Scintillation probe and intra-tube cavity insertable radioactive ray detecting apparatus

• US 5,331,961 A
• Filed: 03/19/1992
• Issued: 07/26/1994
• Est. Priority Date: 07/03/1991
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Olympus Optical Company Ltd. (Olympus Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Olympus Optical Company Ltd. (Olympus Corporation)
• Inventors: Itoh, Masatoshi, Inaba, Makoto, Watabe, Hiroshi, Matsumoto, Masaki, Takahashi, Hiromu, Nakamura, Takashi, Gotanda, Masakazu
• Primary Examiner(s): Cohen, Lee S.
• Assistant Examiner(s): Casler, Brian L.
• Application Number:
  US07/853,622
• Time in Patent Office: 859 Days
• Field of Search: 128/659, 128/653.1, 128/654, 250/368, 250/367, 250/366
• US Class Current: 600/436
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 6/4057 by using radiation sources located in the interior of the body A61B6/037 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 6/425 using detectors specially adapted to be used in the interior of the body
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 6/4258 for detecting non x-ray radiation, e.g. gamma radiation A61B6/037 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: G01T 1/161 Applications in the field of nuclear medicine, e.g. in vivo counting apparatus for radiation diagnosis A61B6/00

Abstract

In a probe, two scintillators are arranged in tandem, the front end surfaces of two optical fibers transmitting the light emitted by the scintillators are connected to the rear of the scintillators and two photoelectric converters converting the light to pulse signals are connected to the rear of the optical fibers. A gate delay generator produces a gate signal from one pulse signal. A delay amplifier delays the other pulse signal. An M.C.A. will count up in case the pulse signal output by the delay amplifier is obtained during the gate signal.

Claims

1. A scintillation probe insertable into a tube cavity of a living body, comprising:

an insertable portion extending in a longitudinal direction, said insertable portion having a tip portion;

a plurality of scintillators disposed in said tip portion, shielded from external light, and positioned adjacent to each other, each of said plurality of scintillators individually emitting light in response to a detection of radioactive rays;

a plurality of light transmitting means respectively connected to carry light emitted by each of said plurality of scintillators; and

a plurality of photoelectric converting means receiving respectively the light carried by said plurality of light transmitting means, for converting the light to electric signals; and

an analyzer means connected to an output of the photoelectric converting means to count the radiation emitted from the vicinity of the tip portion of the probe.

2. A scintillation probe insertable into a tube cavity of a living body, comprising:

an insertable portion extending in a longitudinal direction, said insertable portion having a tip portion;

first and second scintillators disposed in said tip portion, shielded from external light, and positioned adjacent to each other, each of said scintillators individually emitting light in response to a detection of radioactive rays;

first and second light transmitting means respectively connected to carry light emitted by each of said first and second scintillators; and

first and second photoelectric converting means receiving respectively the light carried by said first and second light transmitting means, for converting the light to electric signals; and

an analyzer means connected to an output of the photoelectric converting means to count the radiation emitted from the vicinity of the tip portion of the probe.

3. A scintillation probe according to claim 2, wherein:

said first scintillator and first light transmitting means are covered with a first light intercepting means which is closed on a side adjacent said tip portion for shielding said first light transmitting means from light; and

said second scintillator and second light transmitting means are covered with a second light intercepting means which is closed on a side adjacent said tip portion for shielding said second light transmitting means from light.

4. A scintillation probe according to claim 3, further comprising a soft cover member, wherein:

said first scintillator, said first light transmitting means, and said first light intercepting means, and said second scintillator, said second light transmitting means, and said second light intercepting means are integrally covered at least partly by said soft cover member, said soft cover member being closed to cover said tip portion.

5. A scintillation probe according to claim 2, 3, or 4, wherein said longitudinally extending tip portion extends along a longitudinal axis;

and wherein;

said first and second scintillators are arranged in tandem along said longitudinal axis of said tip portion.

6. A scintillation probe according to claim 5, wherein:

said first and said second scintillators are cylindrical bodies having circular end faces, and are arranged in tandem along said longitudinal axis one of said circular end faces of said first scintillator is opposed to another one of said circular end faces of said second scintillator.

