Medical diagnostic method and apparatus utilizing radioactivity detection
First Claim
1. A medical diagnostic apparatus comprising:
- a carrier body disposable in any of a plurality of nonplanar configurations so as to at least partially surround a portion of a patient;
a plurality of rigid substrates each bearing at least one solid-state gamma ray sensor, said substrates being movably attached to each other via said carrier body;
a computer operatively connected to said sensors for receiving signals therefrom and deriving information about location and size of a source of radioactivity in the patient; and
means for actively determining the positions of the gamma ray sensors relative to one another and relative to the patient upon a disposition of said carrier body relative to the patient.
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Accused Products
Abstract
A medical diagnostic apparatus includes a carrier body, a plurality of rigid substrates each bearing at least one solid-state gamma ray sensor, the substrates being attached to the carrier body, and a computer operatively connected to the sensors for receiving signals therefrom and deriving information about location and size of a source of radioactivity in the patient. The carrier body enables disposition of different gamma ray sensors on different sides of the patient so that the sensors at least partially surround the patient. In an associated medical diagnostic method, a chemical composition containing a radioactive isotope is administered to a patient. A plurality of solid-state sensors sensitive to gamma rays generated by radioactive decay of the isotope are subsequently disposed about the patient, and signals from the sensors are conducted to a computer, which is then operated to derive information about location and size of a source of radioactivity in the patient. The sensors may be mounted to a flexible web which is manipulated to conform to the patient.
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Citations
17 Claims
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1. A medical diagnostic apparatus comprising:
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a carrier body disposable in any of a plurality of nonplanar configurations so as to at least partially surround a portion of a patient;
a plurality of rigid substrates each bearing at least one solid-state gamma ray sensor, said substrates being movably attached to each other via said carrier body;
a computer operatively connected to said sensors for receiving signals therefrom and deriving information about location and size of a source of radioactivity in the patient; and
means for actively determining the positions of the gamma ray sensors relative to one another and relative to the patient upon a disposition of said carrier body relative to the patient. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4)
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5. A medical diagnostic device comprising:
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a plurality of solid-state radioactivity sensors;
carrier means attached to said sensors for enabling disposition of said sensors in any of a plurality of different nonplanar configurations relative to a patient;
position sensors for determining the positions of said radioactivity sensors relative to one another upon a placing of said carrier means in any one of said configurations; and
a position calculation unit operatively connected to said position sensors for computing positions of said radioactivity sensors relative to each other. - View Dependent Claims (6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11)
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12. A medical diagnostic method comprising:
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administering to a patient a chemical composition containing a radioactive isotope;
disposing about the patient a plurality of solid-state sensors sensitive to gamma rays generated by radioactive decay of said isotope;
conducting signals from said solid-state sensors to a computer;
providing position sensors for sensing positions of said solid-state sensors;
conducting signals from said position sensors to said computer; and
operating said computer to calculate relative positions of said solid-state sensors and to derive information about location and size of a source of radioactivity in the patient from the calculated relative positions of said solid-state sensors and from the signals conducted from said solid-state sensors. - View Dependent Claims (13, 14, 15, 16, 17)
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Specification