Arrangement for examining a body comprising a radiation source

• US 4,956,856 A
• Filed: 10/03/1988
• Issued: 09/11/1990
• Est. Priority Date: 10/05/1987
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: US Philips Corporation (Koninklijke Philips N.V.)
• Original Assignee: US Philips Corporation (Koninklijke Philips N.V.)
• Inventors: Harding, Geoffrey
• Primary Examiner(s): Fields, Carolyn E.
• Assistant Examiner(s): Porta, David P.
• Application Number:
  US07/252,955
• Time in Patent Office: 708 Days
• Field of Search: 378/87, 378/88, 378/86, 378/89, 378/90, 378/6, 378/7, 378/62
• US Class Current: 378/88
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 23/201 by measuring small-angle scattering
• CPC Class Codes: G01V 5/222 measuring scattered radiation

Abstract

The invention relates to an arrangement for examining a body comprising a radiation source for producing a primary beam of small cross-section, means for producing a relative displacement between the body on the one hand and the primary beam on the other hand, a detector device sensing the radiation elastically scattered at small scattering angles and means for determining the scattering angle and or the momentum. In an embodiment, a spatial resolution in the direction of the primary beam can be obtained in that several diaphragm lamellae are arranged between the body and the detector device in such a manner that scattered radiation from different sections of the primary beam each time strikes different strips on the surface of the detector device and in that the detector has a lateral resolution in the longitudinal direction of the strips. In another embodiment, a gamma camera is employed as the detector device.

Claims

1. A radiation arrangement for examining a body comprising:

(a) radiation source means for producing a primary radiation beam having a pencil beam cross-section,

(b) displacement means for producing a relative displacement between a body to be examined and said primary radiation beam,

(c) detection means for detecting radiation elastically scattered at small scattering angles by said body from said primary radiation beam, wherein said small scattering angles are approximately equal to the sine of said scattering angle, and

(d) diaphragm means constituting a plurality of lamella disposed between said body and said detection means for directing scattered radiation at said small scattering angles from different sections of said primary radiation beam in said body to different measuring strips on a measuring surface of said detection means, said detection means having a lateral resolution in a longitudinal direction of said measuring strips, such that said detection means is position sensitive along each of said plurality of lamella,

wherein said detection means includes a plurality of parallel detectors, said plurality of detectors being disposed adjacent an area of said primary radiation beam, and said detectors detecting each time said scattered radiation passing through adjacent lamellas, said small scattering angle being determined by the striking point of said scattered radiation on said detectors, and wherein reciprocating diaphragm means are disposed between said radiation source means and said body for producing said primary radiation beam in a reciprocating movement in a plane parallel to said detection means.

2. An arrangement according to claim 1, wherein said primary radiation beam has a cross-section approximately in the form of an ellipse, said ellipse having a longitudinal axis extending parallel to said measuring strips, and said ellipse having a transverse axis extending half the dimension of said longitudinal axis.

3. An arrangement according to claim 1, wherein each of said plurality of parallel detectors includes an elongated scintillation crystal having a photomultiplier at each end.

4. An arrangement according to claim 3, wherein said scintillation crystal is sodium iodide.

5. An arrangement according to claim 1, wherein said reciprocating diaphragm means includes a rotatable hollow cylinder having two spiral-shaped slots provided through the cylindrical surface, said two slots being offset about a circumference of said cylinder, said primary radiation beam passing through said two slots to form said pencil beam cross-section at one point.

6. An arrangement according to claim 1 or claim 3 or claim 5, wherein said radiation source means includes a polychromatic x-ray radiator, and wherein said detection means measures energy of said scattered radiation.

7. An arrangement according to claim 1 or claim 3 or claim 5, wherein said displacement means includes a conveyor belt, said body being arranged on said conveyor belt.

8. An arrangement according to claim 1 or claim 5, wherein said plurality of lamella are disposed beyond said body, said lamella being provided in planes aligned with said radiation source means, said planes being parallel to said longitudinal direction.

9. An arrangement according to claim 8, wherein said detection means includes a gamma camera arranged outside of said primary radiation beam, said gamma camera being aligned with respect to said primary radiation beam so that a normal to an entrance surface of said gamma camera intersects said primary radiation beam at an angle different from zero.

10. An arrangement according to claim 1 or claim 3 or claim 5, wherein a further detection means for measuring intensity of said primary radiation beam is disposed within an area traversed by said primary radiation beam beyond said body.

11. A radiation arrangement, for examining a body comprising:

(a) radiation source means for producing a primary radiation beam having a pencil beam cross-section,

(b) displacement means for producing a relative displacement between a body to be examined and said primary radiation beam,

(c) detection means for detecting radiation elastically scattered at small scattering angles by said body from said primary radiation beam, wherein said small scattering angles are approximately equal to the sine of said scattering angle, and

(d) diaphragm means constituting a plurality of lamella disposed between said body and said detection means for directing scattered radiation at said small scattering angles from different sections of said primary radiation beam in said body to different measuring strips on a measuring surface of said detection means, said detection means having a lateral resolution in a longitudinal direction of said measuring strips, such that said detection means is position sensitive along each of said plurality of lamella,

wherein said detection means includes a gamma camera arranged outside of said primary radiation beam, said gamma camera being aligned with respect to said primary radiation beam so that a normal to an entrance surface of said gamma camera intersects said primary radiation beam at an angle different from zero.

12. An arrangement according to claim 11, wherein said primary radiation beam has a cross-section approximately in the form of an ellipse, said ellipse having a longitudinal axis extending parallel to said measuring strips, and said ellipse having a transverse axis extending half the dimension of said longitudinal axis.