Surgical probe apparatus and system
First Claim
1. A system for detecting and locating sources of radiation emissions, comprising:
- a hand-held probe including;
a detector configured to generate a low-level electrical signal relating to gamma data emitted by a radiation source proximate the detector;
a preamplifier configured to amplify the low-level electrical signal to a corresponding output electrical signal representing the gamma data;
a controller configured to receive the output electrical signal, convert the output electrical signal to gamma data, and generate messages containing a predetermined number of bytes relating to the gamma data, and transmit the messages; and
a probe wireless link configured to receive the messages from the controller, periodically transmit the messages containing gamma data relating to the low-level electrical signal; and
an instrumentation console including;
a housing,a console wireless link within the housing and configured to receive the messages periodically transmitted by the probe wireless link,a receiver electrically coupled to the console wireless link to convert the received messages to corresponding electrical indication signals,an indicator to convert the electrical indication signals to a perceivable indication relating to the amount of radiation detected, anda signal processor coupled to the receiver, the signal processor configured to execute a smoothing function for processing the gamma data from the messages, wherein the smoothing function includes synchronizing the gamma count data into five millisecond time interval bins and averaging incoming gamma count data values over ten bins to derive a smoothed gamma count, and the console wireless link and the probe wireless link both being configured as transmitter-receivers for bidirectional communication of data.
3 Assignments
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
A system for detecting and locating sources of radiation emissions. A hand-held probe includes a detector configured to generate a low-level electrical signal relating to a radiation source proximate the detector, and a probe wireless link configured to transmit a message containing gamma data relating to the low-level electrical signal. An instrumentation console includes a housing, an integral console wireless link within the housing and configured to receive the message transmitted by the probe wireless link, a receiver electrically coupled to the console wireless link to convert the message to corresponding electrical display signals, and a visually perceivable display electrically coupled to the receiver to convert the electrical display signals to a visually perceivable display relating to the amount of radiation detected.
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Citations
20 Claims
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1. A system for detecting and locating sources of radiation emissions, comprising:
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a hand-held probe including; a detector configured to generate a low-level electrical signal relating to gamma data emitted by a radiation source proximate the detector; a preamplifier configured to amplify the low-level electrical signal to a corresponding output electrical signal representing the gamma data; a controller configured to receive the output electrical signal, convert the output electrical signal to gamma data, and generate messages containing a predetermined number of bytes relating to the gamma data, and transmit the messages; and a probe wireless link configured to receive the messages from the controller, periodically transmit the messages containing gamma data relating to the low-level electrical signal; and an instrumentation console including; a housing, a console wireless link within the housing and configured to receive the messages periodically transmitted by the probe wireless link, a receiver electrically coupled to the console wireless link to convert the received messages to corresponding electrical indication signals, an indicator to convert the electrical indication signals to a perceivable indication relating to the amount of radiation detected, and a signal processor coupled to the receiver, the signal processor configured to execute a smoothing function for processing the gamma data from the messages, wherein the smoothing function includes synchronizing the gamma count data into five millisecond time interval bins and averaging incoming gamma count data values over ten bins to derive a smoothed gamma count, and the console wireless link and the probe wireless link both being configured as transmitter-receivers for bidirectional communication of data. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14)
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15. A system for detecting and locating sources of radiation emissions, comprising:
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a hand-held probe including; a cadmium zinc telluride detector crystal configured to generate a low-level electrical signal relating to gamma data emitted by a radiation source proximate the detector; a preamplifier configured to amplify the low-level electrical signal to a corresponding output electrical signal representing the gamma data; a controller configured to receive the output electrical signal, convert the output electrical signal to gamma data, and generate messages containing two bytes of information relating to the gamma data, and transmit the messages; and an integral probe wireless link configured to receive the messages from the controller, periodically transmit the messages containing gamma data relating to the low-level electrical signal, the probe wireless link employing a radio frequency telecommunication protocol; and an instrumentation console including; a housing, a console wireless link within the housing and configured to receive the message periodically transmitted by the probe wireless link, the console wireless link employing a radio frequency telecommunication protocol, a receiver electrically coupled to the console wireless link to convert the messages to corresponding electrical display signals, a visually perceivable display electrically coupled to the receiver to convert the electrical display signals to a visually perceivable indication relating to the amount of radiation detected, and a signal processor coupled to the receiver, the signal processor configured to execute a smoothing function for processing the gamma data from the messages, wherein the smoothing function includes synchronizing the gamma count data into five millisecond time interval bins and averaging incoming gamma count data values over ten bins to derive a smoothed gamma count, and the console wireless link and the probe wireless link both being configured as transmitter-receivers for bidirectional communication of data. - View Dependent Claims (16, 17, 18)
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19. A method for detecting and locating sources of radiation emissions, comprising the steps of:
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providing a hand-held probe having a detector, a preamplifier, a controller, a control switch in communication with the controller, and a probe wireless link configured to periodically transmit messages; providing an instrumentation console having a housing, a console wireless link within the housing configured to receive the messages periodically transmitted by the probe wireless link, a receiver electrically coupled to the console wireless link, and a visually perceivable display electrically coupled to the receiver, the console wireless link and the probe wireless link are both configured as transmitter-receivers for bidirectional communication of data; and placing the probe proximate a radiation source such that gamma radiation from the radiation source impinges upon the detector, the detector generating a low-level electrical signal relating to gamma data emitted by the radiation source, the preamplifier amplifying the low-level electrical signal to a corresponding output electrical signal representing the gamma data, the controller receiving the output electrical signal, converting the output electrical signal to gamma data, generating messages containing a predetermined number of bytes relating to the gamma data, and transmitting the messages to the probe wireless link, and the probe wireless link receiving the messages from the controller, and periodically wirelessly transmitting the messages containing gamma data relating to the low-level electrical signal to the console wireless link, the receiver converting the messages to corresponding electrical display signal by executing a smoothing function, wherein the smoothing function includes synchronizing the gamma count data into five millisecond time interval bins and averaging incoming gamma count data values over ten bins to derive a smoothed gamma data count. - View Dependent Claims (20)
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Specification