Solid state beta-sensitive surgical probe

• US 5,932,879 A
• Filed: 05/05/1997
• Issued: 08/03/1999
• Est. Priority Date: 05/07/1996
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: University of Michigan
• Original Assignee: Board of Regents of the University of Michigan (University of Michigan)
• Inventors: Wahl, Richard L., Raylman, Raymond R.
• Primary Examiner(s): Hannaher, Constantine
• Application Number:
  US08/851,360
• Time in Patent Office: 820 Days
• Field of Search: 250/367, 250/370.06
• US Class Current: 250/370.06
• 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

An intraoperative system made be used for preferentially detecting beta radiation over gamma radiation emitted from a radiopharmaceutical. The system has ion-implanted silicon charged-particle detectors for generating signals in response to received beta particles. A preamplifier may be located in proximity to the detector filters and amplifies the signal. Also, a wire may be used to couple the probe to a processing unit for amplifying and filtering the signal.

Claims

1. A device, comprising:

a) a housing, comprising a rear portion and a front portion, said front portion comprising an aluminum radiation entrance window defining a tip and the end of the front portion of said housing, said window permitting the transmission of gamma radiation and wherein the remainder of the housing blocks the transmission of gamma radiation;

b) first and second radiation detectors disposed within said housing at said tip, said first detector capable of detecting beta particles and gamma radiation and serving to shield said second detector from at least a portion of the beta particles detected by said first detector.

2. The device of claim 1, wherein said first detector is positioned in front of said second detector in a manner such that gamma radiation reaching said tip of said device contacts said first detector prior to contacting said second detector.

3. The device of claim 2, wherein said first and second detectors are semiconductor detectors.

4. The device of claim 3, wherein said semiconductor detectors are ion-implanted silicon detectors.

5. The device of claim 3, wherein said semiconductor detectors are surface barrier detectors.

6. The device of claim 2, wherein said first and second detectors comprise circular silicon wafers of identical dimensions.

7. The device of claim 1, further comprising first and second preamplifiers contained within said housing, said first preamplifier coupled to said first detector and said second preamplifier coupled to said second detector.

8. The device of claim 7, wherein said preamplifiers are both connected to a power supply.

9. A device, comprising:

a) an elongated housing, comprising a hand-graspable rear portion and a front portion, said front portion comprising a cylindrical tip; and

b) first and second semiconductor detectors disposed within said housing at said tip, said first detector capable of detecting beta particles and gamma radiation and serving to shield said second detector from at least a portion of the beta particles detected by said first detector.

10. The device of claim 9, further comprising a radiation entrance window defining said tip and the end of the front portion of said housing.

11. The device of claim 10, wherein said first detector is positioned in front of said second detector relative to said radiation entrance window in a manner such that radiation reaching said tip of said device contacts said first detector prior to contacting said second detector.

12. The device of claim 9, wherein said semiconductor detectors are ion-implanted silicon detectors.

13. The device of claim 9, wherein said semiconductor detectors are surface barrier detectors.

14. The device of claim 9, wherein said first and second detectors comprise circular silicon wafers of identical dimensions.

15. The device of claim 9, further comprising first and second preamplifiers contained within said housing, said first preamplifier coupled to said first detector and said second preamplifier coupled to said second detector.

16. The device of claim 15, wherein said preamplifiers are both connected to a power supply.

17. A device, comprising:

a) an elongated housing, comprising a hand-graspable rear portion and a front portion, said front portion comprising a cylindrical tip having a radiation entrance window, wherein said radiation entrance window permits the transmission of gamma radiation and wherein the remainder of the housing blocks the transmission of gamma radiation; and

b) first and second semiconductor radiation detectors disposed within said housing at said tip, wherein said first detector is positioned in front of said second detector relative to said radiation entrance window in a manner such that radiation reaching said tip of said device contacts said first detector prior to contacting said second detector, said first detector capable of detecting beta particles and gamma radiation and serving to shield said second detector from at least a portion of the beta particles detected by said first detector.

18. The device of claim 17, wherein said semiconductor radiation detectors are ion-implanted silicon detectors.

19. The device of claim 17, wherein said semiconductor radiation detectors are surface barrier detectors.

20. The device of claim 17, wherein said first and second detectors comprise circular silicon wafers of identical dimensions.

21. The device of claim 17, further comprising first and second preamplifiers contained within said housing, said first preamplifier coupled to said first detector and said second preamplifier coupled to said second detector.

22. The device of claim 21, wherein said preamplifiers are both connected to a power supply.

23. A probe system for detecting radiation emitted from a radiopharmaceutical in a diseased tissue, comprising:

a) a probe having first and second radiation detectors said first radiation detector generates an electrical signal in response to the passage of radiation into said first detector from a radiopharmaceutical in diseased tissue, said first detector capable of detecting beta particles and gamma radiation while serving to shield said second detector from at least a portion of the beta particles detected by said first detector; and

b) an optical transmitter coupled to said probe for transmitting said electrical signal as an optical signal to a remote location.