Patent ID: 8068896

Claim:
A beta camera for detecting the presence of radiation emitted from labeled sites in the human body comprising: a plastic scintillator film sensitive to beta radiation having a front surface for receiving emissions from radioactive labeled sites, an array of multiple silicon photomultipliers, each of said solid state or silicon photomultipliers having a front surface in direct optical communication with a rear surface of the plastic scintillator, electronic signal output means on a rear surface of each of said silicon photomultipliers, and an electronic circuit located to receive the electronic signal output from each of said silicon photomultipliers, the combination of at least the plastic scintillator and array of silicon photomultipliers being encased in a capsule, a portion of the capsule covering the front surface of the plastic scintillator having a thickness which allows transmission of the beta radiation to the front surface of the plastic scintillator, portions of the capsule on the rear and side surfaces acting as a barrier to light and beta radiation.