7. A scintillation probe according to claim 2, 3, or 4, wherein:

said tip portion has an end;

said first scintillator has a front side and a rear side, and is disposed adjacent said tip portion such that said front side faces said end of said tip portion;

said second scintillator is arranged in tandem adjacent said rear side of said first scintillator; and

said first light transmitting means encloses uniformly an outer peripheral surface of said second light intercepting means covering the second scintillator and said second light transmitting means.

8. An intra-tube cavity insertable radioactive ray detecting apparatus according to claim 2, 3 or 4, wherein:

said first scintillator is cylindrical; and

said second scintillator is ring-shaped and is coaxially disposed on an outer periphery of said first scintillator.

9. A scintillation probe according to claim 3, wherein:

said first and second scintillators are arranged side by side in a direction along said longitudinal axis.

10. An intra-tube cavity insertable radioactive ray detecting apparatus, comprising:

an insertable portion extending in a longitudinal direction, said insertable portion having a tip portion;

first and second scintillators disposed in said tip portion, shielded from external light, each of said scintillators individually emitting light in response to detection of radioactive rays;

first and second light transmitting means respectively connected to carry light emitted by each of said first and second scintillators; and

first photoelectric converting means and second photoelectric converting means receiving respectively the light carried by said first and second light transmitting means, for converting the light to electric signals;

an output signal of said first photoelectric converting means constituting a gate signal;

a counting means responsive to said output of said first photoelectric converting means, for performing either one of a synchronous count and an asynchronous count with output signal from said second photoelectric converting means by using said gate signal.

11. An intra-tube cavity insertable radioactive ray detecting apparatus according to claim 10, wherein said counting means comprises:

a gate delay generator connected to said first photoelectric converting means and producing said gate signal obtained by adding a delay amount to the signal output by said first photoelectric converting means;

a delay amplifier connected to said second photoelectric converting means and delaying the signal output by said second photoelectric converting means; and

a multi-channel analyzer means receiving the output signals from said first and second photoelectric converting means, for carrying out either one of a synchronous count and an asynchronous count with the signal output by said delay amplifier by using said gate signal produced by said gate delay generator.

12. An intra-tube cavity insertable radioactive ray detecting apparatus according to claim 10, wherein said counting means comprises:

a gate delay generator connected to said first photoelectric converting means, said gate delay generator producing said gate signal obtained by adding a delay amount to said signal output by said first photoelectric converting means; and

a delay amplifier connected to said second photoelectric converting means, said delay amplifier delaying said signal output by said second photoelectric converting means;

wherein only a random coincidence is measured by using said gate signal produced by said gate delay generator.

13. An intra-tube cavity insertable radioactive ray detecting apparatus according to claim 12, wherein said counting means produces said gate signal by adding a delay amount which is larger than a delay produced by said delay amplifier in response to said signal output by said first photoelectric converting means by said gate delay generator, for measuring only a random coincidence measured by using said gate signal produced by said gate delay generator.

14. An intra-tube cavity insertable radioactive ray detecting apparatus according to claim 13, wherein said counting means comprises a multi-channel analyzer means for counting said signal output by said delay amplifier in response to said delay signal wherein a large delay amount is added by said gate delay generator, for measuring only a random coincidence by using said gate signal produced by said gate delay generator.

15. An intra-tube cavity insertable radioactive ray detecting apparatus according to claim 14, wherein:

said multi-channel analyzer means produces a value obtained by excluding said count of only said random coincidence from said count value by said simultaneous count with said signal output by said delay amplifier.

16. A scintillation probe insertable into a tube cavity of a living body, comprising:

an insertable portion extending in a longitudinal direction, said insertable portion having a tip portion;

first, second, and third scintillators disposed in said tip portion, each shielded from external light, and positioned adjacent to each other, each of said first, second, and third scintillators individually emitting light in response to a detection of radioactive rays;

first light transmitting means, second light transmitting means, and third light transmitting means respectively connected to carry light emitted by each of said first, second, and third scintillators; and

first, second, and third photoelectric converting means receiving respectively the light carried by said first, second, and third light transmitting means, for converting the light to electric signals.

