The Ohio State University

Picker Corporation

Don W Miller

Mark S Gerber

Philip A Schlosser

An improved semiconductor gamma camera is disclosed. The gamma camera includes a p-i-n semiconductor diode which detects the presence and energy of gamma radiation from a source. Typically the source is radioactive material in a patient organ which is detected and then interpreted by a doctor while diagnosing the condition of that organ. The detector includes an improved electrical connection technique to allow the p-i-n diode to be connected to electronic circuitry necessary to provide spatial and energy information. In the improved camera first a passivation layer is deposited on both faces of the p-i-n diode and then a resistive layer is applied to form a reliable easily reproduced electrical contact to the junction. These two layers in combination prevent foreign matter from contacting the semiconductor material comprising the detector while providing interconnection to the electronic circuitry.

Method for manufacturing a charge splitting resistive layer for a

Charge splitting resistive layer for a semiconductor gamma camera

A gamma camera system having control components operating in conjunction with a solid state detector. The detector is formed of a plurality of discrete components which are associated in geometrical or coordinate arrangement defining a detector matrix to derive coordinate signal outputs. These outputs are selectively filtered and summed to form coordinate channel signals and corresponding energy channel signals. A control feature of the invention regulates the noted summing and filtering performance to derive data acceptance signals which are addressed to further treating components. The latter components include coordinate and energy channel multiplexers as well as energy-responsive selective networks. A sequential control is provided for regulating the signal processing functions, of the system to derive an overall imaging cycle.

Gamma camera system

An improved gamma camera arrangement of a variety utilizing a solid state detector, preferably formed of high purity germanium. The central arrangement of the camera operates to effect the carrying out of a trapezoidal filtering operation over antisymmetrically summed spatial signals through gated integration procedures utilizing idealized integrating intervals. By simultaneously carrying out peak energy evaluation of the input signals, a desirable control over pulse pile-up phenomena is achieved. Additionally, through the use of the time derivative of incoming pulse or signal energy information to initially enable the control system, a low level information evaluation is provided serving to enhance the signal processing efficiency of the camera.

Control system for gamma camera

A composite solid-state detector for utilization within gamma cameras and the like. The detector's formed of an array of detector crystals, the opposed surfaces of each of which are formed incorporating an impedance-derived configuration for determining one coordinate of the location of discrete impinging photons upon the detector. A combined read-out for all detectors within the composite array thereof is achieved through a row and column interconnection of the impedance configurations. Utilizing the noted read-outs for respective sides of the discrete crystals, a resultant time-constant characteristic for the composite detector crystal array remains essentially that of individual crystal detectors.

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Westerville, OH, United States of America

Don W Miller