Radiopharmaceutical czt sensor and apparatus

Abstract

A gamma ray detector includes a gamma ray detecting rod elongated along a longitudinal axis, wherein gamma ray detection is enhanced along the longitudinal axis, and a gamma ray shield encapsulating the rod, the shield having an aperture at an end of the detecting rod along the longitudinal axis to admit gamma rays substantially parallel to the longitudinal axis of the elongated detecting rod, wherein gamma ray detection is enhanced along the longitudinal axis and aperture to substantially collimate the sensitivity of the gamma ray detector along the combined aperture and longitudinal axis of the detecting rod.

1 - 17 . (canceled) 
     
     
         18 . A radioactivity detecting device comprising:
 a gamma ray detector comprising a solid state material, the gamma ray detector elongated along a longitudinal axis; and   a shield encapsulating the gamma ray detector, the shield having an aperture adjacent a longitudinal end of the gamma ray detector,   wherein the gamma ray detector is configured to detect gamma rays which pass through the aperture in a direction substantially parallel to the longitudinal axis.   
     
     
         19 . The radioactivity detecting device of  claim 18 , wherein a length of the gamma ray detector is measured along the longitudinal axis. 
     
     
         20 . The radioactivity detecting device of  claim 19 , wherein detection of the gamma rays is enhanced along the length of the gamma ray detector, and wherein a sensitivity of the gamma ray detector is collimated by the aperture and the length of the gamma ray detector. 
     
     
         21 . The radioactivity detecting device of  claim 19 , wherein a thickness of the gamma ray detector is measured transverse to the longitudinal axis, and wherein the length is greater than the thickness. 
     
     
         22 . The radioactivity detecting device of  claim 18 , wherein the solid state material comprises cadmium zinc telluride (CZT). 
     
     
         23 . An apparatus for detecting radioactivity of a sample in a container of known dimensions, the apparatus comprising:
 a first gamma ray detector arranged below a lower surface of the container with respect to gravity; and   a second gamma ray detector arranged above an upper surface of the container with respect to gravity, opposite the first gamma ray detector;   wherein each of the first gamma ray detector and the second gamma ray detector detect a radioactivity from the sample in the container; and   wherein a ratio of the radioactivity detected by the second gamma ray detector to the radioactivity detected by the first gamma ray detector correlates to a fill level of the sample in the container.   
     
     
         24 . The apparatus of  claim 23 , wherein the first gamma ray detector and the second gamma ray detector comprise cadmium zinc telluride (CZT). 
     
     
         25 . The apparatus of  claim 23 , wherein:
 each of the first gamma ray detector and the second gamma ray detector is elongated along a longitudinal axis;   each of the first gamma ray detector and the second gamma ray detector is enclosed in a shield having an aperture adjacent a longitudinal end of the respective gamma ray detector; and   wherein the first gamma ray detector and the second gamma ray detector are configured to detect gamma rays which pass through the respective aperture in a direction substantially parallel to the longitudinal axis.   
     
     
         26 . The apparatus of  claim 23 , wherein a logarithm of the ratio of the radioactivity detected by the second gamma ray detector to the radioactivity detected by the first gamma ray detector is substantially linear in proportion to a fill level of the sample present in the container. 
     
     
         27 . The apparatus of  claim 23 , wherein each of the first gamma ray detector and the second gamma ray detector have enhanced sensitivity along their respective longitudinal axes. 
     
     
         28 . The apparatus of  claim 23 , wherein the container is a cylinder. 
     
     
         29 . A method of detecting radioactivity of a sample present in a container, comprising:
 providing a container and a gamma ray detector;   determining a constant volume of a sample to add to the container;   adding the constant volume of the sample to the container;   observing the constant volume of the sample using the gamma ray detector to measure a radioactivity of the sample present in the container; and   determining a concentration of a radionuclide in the sample based on the constant volume of the sample observed by the gamma ray detector and the radioactivity detected by the gamma ray detector.   
     
     
         30 . The method of  claim 29 , wherein the gamma ray detector comprises cadmium zinc telluride (CZT). 
     
     
         31 . An apparatus for detecting radioactivity of a sample in a container of known dimensions, the apparatus comprising:
 a container having a known volume of a sample; and   a gamma ray detector that detects a radioactivity from the sample in the container;   wherein the concentration of a radionuclide in the sample correlates to the radioactivity detected by the gamma ray detector.   
     
     
         32 . The apparatus of  claim 31 , wherein:
 the gamma ray detector is elongated along a longitudinal axis and is enclosed in a shield having an aperture adjacent a longitudinal end of the gamma ray detector; and   wherein the gamma ray detector is configured to detect gamma rays which pass through the aperture in a direction substantially parallel to the longitudinal axis.   
     
     
         33 . The apparatus of  claim 31 , wherein the gamma ray detector has enhanced sensitivity along the longitudinal axes. 
     
     
         34 . The apparatus of  claim 31 , wherein the container is a cylinder. 
     
     
         35 . The apparatus of  claim 31 , wherein the gamma ray detector comprises cadmium zinc telluride (CZT).