Apparatus and methods for determining spatial coordinates of radiolabelled tissue using gamma-rays and associated characteristic X-rays

• US 5,694,933 A
• Filed: 04/28/1995
• Issued: 12/09/1997
• Est. Priority Date: 04/28/1995
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Southern Scientific Limited (Lablogic Systems Ltd.)
• Original Assignee: Care Wise Medical Products Corporation
• Inventors: Carroll, Robert G., Pehl, Richard, Madden, Norman, McKellar, Louis
• Primary Examiner(s): Casler, Brian L.
• Application Number:
  US08/430,589
• Time in Patent Office: 956 Days
• Field of Search: 128/653.1, 128/659, 250/363.02, 250/363.1, 250/363.07, 364/413.24, 364/413.26, 600/1
• US Class Current: 600/431
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2090/392 Radioactive markers
• 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 6/4258 for detecting non x-ray radiation, e.g. gamma radiation A61B6/037 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 6/482 involving multiple energy imaging
• 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

A system and method for diagnostic testing of structures within a body, e.g., organs within the body of a living being, which has been provided with a radioactive imaging agent, e.g., a radiotracer, to cause the structure to produce gamma rays, associated characteristic x rays, and a continuum of Compton-scattered photons. The system includes a radiation receiving device, e.g., a hand-held probe or camera, an associated signal processor, and an analyzer. The radiation receiving device is arranged to be located adjacent the body and the structure for receiving gamma rays and characteristic x rays emitted from the structure and for providing a processed electrical signal representative thereof. The processed electrical signal includes a first portion representing the characteristic x rays received and a second portion representing the gamma rays received. In a preferred embodiment of the invention the signal processor removes the signal corresponding to the Compton-scattered photons from the electrical signal in the region of the full-energy gamma ray and the characteristic x ray. The analyzer is arranged to selectively use the x-ray portion of said processed signal to provide near-field information about the structure, to selectively use both the x-ray and the gamma-ray portions of said processed signal to provide near-field and far-field information about the structure, and to selectively use the gamma-ray portion of said processed signal to provide extended field information about the structure.

Claims

1. A system for determining the location of a mass of radiolabelled tissue with respect to a reference point, the tissue having been provided with at least one radiolabelled tracer producing gamma-ray photons, characteristic x-ray photons, and an associated continuum of Compton-scattered photons, said system comprising radiation detecting means, signal processing means and signal analyzing means, said radiation detecting means being positionable to a location adjacent the radiolabelled tissue for detecting the photons emitted thereby and for providing an electrical signal representative of the received photons, said radiation detecting means and its position relative to the tissue establishing the reference point, said signal processing means utilizing said electrical signal to produce a processed electrical signal being representative of the number of photons detected as a function of their energies, said analyzing means being arranged for analyzing portions of said processed signal utilizing the known naturally occurring abundance of emitted photons of different energies represented by said processed signal for said at least one radiolabelled tracer as a reference factor in such analysis, whereupon said analysis of portions of said processed signal utilizing said reference factor establishes the location of the mass of radiolabelled tissue with respect to the reference point.

2. The system of claim 1 wherein said system includes first means to ensure that only minimal portions of said processed signal represent Compton scattered photons.

3. The system of claim 2 wherein said signal processing means includes said first means, and wherein said first means is arranged to substantially remove from said electrical signal portions which represent the Compton scattered photons received by said detecting means.

4. The system of claim 2 wherein said detecting means has a field of view for the detection of the photons and includes said first means, said first means comprising collimation means to restrict said field of view of said detecting means, to thereby reduce the number of Compton scattered photons and virtually eliminate x-ray photons and gamma-ray photons received by said detecting means from origins outside said field of view.

5. The system of claim 2 wherein said signal analyzing means comprises window setting means to establish at least one range of photon energy encompassing at least a portion of a selected one of portions of said processed signal representing characteristic x-ray photons received and gamma-ray photons received, while excluding other portion of said processed signal.

6. The system of claim 5 wherein said window setting means establishes a range of photon energy encompassing at least a portion of said processed signal representing characteristic x-ray photons received.

7. The system of claim 5 wherein said window setting means establishes a range of photon energy encompassing at least a portion of said processed signal representing gamma-ray photons received.

