Single Light Guide for Multi-Point Scintillation Dosimetry
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing radiation dosimetry systems using multiple plastic scintillation detectors require multiple collecting light guides, making them bulky and impractical for clinical use, especially in limited spaces like catheters, due to the need for one non-scintillating collecting light guide per scintillating element.
Innovation Solution
A radiation dosimeter with multiple scintillating elements coupled to a single collecting light guide, utilizing a spectral filter stage and photo-detector stage to separate and process optical energy, allowing for the measurement of radiation dose at multiple points without the need for multiple light guides.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Measurement precision
If multiple collecting light guides are used for multiple scintillating elements, then each detector can be individually read out, but the system becomes bulky and impractical for clinical use
Solution Approach 1:
Multiple scintillating elements are optically coupled to a single collecting light guide, merging multiple optical paths into one. The light guide receives scintillation light from multiple elements simultaneously, combining their signals for readout through a single photodetector channel, thereby reducing system bulkiness while maintaining measurement capability
Solution Approach 2:
The single collecting light guide serves multiple functions by collecting scintillation light from multiple different scintillating elements. This universal light collection approach allows one light guide to replace multiple dedicated light guides, reducing the overall number of components needed in the system
2Ease of manufacture
If one scintillating element is used per collecting light guide, then simple optical coupling is achieved, but the number of detectors that can be inserted in limited space is restricted
Solution Approach 1:
Multiple scintillating elements are merged into a single optical coupling system by connecting them to one collecting light guide. This allows multiple detectors to be packed into limited spaces (such as inside catheters) while maintaining relatively simple optical coupling through the shared light guide interface
3Measurement precision
If multiple collecting light guides are used, then complete optical signal collection is achieved, but the cost and aesthetic deficiencies increase
Solution Approach 1:
The optical signal collection system merges multiple detection channels into a single light guide, reducing the total number of optical components. This consolidation lowers manufacturing costs and improves aesthetic appearance while the light guide's design ensures complete optical signal collection from all coupled scintillating elements
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
Enables practical, clinically viable multi-point radiation dosimetry by reducing the number of light guides required, increasing the number of detectors that can be used in limited spaces, and maintaining the advantages of plastic scintillation detectors while decreasing costs.
Implementation Method 1
a plurality of scintillating elements located within the detection region and configured to generate optical energy in response to irradiation in the detection region
Implementation Method 2
a single collecting light guide optically coupled to the radiation detector and configured to receive and transmit the optical energy generated by the plurality of scintillating elements
Implementation Method 3
a spectral filter stage optically coupled to the single collecting light guide and configured to receive and spectrally decouple the transmitted optical energy
Implementation Method 4
a photo-detector stage optically coupled to the spectral filter stage and configured to generate electrical signals indicative of optical energy within at least one region of the spectrally decoupled optical energy
Data Source
AI summary
Various embodiments are described herein for a radiation dosimetry apparatus and associated methods for measuring radiation dose. In some embodiments, the apparatus includes multiple scintillating elements for detecting amounts of radiation dose at multiple points within a detection region. Each of the scintillating elements generates light in response to radiation interacting within their volume. A light guide combines the light generated by all of the scintillating elements as well as radiation-induced contaminated optical energy and transmits the combined light to a spectral analysis setup. Multi or hyper-spectral calibration technique allows calculating the dose or dose rate at the positions of the different scintillating elements. The calibration technique isolates the light produced by a given scintillating element from the other scintillating elements as well as any other source of radiation-induced contaminating light.