Radiant energy – Automatic/serial detection of similar sources
Reexamination Certificate
2001-01-08
2004-03-09
Gagliardi, Albert (Department: 2878)
Radiant energy
Automatic/serial detection of similar sources
C250S394000, C250S515100
Reexamination Certificate
active
06703616
ABSTRACT:
TECHNICAL FIELD OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates to an apparatus and a method for measuring radiation emanating from a sample containing a radiant matter.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
Certain conditions and diseases can be indicated by analysing a sample of exhaled air in order to establish the concentration of a certain substance. One example is a method of detecting Helicobacter Pylori in the gastro-intestinal tract, a good indication of gastric ulcer, by measuring in exhaled CO
2
the concentration of
14
C, used as a label for a urea preparation swallowed prior to the measurement. The concentration is determined by measuring &bgr;-radiation emanating from
14
C. However, since the emanation from
14
C is low energy &bgr;-radiation this method today requires the use of expensive, time consuming and bulky apparatus.
The provision of simple and cheap methods for use in decentralised health care has still not been adequately solved. Thus, there is a need for methods and improved apparatuses for detecting low energy radiation, particularly for use in health care, which are simple, cheap, small, and which provide satisfactory diagnostic accuracy.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
An object of the present invention is to provide a method for measuring low energy radiation emanating from a radiant matter in a sample, particularly for measuring &bgr;-radiation emanating from a
14
C labelled compound, that is fast, simple and provides satisfactory accuracy.
A further object of the present invention is to provide an apparatus for measuring low energy radiation emanating from a radiant matter in a sample that is cheap, light in weight and small in size.
Yet another object of the invention is to provide an apparatus that for beneficial manufacturing and service purposes comprises no moving parts at all.
The objects mentioned above are achieved according to the invention by a method, an apparatus, and a combination of an apparatus and a sample device having the features defined in the appended claims.
According to a first aspect of the present invention there is disclosed an apparatus for measuring low energy sample radiation emanating from a sample containing a radiant matter, comprising
first and second radiation detectors for measuring said radiation and background radiation, said first and second detectors being positioned substantially parallel with their respective active surfaces facing each other in an aligned position, at a distance allowing for temporary insertion of a sample device of planar configuration in a measurement cavity between the detectors;
external shielding means enclosing the radiation detectors, said shielding means reducing background radiation present in the measurement cavity, said shielding means being provided with an opening for receiving said sample device;
electronic processing means for handling decay pulses received from the radiation detectors, calculating from said pulses the radiation originating from the sample and evaluating the result of said calculation; and
means for recording and/or displaying the results of said evaluation.
According to a second aspect of the present invention there is disclosed a combination of an apparatus described above and a sample device having a planar configuration and comprising a sample carrier and radiant sample matter carried by said sample carrier, said radiant sample matter being provided on said sample carrier such that sample radiation radiates from both surface sides of said sample carrier, said surface sides facing said first and second radiation detectors, when the sample device has been inserted into said apparatus.
According to a third aspect of the present invention there is disclosed a combination of an apparatus described above and a sample device having a planar configuration and comprising a sample carrier and radiant sample matter carried by said sample carrier, said radiant sample matter being provided on said sample carrier such that sample radiation substantially only radiates from one surface side of said sample carrier, said one surface side facing said first radiation detector when the sample device has been inserted into said apparatus.
According to a fourth aspect of the present invention there is disclosed a method for measuring low energy sample radiation emanating from a sample containing a radiant matter, comprising the steps of:
inserting a sample into a measurement cavity, between two aligned radiation detectors facing each other, such that said sample radiation reaches only a first detector of said radiation detectors;
measuring, for a predetermined time period, the respective number of output pulses originating from ionising events occurring in the respective radiation detectors;
providing a first radiation value obtained from the number of pulses from said first detector, and a second radiation value obtained from the number of pulses from the second detector;
providing a sample radiation value by subtracting a background radiation value from said first value, wherein said background radiation value is based upon a historical background radiation value obtained prior to insertion of the sample, by means of said second detector, as well as said second radiation value;
evaluating said sample radiation value, thereby determining the amount of radiant matter in the sample.
According to a fifth aspect of the present invention there is disclosed a method for measuring low energy sample radiation emanating from a sample containing a radiant matter, comprising the steps of
inserting a sample into a measurement cavity, between two aligned radiation detectors facing each other;
measuring, for a predetermined time period, the respective number of output pulses originating from ionising events occurring in the respective radiation detectors;
providing a first radiation value obtained from the measured number of pulses from said first detector, and a second radiation value obtained from the measured number of pulses from the second detector;
providing a sample radiation value by subtracting a background radiation value from the sum of said first and second radiation values, wherein said background radiation value is based upon a historical background radiation value obtained prior to insertion of the sample; and
evaluating said sample radiation value, thereby determining the amount of radiant matter in the sample.
According to a sixth aspect of the present invention there is disclosed a method for measuring low energy sample radiation emanating from a sample containing a radiant matter, the method comprising
providing a first radiation detector and a second radiation detector such that the two radiation detectors both measure substantially the same background radiation;
using said second radiation detector for measuring a historical background radiation mean value;
thereafter positioning the sample relative to said radiation detectors such that sample radiation reaches said first radiation detector only;
measuring both output pulses from said first radiation detector and output pulses from said second radiation detector; and
calculating a sample radiation value by subtracting from a measured number of output pulses from said first radiation detector a corresponding background radiation value based upon said historical background radiation mean value and the measured number of output pulses from said second radiation detector.
According to a seventh aspect of the present invention there is disclosed A method for measuring low energy sample radiation emanating from a sample containing a radiant matter, the method comprising
providing a first radiation detector and a second radiation detector such that the two radiation detectors both measure substantially the same background radiation;
using said radiation detectors for measuring a historical background radiation mean value;
thereafter positioning the sample relative to said radiation detectors such that sample radiation reaches both radiation detectors;
measuring both output pulses from said first radiation detector and output pulses from
Andersson Olof
Ljungdahl Ulf
Stenquist by Charlotta
Stenquist by Monica
Stenquist by Sofia
Burns Doane Swecker & Mathis L.L.P.
Gagliardi Albert
Wedholm Medical AB
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