Claims
- 1. An apparatus for improving the quality of images produced by a scintillation camera during positron emission tomography wherein both true events and random events occur, comprising:
(a) a photomultiplier tube for generating a photomultiplier tube signal; (b) means for generating a code signal identifying the photomultiplier tube; (c) a clock for generating a clock signal providing a time stamp for the photomultiplier tube; (d) a bus buffer for transmitting an encoded signal comprising the photomultiplier tube signal followed by the code signal and the time stamp; (e) a data analyser for determining whether the encoded signal represents a true event; (e) a position computing device for calculating the position of a true event; (f) an image computer for generating an image of the events from a plurality of encoded signals and the positions of their corresponding events; and (g) a display for displaying the image.
- 2. An apparatus as defined in claim I fiber comprising:
(a) an amplifier/integrator for generating an amplified/integrated signal from the photomultiplier tube signal; (b) an analog to digital converter for generating a digitized signal from the amplified/integrated signal; and (c) a series of pull up resistors for generating a code signal identifying the photomultiplier tube.
- 3. An apparatus as defined in claim 1 wherein true events are determined from the encoded signals from individual photormultiplier tubes occurring within a predetermined time frame.
- 4. A method for improving the image produced by a scintillation camera comprising an array of photomultiplier tubes, comprising the steps of:
(a) generating a photomultiplier tube signal after an event; (b) generating a code signal identifying the photomultiplier tube; (c) generating a clock signal providing a time stamp for the photomultiplier tube; (d) generating an encoded signal comprising the photomultiplier tube signal followed by the code sign and the time stamp; (e) determining whether the event is a true event; (e) calculating the position of the event; (f) generating an image from a plurality of encoded signals; and (g) displaying the image.
- 5. A method as defined in claim 4 fixer comprising the steps of:
(a) generating an amplified/integrated signal from the photomultiplier tube signal; (b) generating a digitized signal from the amplified/integrated signal; and (c) generating an encoded signal comprising the amplified/integrated signal followed by the code signal.
- 6. A method as defined in claim 3 further comprising the step of:
(a) analysing the time stamps to determine which photomultiplier tubes are in coincidence; and (b) decreasing the time window during which time stamps are analysed.
- 7. An apparatus for improving the image produced a scintillation camera comprising an array of photomultiplier tubes, comprising:
(a) means for generating a photomultiplier tube signal after an event; (b) means for generating a code signal identifying the photomultiplier tube; (c) means for generating a clock signal providing a time stamp for the photomultiplier tube; (d) means for generating an encoded signal comprising the photomultiplier tube signal followed by the code signal and the time stamp; (e) means for determining whether the event is a true event; (e) means for calculating the position of the event; (f) means for generating an image from a plurality of encoded signals; and (g) means for displaying the image.
Priority Claims (1)
Number |
Date |
Country |
Kind |
2,212,196 |
Aug 1997 |
CA |
|
REFERENCE TO PARENT APPLICATION
[0001] This application is a Continuation-In-Par of “Photomultiplier Tube Identifier”, U.S. Ser. No. 09/127,987, filed on Aug. 3, 1998, which is incorporated herein by reference.
Continuation in Parts (1)
|
Number |
Date |
Country |
Parent |
09127987 |
Aug 1998 |
US |
Child |
09759523 |
Jan 2001 |
US |