionally comprising the step of utilizing said output signal for guiding the positioning of said radiation detecting device with respect to the radiolabelled tissue.
Claim 88
Dependent Claim
23 words
The method of claim 83 additionally comprising the step of minimizing the representation of the Compton scattered photons within said narrow energy window.
Claim 89
Dependent Claim
20 words
The method of claim 83 wherein said positioning of said radiation detecting device aligns said device with the radiolabelled tissue.
Claim 90
Dependent Claim
23 words
The method of claim 85 wherein said positioning of said radiation detecting device spaces said device from said tissue by a determinable distance.
Claim 91
Dependent Claim
21 words
The method of claim 86 wherein said positioning of said radiation detecting device orients said device with respect to the tissue.
Claim 92
Dependent Claim
23 words
The method of claim 82 additionally comprising the step of minimizing the representation of the Compton scattered photons within said narrow energy window.
Claim 93
Dependent Claim
70 words
The method of claim 82 wherein said output signal is also representative of gamma-ray photons received by said radiation detecting device, and wherein the method additionally comprising the step of providing at least one signal representative of a ratio of the characteristic x-ray photons received to the gamma ray photons received, said signal indicating when said ratio is representative of the natural abundance of said photons of the radiolabelled tracer.
Claim 94
Dependent Claim
33 words
The method of claim 89 wherein said least one signal comprises a pair of visible graphic displays, one for said characteristic x-ray photons received and the other for said gamma ray photons received.
Claim 95
Dependent Claim
31 words
The method of claim 90 wherein said graphic displays are normalized for the ratio of the naturally occurring abundance of characteristic x-ray photons and gamma ray photons of the radiolabelled tracer.
Claim 96
Dependent Claim
33 words
The method of claim 89 wherein said at least one signal comprises a pair of audible signals, one for said characteristic x-ray photons received, and the other for said gamma ray photons received.
Claim 97
Dependent Claim
31 words
The method of claim 92 wherein said audible signals are normalized for the ratio of the naturally occurring abundance of characteristic x-ray photons and gamma ray photons of the radiolabelled tracer.
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USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 2000-12-08 | 2001-06-09 | 2001-12-09 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 2004-12-08 | 2005-06-09 | 2005-12-09 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 2008-12-08 | 2009-06-09 | 2009-12-09 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |