Grouped Pinhole Collimator for Sharp Gamma Camera Focus Volumes
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing gamma camera devices suffer from image sharpness issues, particularly at higher photon energies, and difficulty in obtaining adequate angular information.
Innovation Solution
The gamma camera device employs a collimator with pinholes arranged in groups, each in a plane perpendicular to the longitudinal axis, where pinholes within a group have central lines that pass the axis at a distance and become congruent on rotation, allowing for a focus volume with a geometric center, reducing penetration and increasing pinhole density.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Measurement precision
If pinholes are arranged in clusters with central lines making angles with the collimator surface to see the entire focus volume, then the focus volume coverage is improved, but radiation penetration through material between pinholes increases and resolution decreases
Solution Approach 1:
The collimator is divided into multiple groups of pinholes arranged in planes perpendicular to the longitudinal axis. Each group contains multiple pinholes with central lines that pass the longitudinal axis at a distance, creating a segmented structure that reduces penetration while maintaining focus volume coverage through rotational congruence of the groups.
2Manufacturing precision
If pinhole clusters are arranged with larger distances between them to reduce penetration, then radiation penetration is reduced, but the density of pinholes decreases and angular information collection is limited
Solution Approach 1:
The pinholes are arranged in three-dimensional space with multiple groups positioned at different locations along the longitudinal axis, each group forming a plane perpendicular to the axis. This multi-planar arrangement increases pinhole density while maintaining adequate spacing within each group to reduce penetration, effectively utilizing dimensional space to resolve the contradiction.
3Loss of information
If pinholes are positioned closer together to increase pinhole density and angular information collection, then angular information is improved, but radiation penetration through material between pinholes increases
Solution Approach 1:
Within each group of pinholes, the central lines are positioned at a specific distance from the longitudinal axis, creating a local geometric configuration where pinholes are optimally spaced. This local quality control ensures adequate spacing to reduce penetration while maintaining high pinhole density through the multi-group arrangement, thereby collecting sufficient angular information without excessive penetration.
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
This configuration enhances image sharpness and facilitates the collection of sufficient angular information, improving radiation sensitivity and resolution by minimizing penetration and blurring.
Implementation Method 1
a detection device with at least one detector with a detector surface for detecting, as detector signals, gamma radiation emitted by the object and passing through pinholes of the collimator
Implementation Method 2
The pinholes of said groups together see a focus volume, which focus volume has a geometric center
Data Source
AI summary
A gamma camera device includes a collimator with pinholes which surrounds an object space for receiving an object, a detector surface for detecting gamma radiation emitted by the object and passing through pinholes of the collimator, and a controller for processing the detector signals into an image of the object. The collimator and the object space have a common longitudinal axis, wherein the collimator includes a plurality of groups each of multiple pinholes with a central line. In each group, the pinholes lie in a plane perpendicular to the longitudinal axis, wherein the pinholes of the groups together see a focus volume, which focus volume has a geometric center. Within each group, on a rotation around said longitudinal axis, the respective central line of each of said pinholes becomes congruent with the central line of each of the other pinholes of the group.