Methods for discriminating among x-ray beams of distinct energy content. A first volume of scintillation medium converts energy of incident penetrating radiation into scintillation light which is extracted from a scintillation light extraction region by a plurality of optical waveguides that convert the scintillation light to light of a longer wavelength. An x-ray beam initially incident upon the first volume of scintillation medium and traversing the first volume is then incident on a second volume of scintillation medium. The first and second scintillation media may be separated by an absorber or one or more further volumes of scintillation medium, and may also have differential spectral sensitivities. Scintillation light from the first and second scintillation volumes is detected in respective detectors and processed to yield a measure of respective low energy and high-energy components of the incident x-ray beam.

A radiation detection system comprising a detection grid of wavelength shifting fibers with a volume of scintillating material at the intersecting points of the fibers. Light detectors, preferably Silicon Photomultipliers, are positioned at the ends of the fibers. The position of radiation is determined from data obtained from the detection grid. The system is easily scalable, customizable, and also suitable for use in soil and underground applications. An alternate embodiment employs a fiber grid sheet or layer which is comprised of multiple fibers secured to one another within the same plane. This embodiment further includes shielding in order to prevent radiation cross-talk within the grid layer.

A radiation detection system comprising a detection grid of wavelength shifting fibers with a volume of scintillating material at the intersecting points of the fibers. Light detectors, preferably Silicon Photomultipliers, are positioned at the ends of the fibers. The position of radiation is determined from data obtained from the detection grid. The system is easily scalable, customizable, and also suitable for use in soil and underground applications. An alternate embodiment employs a fiber grid sheet or layer which is comprised of multiple fibers secured to one another within the same plane. This embodiment further includes shielding in order to prevent radiation cross-talk within the grid layer.

The present invention provides methods and systems for 3D imaging of in vivo and ex vivo tissues. The disclosed systems and methods employ an autoradiographic approach where particles emitted by a radioactive composition within the tissue are detected. Once detected, a 3D representation of the source of particles within the tissue is reconstructed for viewing and analysis.

A novel method and a related system are configured to place measured trajectories into a voxel space, which moves with respect to a particle detector system. The trajectories are measured in a detector reference frame. The voxel space, typically fixed with respect to the object being imaged, is tracked optically with markers and a camera system. A decipherable correlation is established between a set of markers and a set of detector elements. This correlation provides coordinate transformation definitions to place the trajectories into the voxel space in medical imaging, treatment planning, and/or therapeutic applications. The novel method provides a clever process to register an optical tracking system with a particle detector system, which improves quality assurance, accuracy, speed, and operating cost efficiencies of ion, particle, and/or radiation-based imaging, treatment planning, or therapies. This novel method may be utilized in proton imaging, helium imaging, other ion-based imaging, or x-ray imaging.

A novel method and a related system are configured to place measured trajectories into a voxel space, which moves with respect to a particle detector system. The trajectories are measured in a detector reference frame. The voxel space, typically fixed with respect to the object being imaged, is tracked optically with markers and a camera system. A decipherable correlation is established between a set of markers and a set of detector elements. This correlation provides coordinate transformation definitions to place the trajectories into the voxel space in medical imaging, treatment planning, and/or therapeutic applications. The novel method provides a clever process to register an optical tracking system with a particle detector system, which improves quality assurance, accuracy, speed, and operating cost efficiencies of ion, particle, and/or radiation-based imaging, treatment planning, or therapies. This novel method may be utilized in proton imaging, helium imaging, other ion-based imaging, or x-ray imaging.

A volume interrogation system can use an accelerated beam of charged particles to interrogate objects using charged-particle attenuation and scattering tomography to screen items such as portable electronic devices, packages, baggage, industrial products, or food products for the presence of materials of interest inside. The exemplary systems and methods in this patent document can be employed in checkpoint applications to scan items. Such checkpoint applications can include border crossings, mass transit terminals (subways, buses, railways, ferries, etc.), and government and private-sector facilities.

A volume interrogation system can use an accelerated beam of charged particles to interrogate objects using charged-particle attenuation and scattering tomography to screen items such as portable electronic devices, packages, baggage, industrial products, or food products for the presence of materials of interest inside. The exemplary systems and methods in this patent document can be employed in checkpoint applications to scan items. Such checkpoint applications can include border crossings, mass transit terminals (subways, buses, railways, ferries, etc.), and government and private-sector facilities.