Radiant energy – Invisible radiant energy responsive electric signalling – With or including a luminophor
Reexamination Certificate
1999-01-11
2001-06-05
Hannaher, Constatine (Department: 2878)
Radiant energy
Invisible radiant energy responsive electric signalling
With or including a luminophor
Reexamination Certificate
active
06242742
ABSTRACT:
FIELD OF THE INVENTION
This invention relates to the variable angulation dual detector scintigraphy cameras and, in particular to those cameras that allow for the rotation of a transmission attenuation correction device.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
In this type of camera, the detectors may be either perpendicular for the acquisition of images of certain organs in a 90° tomography, or face to face for the acquisition of the image of the skeletal system on the entire body or 180° tomography.
These cameras may be equipped with one or two TAC (Transmission attenuation correction) devices. The device contains a known radioactive source that emits gamma energy rays; these rays sweep the active surface of the detector through the body of the patient. The attenuation of energy caused by the patient's body is measured in this detector. This measuring results in information that, when treated appropriately, makes it possible to correct the attenuation of the photon energy emitted by the irradiated organ and therefore to obtain a more detailed image.
The radioactive source is a linear rod in a radiation-proof chamber that is however provided with a rectilinear slot through which the radiation is transmitted in the direction of the detector. This slot must be perfectly closed when the TAC device is not in use. Usually, the closing is controlled mechanically and must be totally secured. The TAC device moves parallel to itself in a plane that is parallel to the detector's detection surface.
As it now stands in the technique, the TAC device is only used for certain image acquisitions and in particular for the 90° tomography, meaning when the detectors are perpendicular. In other cases, in particular for the image acquisition using two parallel detectors facing each other, the TAC device is not rotated to operate.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION
This invention solves this inconvenience by allowing for the use of the TAC device in all three types of configuration mentioned above (90° and 180° tomography, entire body).
It consists of an adjustable articulation made up of a joint face at a 45° angle in relation to the longitudinal axis of the TAC device so that it can take two perpendicular and opposite positions and that passing from one position to the other gives a 180° rotation in relation to the axis of this joint face.
The two positions are indexed by dowels or alignment pins that are diametrically opposite and fit into holes on the opposite part.
One of the two parts of the articulation holds a flanged ring that rotates with the other part and is fitted with screws that can tighten these two parts against each other.
The transmission of the isolation control movement of the source takes place thanks to a set of pinions located in the center part of the joint face.
During the rotation of the chamber that carries the source around the axis, the pinions are pulled apart so that the source can stay isolated and, after being repositioned, said pinions are remeshed while maintaining the isolation of the source.
The driving pinion and the driven pinion are both braced conical pinions turned in such a way that the space along the axis of the joint face causes their disconnection.
The articulation can be either a part that is integrated in the support, a removable part inserted between the two parts of the support, or a removable part inserted between the support and a cassette carrying the source.
At one end of the removable part that is inserted between the support and a cassette carrying the source, is the male part and at the other end is the female part of an assembly that is identical to the secured assembly of the cassette on the support.
The characteristics and advantages of the invention will appear through the following description of a non restrictive example in reference to the attached drawings where
REFERENCES:
patent: 5552606 (1996-09-01), Jones et al.
patent: 5576545 (1996-11-01), Stoub et al.
patent: 5752916 (1998-05-01), Guerard et al.
patent: 2736163 (1997-01-01), None
Beaumesnil Bernard
Geay Jean-Claude
Treillet Jean
Connolly Bove Lodge & Hutz
Hannaher Constatine
SMV International
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