Socpra Sciences Sante Et Humaines S.e.c.

Societe De Commercialisation Des Produits De La Recherche Appliquee Socpra Sciences Sante Et Humaines S.e.c.

Jules Cadorette

Roger Lecomte

David Lapointe

Phillipe Berard

Laurence Convert

A blood counting device comprises a capillary conduit for drawing from a subject in which a radiotracer has previously been injected a quantity of blood in the micro-liter range to produce in the capillary conduit a flow of blood from which beta radiation is emitted. At least one direct beta radiation detector is placed closely adjacent to the capillary conduit. The direct beta radiation detector consists of a semiconductor photodiode which detects the beta radiation from the flow of blood when directly hit by this beta radiation.

Micro-volumetric blood radioactivity counter

A method for single photon counting transmission computed tomography (CT) is described. The method is based on an apparatus consisting of a radiation source and detectors on an opposite side of the subject from the source. The radiation source is for example an X-ray tube. The detectors are independently connected to parallel, fast, low-noise processing electronics capable of recording and counting individual X-ray photons at very high rate. In one embodiment of the invention, said detector is made of a scintillator coupled to a photodetector. The photodetector can be an avalanche photodiode (APD). The method comprises the steps of: directing the low energy radiation source toward the subject; detecting the radiation transmitted through the subject towards the detectors and recording the position and energy of each individual X-ray photon; rotating the radiation source and detectors around the subject; recording data for each position of the radiation source and detectors around the subject to form projections; and creating a CT image from the recorded projection data. The proposed method allows enhancing CT image contrast and reducing radiation dose to the patient by counting individual X-ray photons.

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Ascot Corner, Canada

Jules Cadorette