Patent ID: 6920202

Claim:
A therapeutic radiation source, comprising A. a probe assembly including an optical delivery structure having a proximal end and a distal end, said optical delivery structure being adapted for transmitting optical radiation incident on said proximal end to said distal end; B. an optical source, including means for generating a beam of optical radiation directed to said proximal end of aid optical delivery structure; C. a radiation generator assembly coupled to the probe assembly, including: a. an electron source, responsive to light transmitted to said distal end of said optical delivery structure, for emitting electrons; and b. a target element including at least one radiation emissive material adapted to emit therapeutic radiation in response to incident electrons from said electron beam; D. means for providing an accelerating voltage between said electron source and said target element so as to establish an accelerating electric field which acts to accelerate electrons emitted from said electron source toward said target element; and E. an in situ radiation detecting system for monitoring an amount of the therapeutic radiation emitted by said target element, said radiation detecting system including: a. a scintillator disposed along a path of the therapeutic radiation emitted by said target element and adapted to generate scintillator light in response to the therapeutic radiation incident thereon, wherein the intensity of said scintillator light is proportional to the intensity of said incident therapeutic radiation; b. a photodetector in optical communication with said scintillator by way of said optical delivery structure, for converting said scintillator light into a signal indicative of the intensity of said incident therapeutic radiation.