Picker Corporation

Picker International, Inc.

Ronald J Martone

Donald S Kearns

Peter G Mueller

Michael R Gambini

Herbert Schoeppy

Clifford C Heaton

Gary W Enos

Robert Hindel

Rudi Franke

Michael Yarsawich

Walter Wolczek

Samuel C Goldman

Emissive computed tomography

A scintillation camera of the multiple phototube type. A thin light pipe and masks are employed to diffuse the light so that the camera operates on a principle of light diffusion rather than phototube 'viewing' as described in the prior art.

Scintillation camera with the scintillators in different planes

A system and method for governing the exposure of an image generated by a radiation camera to an image sensing camera is disclosed. The exposure is terminated in response to the accumulation of a predetermined quantity of radiation, defining a radiation density, occurring in a predetermined area. An index is produced which represents the value of that quantity of radiation whose accumulation causes the exposure termination. The value of the predetermined radiation quantity represented by the index is sensed so that the radiation camera image intensity can be calibrated to compensate for changes in exposure amounts due to desired variations in radiation density of the exposure, to maintain the detectability of the image by the image sensing camera notwithstanding such variations. Provision is also made for calibrating the image intensity in accordance with the sensitivity of the image sensing camera, and for locating the index for maintaining its detectability and causing the proper centering of the radiation camera image.

Radiation camera exposure control

In a gamma ray imaging camera having a scintillation crystal and a plurality of phototubes, two channels are provided for receiving and processing radiation of two different energy levels arising from injection into a patient of two different radioisotopes. Signals in the two energy ranges may both be recorded for future analysis or may be displayed side-by-side on an oscilloscope. Regardless of whether one or two isotopes are used, information describing the locations of scintillation in the crystal may be digitized, recorded, and played back for visual display at a later time. Alternatively, the location information may be displayed immediately. Calibration means are also provided for presenting the output of each phototube individually on an oscilloscope so that the apparatus may be adjusted to correct for variations inherent in phototubes.

Scintillation camera

Growing community of inventors

Cheshire, CT, United States of America

Ronald J Martone