Detector for determining the position of a positron emitter in biological tissue for use in association with positron emitter tomography as an intra-operative compact detector for locating the position of a positron emitter

摘要

Device comprises a detector (2, 2a) for generating detection signals arising from positron radiation emitted by the positron emitter or from the gamma radiation generation by electron- positron collisions and a scintillator that generates luminescence photons from the interaction of gamma radiation with the scintillator (3). The detector has a housing (1) with an opening (13) through which gamma and positron radiation enter such that it passes first through the detector and then through the scintillator. An Independent claim is made for a method for determining the position of a positron emitter in which its position is determined firstly, over a longer range, using the detected gamma radiation and secondly, within a second shorter range, and more accurately using detected positron radiation. In position determination over the second range gamma radiation impulses are neglected with only positrons used to determine the position.