8. The system of claim 5 wherein said window setting means establishes a first range of photon energy and a second range of photon energy, said first range encompassing at least a portion of said processed signal representing characteristic x-ray photons received, and said second range encompassing at least a portion of said processed signal representing gamma-ray photons received.

9. The system of claim 8 wherein said window setting means is selectable to select one of said first range, said second range, and said first and second ranges.

10. The system of claim 1 wherein said signal analyzing means comprises window setting means to establish at least one range of photon energy encompassing at least a portion of a selected one of said portions of said processed signal, while excluding other portions of said processed signal.

11. The system of claim 10 wherein said window setting means establishes a range of photon energy encompassing at least a portion of said processed signal representing characteristic x-ray photons received.

12. The system of claim 10 wherein said window setting means establishes a range of photon energy encompassing at least a portion of said processed signal representing gamma-ray photons received.

13. The system of claim 10 wherein said window setting means establishes a first range of photon energy and a second range of photon energy, said first range encompassing at least a portion of said processed signal representing characteristic x-ray photons received, and said second range encompassing at least a portion of said processed signal representing gamma-ray photons received.

14. The system of claim 13 wherein said window setting means is selectable to select one of said first range, said second range, and said first and second ranges.

15. The system of claim 10 wherein said signal analyzing means comprises peak identification means, and wherein said processed signal is provided to said peak identification means, said peak identification mean being arranged to provide a predetermined reference characteristic x-ray peak signal and a predetermined reference gamma-ray peak signal, to compare said portion of said processed signal representing characteristic x-ray photons received to said predetermined reference characteristic x-ray peak signal.

16. The system of claim 10 wherein said signal analyzing means comprises peak identification means, and wherein said processed signal is provided to said peak identification means, said peak identification means being arranged to provide a predetermined reference characteristic x-ray peak signal and a predetermined reference gamma-ray peak signal and to compare said portion of said processed signal representing characteristic x-ray photons received to said predetermined reference characteristic x-ray peak signal and compare said portion of said processed signal representing gamma-ray photons received to said predetermined reference gamma-ray peak signal.

17. The system of claim 10 wherein said signal analyzing means comprises peak identification means, and wherein said processed signal is provided to said peak identification means, said peak identification means being arranged to provide a predetermined reference gamma-ray peak signal and to compare said portion of said processed signal representing gamma-ray photons received to said predetermined reference gamma-ray peak signal.

18. The system of claim 10 wherein said analyzing means comprises a multichannel analyzer having plural bandwidths, each of said bandwidths defining a respective one of said range of photon energy encompassing at least a portion of a selected one of said portions of said processed signal representing characteristic x-ray photons received and gamma-ray photons received.

19. The system of claim 18 wherein each of said bandwidths is approximately 1 kev.

20. The system of claim 1 wherein said signal analyzing means comprises ratio calculation means, and wherein said processed electrical signal is provided to said ratio calculation means, said ratio calculation means being arranged to utilize plural predetermined reference ratios, each of said reference ratios being a ratio of the gamma-ray photons emitted and the characteristic x-ray photons emitted from at least one radiolabelled tracer after passing a predetermined distance through a predetermined type of tissue, said ratio calculation means utilizing said processed signal to provide a calculated ratio representing the ratio of the number of characteristic x-ray photons making up said portion of said processed signal representing characteristic x-ray photons received to the number of gamma-ray photons making up said portion of said processed signal representing gamma-ray photons received, and comparing said calculated ratio to at least one of said predetermined reference ratios.

21. The system of claim 20 wherein said signal analyzing means comprises subtraction calculation means for subtracting the gamma-ray photons corresponding to the characteristic x-ray photons of said portion of said processed signal representing characteristic x-ray photons received from the total gamma-ray photons of said portion of said processed signal representing gamma-ray photons received.

22. The system of claim 1 wherein said signal analyzing means comprises spectral line shape analyzing means for analyzing the shape of at least a selected one of said portions of said processed signal representing characteristic x-ray photons received and gamma-ray photons received.

23. The system of claim 22 wherein said spectral line shape analyzing means determines the degree of asymmetry of at least a selected one of said portions of said processed signal representing characteristic x-ray photons received and gamma-ray photons received.

