Patent ID: 11963807
Assignee: LIGHTPOINT SURGICAL LTD
Field: Medical technology (Instruments)
Classification: CPC A  G | IPC A  G

Claim 18:
19. A tethered laparoscopic probe for deployment through a trocar into a cavity of a subject to detect gamma radiation from a radiopharmaceutical administered to the subject, the tethered laparoscopic probe comprising:
a probe head shaped for insertion through the trocar and configured to be freely moveable within the cavity, the probe head comprising:
an elongate casing comprising radiation shielding of a first thickness, the radiation shielding for inhibiting gamma radiation from passing through the probe head, the radiation shielding having a detection aperture for admitting gamma radiation;
a gamma radiation detector arranged within the casing, the gamma radiation detector configured to detect gamma radiation through the detection region of the casing, the gamma radiation detector comprising: a scintillator having a radius, the scintillator configured to scintillate, in use, in response to received gamma radiation;

and a photodetector to detect the scintillated light from the scintillator;
wherein the thickness of the radiation shielding and the radius of the scintillator are selected such that, in use, the ratio of the gamma radiation permeating through the radiation shielding of the casing that is detected by the gamma radiation detector to the gamma radiation incident on the radiation shielding is less than or equal to 1:1000, and such that, in use, the sensitivity of the gamma radiation detector to gamma radiation incident through the detection aperture is maximized; and

a tether coupled to the probe head and for, in use, tethering the probe head through the trocar.