NEUTRON CAPTURE THERAPY SYSTEM AND GAMMA RAY DETECTOR FOR NEUTRON CAPTURE THERAPY

• US 20180280726A1
• Filed: 03/19/2018
• Published: 10/04/2018
• Est. Priority Date: 03/29/2017
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Kyoto University, Sumitomo Heavy Industries Limited
• Original Assignee: Kyoto University, Sumitomo Heavy Industries Limited
• Inventors: Akabori, Kiyotaka, Tanaka, Hiroki
• Granted Patent: US 10,441,815 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 2005/109 Neutrons
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 2005/1094 Shielding, protecting against radiation
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 2005/1098 Enhancing the effect of the particle by an injected agent or implanted device
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 5/1048 Monitoring, verifying, controlling systems and methods
• CPC Class Codes: G01T 1/003 Scintillation (flow) cells
• CPC Class Codes: G01T 1/161 Applications in the field of nuclear medicine, e.g. in vivo counting apparatus for radiation diagnosis A61B6/00
• CPC Class Codes: G01T 1/20 with scintillation detectors
• CPC Class Codes: G01T 1/24 with semiconductor detectors
• CPC Class Codes: G01T 1/29 Measurement performed on radiation beams, e.g. position or section of the beam; Measurement of spatial distribution of radiation
• CPC Class Codes: G01T 3/06 with scintillation detectors
• CPC Class Codes: G01T 3/08 with semiconductor detectors

Abstract

A neutron capture therapy system includes a neutron ray generating unit, an irradiated body placing unit on which a patient (irradiated body) is placed, and a gamma ray detecting unit that detects gamma rays emitted from the patient (irradiated body). The gamma ray detecting unit includes an emission part that emits light or electrons as the gamma rays are incident thereon, an amplification part that amplifies and outputs the light or the electrons emitted from the emission part, a first neutron ray shielding part formed of a substance containing 6-lithium, and a second neutron ray shielding part formed of a light element. The first neutron ray shielding part is provided so as to cover at least a surface opposite to an adjacent surface adjacent to the amplification part, among surfaces of the emission part.

Claims

1. A neutron capture therapy system comprising:

a neutron ray generating unit that generates neutron rays;

an irradiated body placing unit on which an irradiated body irradiated with the neutron rays is placed; and

a gamma ray detecting unit that detects gamma rays emitted from the irradiated body by being irradiated with the neutron rays,

wherein the gamma ray detecting unit includes

an emission part that emits light or electrons as the gamma rays are incident thereon,

an amplification part that is provided adjacent to the emission part and amplifies and outputs the light or the electrons emitted from the emission part,

a first neutron ray shielding part formed of a substance containing 6-lithium, and

a second neutron ray shielding part provided outside the first neutron ray shielding part and formed of a light element, and

wherein the first neutron ray shielding part is provided so as to cover at least a surface opposite to an adjacent surface adjacent to the amplification part, among surfaces of the emission part.

2. The neutron capture therapy system according to claim 1,

wherein the gamma ray detecting unit further includes a gamma ray shielding part provided between the first neutron ray shielding part and the second neutron ray shielding part.

3. The neutron capture therapy system according to claim 1,

wherein the first neutron ray shielding part is provided so as to cover surfaces other than the adjacent surface among the surfaces of the emission part.

4. The neutron capture therapy system according to claim 3,

wherein a thickness of the first neutron ray shielding part that covers the surface opposite to the adjacent surface is greater than thicknesses of the first neutron ray shielding part that covers the other surfaces of the emission part.

5. A gamma ray detector for neutron capture therapy comprising:

an emission part that emits light or electrons as gamma rays are incident thereon;

an amplification part that is provided adjacent to the emission part and amplifies and outputs the light or the electrons emitted from the emission part;

a first neutron ray shielding part formed of a substance containing 6-lithium; and

a second neutron ray shielding part provided outside the first neutron ray shielding part and formed of a light element,

wherein the first neutron ray shielding part is provided so as to cover at least a surface opposite to an adjacent surface adjacent to the amplification part, among surfaces of the emission part.