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A Gamma Camera for Medical Applications, using a Multiwire Proportional Counter

NASA-Johnson Space Center and Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, Texas
Duke University Medical Center, Durham, North Carolina

Correspondence: For reprints contact: Jeffrey L. Lacy, PhD, The Methodist Hospital, MSF905, 6565 Fannin, Houston, TX 77030.

ABSTRACT

A multiwire proportional counter gamma camera, specifically designed for nuclear medicine applications, is portable and weighs less than 50 lb including shielding and collimator. The basic operating characteristics have been investigated with various radioactive sealed sources. The camera demonstrates a peak count rate of 350,000 cps, an intrinsic spatial resolution of 2.5 mm, and excellent image uniformity when used with x-ray sources in the range of 22–81 keV. Tests of the device with Ta-178—a very promising, short half-life (9.3 min), low-energy radionuclide—using 20 mCi injections provided images of quality comparable to those obtained from 15 mCi Tc-99m studies with conventional imaging devices. The camera used with Ta-178 offers particular promise in first-pass nuclear cardiology studies. Considerably improved study quality will likely result in this area because of the increased injectable dose levels offered by Ta-178 combined with the high-count rate capability and improved resolution.