24. The system of claim 22 wherein said spectral line shape analyzing means utilizes plural reference shapes, at least one of said reference shapes representing at least a selected one of said portions of said processed signal representing characteristic x-ray photons received and gamma-ray photons received resulting from at least one radiolabelled tracer after passing a predetermined distance through a predetermined type of tissue, said spectral line shape analyzing means comparing the shape of the at least one portion of said processed signal to at least one of said plural reference shapes.

25. The system of claim 22 wherein said spectral line shape analyzing means utilizes plural reference shapes, at least one of said reference shapes representing the gamma-ray portion of said processed signal resulting from at least one radiolabelled tracer after passing a predetermined distance through a predetermined type of tissue, and at least another of said reference shapes representing the characteristic x-ray portion of said processed signal resulting from at least one radiolabelled tracer after passing a predetermined distance through a predetermined type of tissue, said spectral line shape analyzing means comparing the shape of the at least one portion of said processed signal to at least one of said plural reference shapes.

26. The system of claim 1 wherein said radiation detecting means is arranged to be disposed adjacent an exposed or exterior tissue plane and wherein said signal analyzing means comprises spectral line shape analyzing means for analyzing the shape of at least a selected one of said portions of said processed signal representing characteristic x-ray photons received and gamma-ray photons received to provide an indication of the depth of the radiolabelled tissue beneath the exposed or exterior tissue plane.

27. The system of claim 26 wherein said spectral line shape analyzing means determines the degree of asymmetry of at least a selected one of said portions of said processed signal representing characteristic x-ray photons received and gamma-ray photons received to provide an indication of the depth of the radiolabelled tissue beneath the exposed or exterior tissue plane.

28. The system of claim 26 wherein said spectral line shape analyzing means utilizes plural reference shapes, one of said reference shapes representing at least a selected one of said portions of said processed signal representing characteristic x-ray photons received and gamma-ray photons received resulting from at least one radiolabelled tracer after passing a predetermined distance through a predetermined type of tissue, said spectral line shape analyzing means comparing the shape of the at least one portion of said processed signal to at least one of said plural reference shapes to provide an indication of the depth of the radiolabelled tissue beneath the exposed or exterior tissue plane.

29. The system of claim 26 wherein said spectral line shape analyzing means utilizes plural reference shapes, at least one of said reference shapes representing the gamma-ray portion of said processed signal resulting from at least one radiolabelled tracer after passing a predetermined distance through a predetermined type of tissue, and at least another of said reference shapes representing the characteristic x-ray portion of said processed signal resulting from at least one radiolabelled tracer after passing a predetermined distance through a predetermined type of tissue, said spectral line shape analyzing means comparing the shape of the at least one portion of said processed signal to at least one of said plural reference shapes to provide an indication of the depth of the radiolabelled tissue beneath the exposed or exterior tissue plane.

30. The system of claim 1 wherein said radiation detection means has a field of view and is arranged to be oriented at various orientations with respect to the tissue so that said processed electrical signal can be analyzed at each of said orientations and fields of view of said device.

31. The system of claim 30 wherein said radiation detecting means comprises a nuclear uptake probe.

32. The system of claim 31 wherein said probe is hand-holdable.

33. The system of claim 1 wherein said signal analyzing means comprises audible intensity determination means, and wherein said processed electrical signal is provided to said audible intensity determination means, said audible intensity determination means being arranged to emit audible signals representative of the rate at which said characteristic x-ray photons are detected by said radiation detection means.

34. The system of claim 1 wherein said signal analyzing means comprises audible intensity determination means, and wherein said processed electrical signal is provided to said audible intensity determination means, said audible intensity determination means being arranged to emit audible signals representative of the rate at which said gamma-ray photons are detected by said radiation detection means.

35. The system of claim 1 wherein said signal analyzing means comprises audible intensity determination means, and wherein said processed electrical signal is provided to said audible intensity determination means, said audible intensity determination means being arranged to emit first audible signals representative of the rate at which said characteristic x-ray photons are detected by said radiation detection means and to emit second audible signals representative of the rate at which said gamma-ray photons are detected by said radiation detection means.

36. The system of claim 1 wherein said signal analyzing means comprises signaling means to provide at least one signal representative of the ratio of the characteristic x-ray photons received to the gamma ray photons received, said signal indicating when said ratio is appropriate for the natural abundance of said photons of the radiolabelled tracer.

