Semiconductor radiation detector, positron emission tomography apparatus, semiconductor radiation detection apparatus, detector unit and nuclear medicine diagnostic apparatus

Abstract

Each semiconductor radiation detector used for a nuclear medicine diagnostic apparatus (PET apparatus) is constructed with an anode electrode A facing a cathode electrode C sandwiching a CdTe semiconductor member S which generates charge through interaction with γ-rays. Then, a thickness t of the semiconductor member S sandwiched between these mutually facing anode electrode A and cathode electrode C is set to 0.2 to 2 mm. Furthermore, the devices are mounted (laid out) on substrates in such a way that the distance (distance of conductor) between the semiconductor radiation detector and an analog ASIC which processes the signal detected by this detector is shortened. Furthermore, the substrates on which the detectors are mounted are housed in a housing as a unit (detector unit).

1 - 55 . (canceled)  
   
   
       56 . A nuclear medicine diagnostic apparatus, comprising: 
 a support member; and    a plurality of detector units attached to said support member, each detector unit comprising a housing member having light shielding properties and a plurality of unit substrates in said housing member, each unit substrate comprising a plurality of semiconductor radiation detectors to which a radiation is input and an integrated circuit for processing radiation detection signals output from each of said semiconductor radiation detectors,    wherein each of said detector units comprises a separated integrated circuit to which information from said integrated circuit in each of said unit substrates is input, said separated integrated circuit being located outside said housing member.    
   
   
       57 . A nuclear medicine diagnostic apparatus according to  claim 56 , further comprising a bed for laying an object to be examined, 
 wherein said plurality of detector units are arranged around said bed, and    wherein in each of said unit substrates, said semiconductor radiation detectors are placed at a portion near to said bed and said integrated circuit is placed at a portion far from said bed.    
   
   
       58 . A nuclear medicine diagnostic apparatus according to  claim 56 , further comprising a tomographic information creation apparatus for creating tomographic information using second information obtained based on first information output from said integrated circuit.  
   
   
       59 . A nuclear medicine diagnostic apparatus according to  claim 56 , further comprising a counting apparatus, to which outputs from a plurality of integrated circuits are input, for counting in pairs said outputs corresponding to a pair of said radiation detection signals detected within a set time.  
   
   
       60 . A nuclear medicine diagnostic apparatus according to  claim 59 , further comprising a tomographic information creation apparatus for creating tomographic information using count information output from said counting apparatus.  
   
   
       61 . A nuclear medicine diagnostic apparatus according to  claim 56 , wherein each of said unit substrates comprises a first substrate including said semiconductor radiation detectors and a second substrate including said integrated circuit.  
   
   
       62 . A nuclear medicine diagnostic apparatus according to  claim 56 , wherein in each of said unit substrates, said integrated circuit comprises: 
 an analog integrated circuit for processing signals output from said semiconductor radiation detectors;    an AD converter for converting analog signals output from said analog integrated circuit to digital signals; and    a digital integrated circuit to which signals from said AD converter are input.    
   
   
       63 . A nuclear medicine diagnostic apparatus according to  claim 56 , wherein said housing member comprises a guide member for guiding each of said unit substrates in said housing member.  
   
   
       64 . A nuclear medicine diagnostic apparatus according to  claim 62 , wherein each of said detector units comprises said separated integrated circuit to which information output from said digital integrated circuit is input.  
   
   
       65 . A positron emission tomography apparatus, comprising: 
 a support member; and    a plurality of detector units attached to said support member, each detector unit comprising a housing member having light shielding properties and a plurality of unit substrates in said housing member, each unit substrate comprising a plurality of semiconductor radiation detectors to which a radiation is input and an integrated circuit for processing radiation detection signals output from each of said semiconductor radiation detectors,    wherein said integrated circuit outputs time information of detection time of radiation and identification information of one of said semiconductor radiation detectors by which said radiation was detected,    wherein each of said detector units comprises a separated integrated circuit to which information from said integrated circuit in each of said unit substrates is input, said separated integrated circuit being located outside said housing member.    
   
   
       66 . A positron emission tomography apparatus according to  claim 65 , wherein in each of said unit substrates, said integrated circuit comprises: 
 an analog integrated circuit for processing signals output from said semiconductor radiation detectors;    an AD converter for converting an analog signal output from said analog integrated circuit to a digital signal; and    a digital integrated circuit to which said digital signal output from said AD converter is input.    
   
   
       67 . A detector unit, comprising: 
 a plurality of unit substrates, each unit substrate comprising: 
 a plurality of semiconductor radiation detectors and an integrated circuit for processing signals output from said semiconductor radiation detectors; and  
 a plurality of wires for transmitting output signals from each of said semiconductor radiation detectors to said integrated circuit;  
   a housing member for housing said unit substrates, said housing member having light shielding properties; and    a separated integrated circuit to which information from said integrated circuit in each of said unit substrates is input, said separated integrated circuit being located outside said housing member.    
   
   
       68 . A detector unit according to  claim 67 , wherein each of said unit substrates comprises a first substrate including said semiconductor radiation detectors and a second substrate including said integrated circuit.  
   
   
       69 . A detector unit according to  claim 67 , wherein in each of said unit substrates, said integrated circuit comprises: 
 an analog integrated circuit for processing signals output from said semiconductor radiation detectors;    an AD converter for converting analog signals output from said analog integrated circuit to digital signals; and    a digital integrate circuit to which signals from said AD converter are input.    
   
   
       70 . A detector unit according to  claim 68 , wherein said first substrate and said second substrate are mutually overlapped at end portions thereof and detachably connected with each other.  
   
   
       71 . A detector unit according to  claim 67 , wherein said semiconductor radiation detectors are located on both sides of each of said unit substrates.  
   
   
       72 . A detector unit according to  claim 68 , wherein said semiconductor radiation detectors are located on both sides of said first substrate.  
   
   
       73 . A detector unit according to  claim 69 , wherein said housing member comprises a separated integrated circuit to which information output from said digital integrated circuit included in each of said unit substrate is input.  
   
   
       74 . A nuclear medicine diagnostic apparatus according to  claim 56 , wherein said separated integrated circuit is a combination integrated circuit for which a program for combining and processing information from said integrated circuit in each of said unit substrates can be programmed.  
   
   
       75 . A positron emission tomography apparatus according to  claim 65 , wherein said separated integrated circuit is a combination integrated circuit for which a program for combining and processing information from said integrated circuit in each of said unit substrates can be programmed.