Solid state beta-sensitive surgical probe
First Claim
1. A method for detecting radiopharmaceuticals within diseased tissue, comprising the steps of:
- a) providing;
i) a patient having a region of diseased tissue, ii) a radiopharmaceutical capable of emitting beta particles and gamma radiation, and iii) an ion-implanted silicon detector;
b) administering said radiopharmaceutical to said patient; and
c) using said ion-implanted silicon detector to detect beta particles emitted from said radiopharmaceutical within said region.
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Accused Products
Abstract
An intraoperative probe system for preferentially detecting beta radiation over gamma radiation emitted from a radiopharmaceutical. In one embodiment, the probe system is a probe having an ion-implanted silicon charged-particle detector for generating an electrical signal in response to received beta particles. In such an embodiment, a preamplifier may be located in close proximity to the detector filters and amplifies the electrical signal. Furthermore, a wire may be used to couple the probe to a processing unit for amplifying and filtering the electrical signal, and a counter may be utilized to analyze the resulting electrical signal to determine the number of beta particles being received by the detector. Alternatively, the wire can be replaced with an infrared or radio transmitter and receiver for wireless operation of the probe.
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Citations
18 Claims
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1. A method for detecting radiopharmaceuticals within diseased tissue, comprising the steps of:
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a) providing;
i) a patient having a region of diseased tissue, ii) a radiopharmaceutical capable of emitting beta particles and gamma radiation, and iii) an ion-implanted silicon detector;b) administering said radiopharmaceutical to said patient; and c) using said ion-implanted silicon detector to detect beta particles emitted from said radiopharmaceutical within said region. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4)
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- 5. A probe system comprising a probe having an ion-implanted silicon detector, whereby beta particles emitted from a radiopharmaceutical within diseased tissue are detected.
- 15. A probe comprising i) an ion-implanted silicon detector, whereby beta particles are detected from a radiopharmaceutical emitting both beta particles and gamma radiation within a diseased tissue and ii) a means for discriminating a component of an electrical signal produced by said detector when struck by said beta particles and said gamma radiation, said means for discriminating coupled to said detector.
Specification