Localization of a radioactive source within a body of a subject
First Claim
1. A sensor for directionally locating an ionizing radiation source, the sensor comprisingat least one functional component comprising at least one first radiation detector and at least one second radiation detector, said at least one first radiation detector capable of receiving radiation from the ionizing radiation source and producing a first output signal, and said at least one second radiation detector capable of receiving radiation from the ionizing radiation source and producing a second output signal;
- a displacement mechanism which imparts angular sensitivity to the sensor by moving said at least one functional component, wherein said displacement mechanism is capable of rotating said at least one first radiation detector and said at least one second radiation detector through a rotation angle so that said first output signal varies with said rotation angle and so that said second output signal varies with said rotation angle; and
at least one radiation shield installed at a fixed angle with respect to said at least one first radiation detector and said at least one second radiation detector so that a magnitude of said first output signal from said at least one first radiation detector and a magnitude of said second output signal from said second radiation detector vary with said rotation angle.
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Abstract
A computerized system for locating a device including a sensor module and a processor. A radioactive source, associated with the device, produces a signal in the form of radioactive disintegrations. The sensor module includes a radiation detector capable of receiving a signal from the source attached to the device. The sensor module produces an output signal. The processor receives output signal(s) and translates output into information relating to a position of source.
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Citations
10 Claims
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1. A sensor for directionally locating an ionizing radiation source, the sensor comprising
at least one functional component comprising at least one first radiation detector and at least one second radiation detector, said at least one first radiation detector capable of receiving radiation from the ionizing radiation source and producing a first output signal, and said at least one second radiation detector capable of receiving radiation from the ionizing radiation source and producing a second output signal; -
a displacement mechanism which imparts angular sensitivity to the sensor by moving said at least one functional component, wherein said displacement mechanism is capable of rotating said at least one first radiation detector and said at least one second radiation detector through a rotation angle so that said first output signal varies with said rotation angle and so that said second output signal varies with said rotation angle; and at least one radiation shield installed at a fixed angle with respect to said at least one first radiation detector and said at least one second radiation detector so that a magnitude of said first output signal from said at least one first radiation detector and a magnitude of said second output signal from said second radiation detector vary with said rotation angle. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5)
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6. A sensor for directionally locating an ionizing radiation source, the sensor comprising:
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at least one functional component; a displacement mechanism which imparts angular sensitivity to the sensor by moving said at least one functional component; at least one first radiation detector and at least one second radiation detector, each of said at least one first radiation detector and at least one second radiation detector capable of receiving radiation from the ionizing radiation source and producing at least one first output signal from said at least one first radiation detector and at least one second output signal from said at least one second radiation detector; and at least one radiation shield, said radiation shield rotatable about an axis of shield rotation through an angle of shield rotation, so that a magnitude of said first output signal from said at least one first radiation detector and a magnitude of said second output signal from said second radiation detector each vary with said angle of shield rotation. - View Dependent Claims (7, 8, 9, 10)
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Specification