Computer Technology and Imaging, Inc.

Terry D Douglass

Michael E Casey

Ronald Nutt

A two dimensional photon position encoder system (10) and process which includes a detector (20) for enhancing the spatial resolution of the situs of the origin of incident photons of gamma rays. A plurality of scintillator material members (22) interact with the incident photons and produce a quantifiable number of photons which exit the scintillation material members. A tuned light guide (68) having a plurality of radiation barriers (92) of predetermined lengths define slots which are operatively associated with one of the scintillator material members. Photons exiting the scintillator material members (22) enter an operatively associated slot in said slotted light guide. These slots (90) serve to enhance the predictability of the statistical distribution of photons along the length of the slotted light guide (68). A detector (20) detects the distribution of the photons at preselected locations along the length of the slotted light guide. In one embodiment, this detector (20) comprises a photomultiplier (70) which gathers information concerning the photoelectrons which are then counted. The statistical distribution of these photoelectrons is processed by an improved pattern recognition technique such that the positioning information can be determined.

Process for fabricating tuned light guide for photoelectrons

A two-dimensional photon position encoder system (10) and process which includes a detector (20) for enhancing the spatial resolution of the situs of the origin of incident photons of gamma rays. A plurality of scintillator material members (22) interact with the incident photons and produce a quantifiable number of photons which exit the scintillation material members. A tuned light guide (68) having a plurality of radiation barriers (92) of predetermined lengths define slots which are operatively associated with one of the scintillator material members. These slots (90) serve to enhance the predictability of the statistical distribution of photons along the length of the slotted light guide (68). A detector (20) detects the distribution of the photons at preselected locations along the length of the slotted light guide. In one embodiment, this detector (20) comprises a photomultiplier (70) which gathers information concerning the photoelectrons which are then counted. The statistical distribution of these photoelectrons is processed by an improved pattern recognition technique such that the positioning information can be determined.

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Knoxville, TN, United States of America

Terry D Douglass