G.d. Searle & Company

John B Ashe

James D Hall

Peter F Berry

Kenneth L Sypal

Gwilym H Williams

A collimator is disclosed for minimizing radiation exposure and improving resolution in radiation imaging devices. The collimator provides a penetrating beam of radiation from a source thereof, which beam is substantially non-diverging in at least one direction. In the preferred embodiment, the collimator comprises an elongated sandwich assembly of a plurality of layers of material exhibiting relatively high radiation attenuation characteristics, which attenuating layers are spaced apart and separated from one another by interleaved layers of material exhibiting relatively low radiation attenuation characteristics. The sandwich assembly is adapted for lengthwise disposition and orientation between a radiation source and a target or receiver such that the attenuating layers are parallel to the desired direction of the beam with the interleaved spacing layers providing direct paths for the radiation.

Apparatus for minimizing radiation exposure and improving resolution in

An improved transducer construction for a scintillation camera in which a light conducting element is equipped with a layer of moisture impervious material. A scintillation crystal is thereafter positioned in optical communication with the moisture impervious layer and the remaining surfaces of the scintillation crystal are encompassed by a moisture shield. Affixing the moisture impervious layer to the light conducting element prior to attachment of the scintillation crystal reduces the requirement for mechanical strength in the moisture impervious layer and thereby allows a layer of reduced thickness to be utilized. Preferably, photodetectors are also positioned in optical communication with the light conducting element prior to positioning the scintillation crystal in contact with the impervious layer.

Detector construction for a scintillation camera

A radiation analyzer which measures radiation from a plurality of radiation sources in a single measurement cycle to distinguish between the radioactivity level received from a plurality of radiation sources. The radiation level of one of the sources may be known so that that source serves as a radiation standard with which to compare the other sources. Alternatively, the sources may all be known and the comparative radioactivity levels utilized to obtain information concerning some other parameter, such as external attenuation.

Analyzing radiation from a plurality of sources

A radiation analyzer which employs a single photodetector and a plurality of scintillators. Light filters interposed between selected ones of the scintillators selectively attenuate radiation of a predetermined energy range. Plural analyzers each associated with a single scintillator and each receiving electrical pulses from the photodetector attenuated to a different degree are adjusted to tabulate pulses of amplitudes which differ in accordance with the degree of attenuation of pulses received by the analyzers from the photodetector.

Radiation analyzer utilizing selective attenuation

A nucleonic device for measuring the moisture content of bulk materials using a radioisotopic fast-neutron source such as lithium-7 admixed with an alpha-particle emitter, such as americium-241, as a means of minimizing the thickness of the layer of bulk material required proximate to the moisture sensor for a neutron-reflection moisture gauge for proper operation of said gauge. Minimization of the required thickness of the bulk material permits use of a neutron-reflection moisture gauge for measurements of bulk materials on lightly-loaded belts and other types of conveyors where measurements have previously been impracticable.

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Palatine, IL, United States of America

John B Ashe