Unidimensional array 3-D position sensitive ionization detector
First Claim
1. A method for determining the position of energetic particle interactions within a detector, the method comprising:
- providing a drift medium within the detector;
allowing an energetic particle to interact with the drift medium and thereby produce ionization electrons at an interaction location;
generating an interaction signal indicating that an interaction between the energetic particle and the drift medium has occurred;
establishing a drift field within the drift medium whereby the ionization electrons are directed toward an induction array and a collector, wherein the induction array comprises a plurality of conductive elements mounted at an offset angle relative to the collector;
providing a shield array between the interaction location and the induction array;
opening a portion of the shield array corresponding to a first plurality of coordinates for a period of time during which the ionization electrons are expected to reach the shield array, thereby selectively allowing the ionization electrons to pass through the shield array and move toward a portion of the induction array; and
detecting the ionization electrons at the induction array for determining at least one coordinate corresponding to the interaction location.
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Accused Products
Abstract
The present invention provides an improved gamma ray detector module and a method of operating such a detector module for more accurately determining the position of a gamma ray interaction within the detector. The detector module includes an induction array arranged at an offset angle relative other arrays utilized in the detector, whereby the relative timing of the detection of ionization electrons by the induction array and a collector or anode indicate at least one coordinate corresponding to the location of the interaction that produced the ionization electron. This secondary locating apparatus and method supplements or replaces conventional locating apparatus and methods for improving the accuracy or reducing the complexity of the detection apparatus.
14 Citations
20 Claims
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1. A method for determining the position of energetic particle interactions within a detector, the method comprising:
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providing a drift medium within the detector; allowing an energetic particle to interact with the drift medium and thereby produce ionization electrons at an interaction location; generating an interaction signal indicating that an interaction between the energetic particle and the drift medium has occurred; establishing a drift field within the drift medium whereby the ionization electrons are directed toward an induction array and a collector, wherein the induction array comprises a plurality of conductive elements mounted at an offset angle relative to the collector; providing a shield array between the interaction location and the induction array; opening a portion of the shield array corresponding to a first plurality of coordinates for a period of time during which the ionization electrons are expected to reach the shield array, thereby selectively allowing the ionization electrons to pass through the shield array and move toward a portion of the induction array; and detecting the ionization electrons at the induction array for determining at least one coordinate corresponding to the interaction location. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 20)
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12. A gamma ray detector for determining the position of gamma ray interaction comprising:
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an active region containing a drift medium that will emit ionization electrons in response to an interaction between the drift medium and a gamma ray at an interaction location; a device for detecting the interaction for setting an initial time in response to the interaction; an energizable array for inducing a drift field in the drift medium, the drift field being sufficient to induce the ionization electrons to move through the drift medium at a drift velocity toward a selective shield array, an induction array and a collector, wherein the induction array comprises a plurality of conductive elements arranged at an offset angle relative to the shield array and the collector; an actuation system for selectively deactivating a portion of the shield array based on a first interaction location calculated in response to detection of the interaction and the induced drift velocity of the ionization electrons, thereby allowing the ionization electrons to pass through the shield array; and a processor for calculating at least one coordinate of the interaction location based on detection of the ionization electrons by the induction array. - View Dependent Claims (13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19)
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Specification