37. The system of claim 36 wherein said signaling means produces a pair of visible graphic displays, one for said characteristic x-ray photons received, and the other for said gamma ray photons received.

38. The system of claim 37 further comprises means for normalizing wherein said graphic displays to the ratio of the naturally occurring abundance of characteristic x-ray photons and gamma ray photons of the radiolabelled tracer.

39. The system of claim 36 wherein said signaling means produces a pair of audible signals, one for said characteristic x-ray photons received, and the other for said gamma ray photons received.

40. The system of claim 39 further comprises means for normalizing said audible signals to for the ratio of the naturally occurring abundance of characteristic x-ray photons and gamma ray photons of the radiolabelled tracer.

41. A method for determining the location of a mass of radiolabelled tissue with respect to a reference point comprising:

a) providing the tissue with at least one radiolabelled tracer that produces gamma-ray photons, characteristic x-ray photons, and an associated continuum of Compton scattered photons;

b) providing radiation detecting means adjacent the tissue, detecting the photons therefrom, and for providing an electrical signal representative of the received photons;

c) utilizing said radiation detecting means to establish said reference point;

d) processing said electrical signal to produce a processed electrical signal representative of the number of photons detected as a function of their energies; and

e) analyzing portions of said processed signal by utilizing the known naturally occurring abundance of emitted photons of different energies represented by said processed signal for said at least one radiolabelled tracer as a reference factor in such analysis, whereupon said analysis of portions of said processed signal utilizing said reference factor establishes the spatial coordinates of the mass of radiolabelled tissue with respect to the reference point.

42. The method of claim 41 additionally comprising the step of ensuring that only minimal portions of said processed signal represent Compton scattered photons.

43. The method of claim 42 additionally comprising the step of substantially removing from said electrical signal portions of said electrical signal which represent the Compton scattered photons received by said detecting means.

44. The method of claim 42 wherein said radiation detecting means has a field of view for detecting the photons, said method additionally comprising the step of restricting said field of view of said detecting means, to thereby reduce the number of Compton scattered photons and gamma-ray photons received by said detecting means from origins outside said field of view.

45. The method of claim 41 additionally comprising the step of establishing at least one range of photon energy encompassing at least a portion of a selected one of said portions of said processed signal representing characteristic x-ray photons received and gamma-ray photons received, while excluding other portions of said processed signal.

46. The method of claim 45 wherein said range of photon energy encompasses at least a portion of said portion of said processed signal representing characteristic x-ray photons received.

47. The method of claim 45 wherein said range of photon energy encompasses at least a portion of said portion of said processed signal representing gamma-ray photons received.

48. The method of claim 45 wherein a first and a second range of photon energy are established, and wherein said first range encompasses at least a portion of said portion of said processed signal representing characteristic x-ray photons received, and said second range encompasses at least a portion of said portion of said processed signal representing gamma-ray photons received.

49. The method of claim 48 wherein said method comprises selecting either said first range, or said second range, or said first and second ranges.

50. The method of claim 45 additionally comprising the steps of:

f) providing a predetermined reference characteristic x-ray peak signal; and

g) comparing said portion of said processed signal representing characteristic x-ray photons received to said predetermined reference characteristic x-ray peak signal.

51. The method of claim 45 additionally comprising the steps of:

f) providing a predetermined reference characteristic x-ray peak signal and predetermined reference gamma-ray peak signal; and

g) comparing said portion of said processed signal representing characteristic x-ray photons received to said predetermined reference characteristic x-ray peak signal, and comparing said portion of said processed signal representing gamma-ray photons received to said predetermined reference gamma-ray peak signal.

52. The method of claim 45 additionally comprising the steps of:

f) providing a predetermined reference gamma-ray peak signal; and

g) comparing said portion of said processed signal representing gamma-ray photons received to said predetermined reference gamma-ray peak signal.

53. The method of claim 41 additionally comprising the steps of:

f) providing plural predetermined reference ratios, each of said ratios being the ratio of the gamma-ray photons emitted and the characteristic x-ray photons from at least one radiolabelled tracer after passing a predetermined distance through a predetermined type of tissue; and

g) utilizing said processed electrical signal to provide a calculated ratio representing the ratio of the number of characteristic x-ray photons making up said portion of said processed signal representing characteristic x-ray photons received to the number of gamma-ray photons making up said portion of said processed signal representing gamma-ray photons received; and

h) comparing said calculated ratio to at least one of said predetermined reference ratios.