17. A scintillation probe according to claim 16, wherein:

said first scintillator and said first light transmitting means are covered with a first light intercepting means closed on a side facing said tip portion for shielding said first scintillator and said first light transmitting means from external light;

said second scintillator and said second light transmitting means are covered with a second light intercepting means closed on a side facing said tip portion for shielding said second scintillator and said second light transmitting means from external light; and

said third scintillator and said third light transmitting means are covered with a third light intercepting means closed on a side facing said tip portion for shielding said third scintillator and said third light transmitting means from light.

18. A scintillation probe according to claim 17, further comprising a soft cover member, and wherein:

said first, second, and third scintillators, said first, second, and third light transmitting means, and said first, second, and third light intercepting means are integrally covered at least partly with said soft cover member closed on a side facing said tip portion, at an end of said tip portion.

19. A scintillation probe according to claim 18, wherein:

said first and second scintillators are cylindrical bodies having circular end faces, and are arranged in tandem along said longitudinal direction such that a circular end face of said first scintillator is opposed to a circular end face of said second scintillator;

said second scintillator is arranged on a rear end side of said first scintillator;

said third scintillator is ring-shaped and is coaxially disposed on an outer periphery of said first scintillator;

said first light transmitting means is arranged so as to uniformly peripherally enclose said second light intercepting means covering said second scintillator and said second light transmitting means; and

said third light transmitting means is arranged so as to uniformly enclose in a peripheral direction said first light intercepting means covering said first scintillator and first light transmitting means.

20. An intra-tube cavity insertable radioactive ray detecting apparatus according to claim 18, wherein:

said first and second scintillators are cylindrical bodies having circular end faces, and are arranged in tandem along said longitudinal direction such that a circular end face of said first scintillator is opposed to a circular end face of said second scintillator;

said third scintillator is ring-shaped and is coaxially disposed on an outer periphery of either one of said first and second scintillators.

21. An intra-tube cavity insertable radioactive ray detecting apparatus according to claim 20, further comprising:

a counting means for converting said signal output by said first photoelectric converting means into a gate signal, for converting a synchronous count with said signal output by said second photoelectric converting means into a gate inhibiting signal, and for use together with said gate inhibiting signal for producing an asynchronous count.

22. An intra-tube cavity insertable radioactive ray detecting apparatus according to claim 21, further comprising:

a gate delay generator connected to said first photoelectric converting means and producing a gate signal obtained by adding a delay amount to said signal output by said first photoelectric converting means;

a delay amplifier connected to said second photoelectric converting means and delaying said signal output by said second photoelectric converting means;

a delay generator connected to said third photoelectric converting means and producing a gate inhibiting signal obtained by adding a delay amount to said signal output by said third photoelectric converting means; and

a multi-channel analyzer means receiving the output signals from said first and second photoelectric converting means and from said delay generator, for producing a simultaneous count with said signal output by said delay amplifier using said gate signal produced by said gate delay generator, and producing an asynchronous count while preventing said synchronous count by using said gate inhibiting signal produced by said delay generator prior to said synchronous count.

23. An intra-tube cavity insertable radioactive ray detecting apparatus according to claim 20, further comprising:

a counting means for converting said signal output by said first photoelectric converting means into a gate signal, for converting a synchronous count with said signal output by said second photoelectric converting means into a gate inhibiting signal, and for use together with said gate inhibiting signal for producing an asynchronous count a multi-channel analyzer means receiving the output signals from said first and second photoelectric converting means and from said delay generator, for producing a simultaneous count with said signal output by said delay amplifier using said gate signal produced by said gate delay generator, and producing an asynchronous count while preventing said synchronous count by using said gate inhibiting signal produced by said delay generator prior to said synchronous count;

wherein said multi-channel analyzer means produces a value obtained by excluding said count value of only a random coincidence from said count value of said synchronous count prior to which said asynchronous count is made.