Gamma camera
Gamma Camera
A Gamma Camera (pronounced: /ˈɡæmə kəˈmɛrə/), also known as a scintillation camera or Anger camera, is a device used in nuclear medicine imaging to capture the radiation from a radiopharmaceutical inside a patient's body.
Etymology
The term "Gamma Camera" originates from the Greek letter gamma (γ), which is used in physics to denote a type of high-energy photon detected by the camera. The term "camera" is derived from the Latin word for "room", reflecting the device's function as a space in which images are captured.
Function
The Gamma Camera is used to perform a procedure known as a scintigraphy, which involves the injection of a radiopharmaceutical into the patient's body. The radiopharmaceutical emits gamma rays, which are detected by the camera and used to create an image of the area being examined. This allows for the detection of abnormalities such as tumors or infections.
Components
The Gamma Camera consists of several key components:
- Detector Crystal: This is a large flat crystal that absorbs the gamma rays and emits light in response. The most commonly used crystal is sodium iodide doped with thallium.
- Photomultiplier Tubes: These are devices that amplify the light emitted by the detector crystal, allowing it to be detected and measured.
- Collimator: This is a device that filters the gamma rays, allowing only those traveling in a certain direction to reach the detector crystal.
- Data Acquisition System: This is a computer system that processes the signals from the photomultiplier tubes and creates an image from the data.
Related Terms
External links
- Medical encyclopedia article on Gamma camera
- Wikipedia's article - Gamma camera
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