54. The method of claim 53 additionally comprising the step of subtracting the gamma-ray photons corresponding to the characteristic x-ray photons of the portion of said processed signal representing characteristic x-ray photons received from the total gamma-ray photons of the portion of said processed signal representing gamma-ray photons received.

55. The method of claim 41 additionally comprising the step of analyzing a shape of at least one portion of said processed signal to provide an indication of the depth of the radiolabelled tissue beneath the exposed or exterior tissue plane.

56. The method of claim 55 wherein said step of analyzing the shape of at least one portion of said processed signal is accomplished by determining the degree of asymmetry of the at least one portion of said processed signal to provide the indication of the depth of the radiolabelled tissue beneath the exposed or exterior tissue plane.

57. The method of claim 56 wherein plural reference shapes are utilized, with at least one of said reference shapes representing at least a selected one of said portions of said processed signal representing characteristic x-ray photons received and gamma-ray photons received resulting from said at least one radiolabelled tracer after passing a predetermined distance through a predetermined type of tissue, and wherein the shape of the at least one portion of said processed signal is compared to at least one of said plural reference shapes.

58. The method of claim 56 wherein plural reference shapes are utilized, with at least one of said reference shapes representing the gamma-ray portion of said processed signal resulting from the least one radiolabelled tracer after passing a predetermined distance through a predetermine type of tissue, and at least another of said reference shapes representing the characteristic x-ray portion of said processed signal resulting from the least one radiolabelled tracer after passing a predetermined distance through a predetermined type of tissue, and wherein the shape of the at least one portion of said processed signal is compared to at least one of said plural reference shapes.

59. The method of claim 41 wherein said radiation detection means has a field of view, and wherein said method comprises the step of orienting said radiation detecting means at various orientations with respect to the tissue so that said processed electrical signal can be analyzed at each of said orientations and fields of view of said device.

60. The method of claim 59 wherein said radiation detecting means comprises a nuclear uptake probe, and further including the step of orientating said probe is accomplished by hand.

61. The method of claim 41 additionally comprising the step of emitting audible signals representative of the rate at which said characteristic x-ray photons are detected by said radiation detection means.

62. The method of claim 41 additionally comprising the step of emitting audible signals representative of the rate at which the gamma-ray photons are detected by said radiation detection means.

63. The method of claim 41 additionally comprising the steps of:

f) emitting first audible signals representative of the rate at which the characteristic x-ray photons are detected by said radiation detection means; and

g) emitting second audible signals representative of the rate at which the gamma-ray photons are detected by said radiation detection means.

64. The method of claim 41 wherein said tissue is located within the body of a living being.

65. The method of claim 41 wherein said tissue has been removed from the body of a living being.

66. The method of claim 41 additionally comprising the steps of providing at least one signal representative of the ratio of the characteristic x-ray photons received to the gamma ray photons received, said signal indicating when said ratio is appropriate for the natural abundance of said photons of the radiolabelled tracer.

67. The method of claim 66 wherein said at least one signal comprises a pair of visible graphic displays, one for said characteristic x-ray photons received, and the other for said gamma ray photons received.

68. The method of claim 67 wherein said graphic displays are normalized for the ratio of the naturally occurring abundance of characteristic x-ray photons and gamma ray photons of the radiolabelled tracer.

69. The method of claim 66 wherein said at least one signal comprises a pair of audible signals, one for said characteristic x-ray photons received and the other for said gamma ray photons received.

70. The method of claim 69 wherein said audible signals are normalized for the ratio of the naturally occurring abundance of characteristic x-ray photons and gamma ray photons of the radiolabelled tracer.

71. A system for the localization of a radiation detecting device used in nuclear medicine applications with tissue having been provided with at least one radiolabelled tracer producing gamma-ray photons, characteristic x-ray photons, and an associated continuum of Compton scattered photons, said system comprising a radiation detecting device and processing means, said radiation detecting device for receiving said gamma-ray photons characteristic x-ray photons, and Compton scattered photons and providing an electrical signal representative of the photons received thereby, said processing means being coupled to said radiation detecting means and arranged to establish a narrow energy window of no more than approximately 10 keV and no less than approximately 1 keV centered on the peak of the characteristic x-ray photons produced by the at least one radiolabelled tracer and excluding the peak of the gamma ray photons for providing an output signal representative of the photons received by said radiation detecting device within said narrow energy window.

