Patent ID: 7465938
Filing Date: 2008-12-16
Classification: G01T

Abstract:
1. A method for capturing scintillation events generated by a scintillator block upon interaction with incident radiation, the method comprising the steps of: activating a plurality of image intensifiers configured to amplify scintillation light produced at respective faces of the scintillator block; operating a plurality of sensors in a clear mode, wherein the plurality of sensors are optically coupled to respective ones of the plurality of image intensifiers; detecting coincident amplification of scintillation light by the plurality of image intensifiers; deactivating the plurality of image intensifiers upon detecting coincident amplification of scintillation light; switching the plurality of sensors from the clear mode to an acquisition mode upon detecting coincident amplification of scintillation light, wherein the acquisition mode comprises capturing the amplified scintillation light generated by the respective ones of the plurality of image intensifiers, and wherein the plurality of sensors are switched from the clear mode to the acquisition mode in a period of time less than a decay time of the plurality of image intensifiers; and switching the plurality of sensors from the acquisition mode to a read mode, wherein the read mode comprises reading out the locations and intensities of the amplified scintillation light captured in the acquisition mode.