Preventive maintenance system for the photomultiplier detector b

Details Preventive maintenance system for the photomultiplier detector b Preventive maintenance system for the photomultiplier detector b

1992-08-24

1995-01-24

Envall, Jr., Roy N.

Boots, shoes, and leggings

36455101, G06F 1520

Patent

active

053846990

ABSTRACT:
A system including a method and apparatus for preventive maintenance of PET scanner photomultiplier detector blocks is disclosed. The quantitive comparisons used in the method of the present invention to provide an indication in the form of a display or printout advising the user that the photomultiplier block is stable, intermittently unstable, or drifting unstable, and also advising of the expected date of failure of a photomultiplier block in the PET scanner. The system alerts the user to replace the defective photomultiplier block prior to catastrophic failure in a scheduled preventative maintenance program, thus eliminating expensive and unscheduled downtime of the PET scanner due to photomultiplier failure. The apparatus for carrying out the method of the present invention preferably resides in the host computer controlling a PET scanner. It includes a memory adapted for storing a record of a number of iterative adjustments that are necessary to calibrate the gain of a photomultiplier detector block i at a time t.sub.0, a time t.sub.1 and a time T, where T>t.sub.1 >t.sub.0, which is designated as Histo(i,j(t)). The apparatus also includes a processor configured by a software program or a combination of programmed RAM and ROM devices to perform a number of calculations and operations on these values, and also includes a counter for analyzing each photomultiplier detector block i=1 through I of a PET scanner.

REFERENCES:
patent: 4831564 (1989-05-01), Suga
patent: 4905287 (1990-02-01), Segawa
Burle Industries Inc., "Photomultiplier Handbook", TP-136, 9(1989).
Hayashi, "Use of Photomultiplier Tubes in Scintillation Applications", Application Res-0790, Chap. 111-7: Pulse Height Stability, p. 5, Hamamatsu TV Co., Ltd. (1990).
Siemens Catalog "Three-Dimensional Positron Emission Tomography (PET) ACAT SCANNER", Siemens Gammasonics, Inc., Nuclear PET Group, Knoxville, Tenn., illustrating parts of a CTI-931 PET scanner's detector-photomultiplier bucket system for photon position decoding (undated).
Siemens, "Operating Instructions, Positron Emission Tomography Systems", Publication #98 76 392, Chapter 5.5: Utilities Menu, Section 5.5.3: System Calibration and Normalization, starting on p. 5-308 (Revision A, Jun. 1989).

Affiliated with

Also associated with

Rating

Preventive maintenance system for the photomultiplier detector b does not yet have a rating. At this time, there are no reviews or comments for this patent.

If you have personal experience with Preventive maintenance system for the photomultiplier detector b, we encourage you to share that experience with our LandOfFree.com community. Your opinion is very important and Preventive maintenance system for the photomultiplier detector b will most certainly appreciate the feedback.

Rate now

Comments { 0 }

Profile ID: LFUS-PAI-O-1471996