72. The system of claim 71 wherein only said system is used for the localization of said radiation detecting device, and wherein said device comprises a surgical probe.

73. The system of claim 71 wherein only said system is used for the localization of said radiation detecting device, and wherein said device comprises a gamma-camera.

74. The system of claim 71 wherein only said system is used for the localization of said radiation detecting device, and wherein said device comprises a percutaneous biopsy probe.

75. The system of claim 71 wherein only said system is used for the localization of said radiation detecting device, and wherein said device comprises an endoscopic probe.

76. The system of claim 71 including means for minimizing the representation of the Compton scattered photons within said narrow energy window.

77. The system of claim 71 wherein said output signal is also representative of gamma-ray photons received by said radiation detecting device, and wherein said system additionally comprises signaling means to provide at least one signal representative of a ratio of the characteristic x-ray photons received to the gamma ray photons received, said signal indicating when said ratio is representative of the natural abundance of said photons of the radiolabelled tracer.

78. The system of claim 77 wherein said signaling means produces a pair of visible graphic displays, one for said characteristic x-ray photons and the other for said gamma ray photons.

79. The system of claim 78 wherein further comprises means for normalizing said graphic displays to the ratio of the naturally occurring abundance of characteristic x-ray photons and gamma ray photons of the radiolabelled tracer.

80. The system of claim 77 wherein said signaling means produces a pair of audible signals, one for said characteristic x-ray photons and the other for said gamma ray photons.

81. The system of claim 80 further comprises means for normalizing said audible signals to the ratio of the naturally occurring abundance of characteristic x-ray photons and gamma ray photons of the radiolabelled tracer.

82. A method of positioning a radiation detecting device in a nuclear medicine application involving tissue having been provided with at least one radiolabelled tracer producing gamma-ray photons, characteristic x-ray photons, and an associated continuum of Compton scattered photons, said method comprising:

(a) positioning a radiation detecting device in proximity with tissue having been provided with the at least one radiolabelled tracer;

(b) receiving said gamma-ray photons, characteristic x-ray photons and Compton scattered photons with said device;

(c) establishing a narrow energy window of no more than approximately 10 keV and no less than approximately 1 keV centered on the peak of the characteristic x-ray photons produced by the at least one radiolabelled tracer and excluding the peak of the gamma ray photons; and

(d) providing an output signal representative of the photons received by said radiation detecting device within said narrow energy window.

83. The method of claim 82 additionally comprising the step of utilizing said output signal for guiding the positioning of said radiation detecting device with respect to the radiolabelled tissue.

84. The method of claim 83 additionally comprising the step of minimizing the representation of the Compton scattered photons within said narrow energy window.

85. The method of claim 83 wherein said positioning of said radiation detecting device aligns said device with the radiolabelled tissue.

86. The method of claim 85 wherein said positioning of said radiation detecting device spaces said device from said tissue by a determinable distance.

87. The method of claim 86 wherein said positioning of said radiation detecting device orients said device with respect to the tissue.

88. The method of claim 82 additionally comprising the step of minimizing the representation of the Compton scattered photons within said narrow energy window.

89. The method of claim 82 wherein said output signal is also representative of gamma-ray photons received by said radiation detecting device, and wherein the method additionally comprising the step of providing at least one signal representative of a ratio of the characteristic x-ray photons received to the gamma ray photons received, said signal indicating when said ratio is representative of the natural abundance of said photons of the radiolabelled tracer.

90. The method of claim 89 wherein said least one signal comprises a pair of visible graphic displays, one for said characteristic x-ray photons received and the other for said gamma ray photons received.

91. The method of claim 90 wherein said graphic displays are normalized for the ratio of the naturally occurring abundance of characteristic x-ray photons and gamma ray photons of the radiolabelled tracer.

92. The method of claim 89 wherein said at least one signal comprises a pair of audible signals, one for said characteristic x-ray photons received, and the other for said gamma ray photons received.

93. The method of claim 92 wherein said audible signals are normalized for the ratio of the naturally occurring abundance of characteristic x-ray photons and gamma ray photons of the radiolabelled tracer.