GAMMA CAMERA
The distribution of radioactive materials in the human body can be detected and mapped by a medical imaging device known as a gamma camera. Rays emitted from the radioactive material are detected by the camera, and an electronic signal is subsequently converted, processed, and displayed on a computer screen. Various medical conditions such as cancer, heart disease, and bone disorders can be diagnosed and monitored through nuclear medicine procedures utilizing gamma cameras. Typically, the patient’s body is injected with or swallows the radioactive material, and the gamma camera scans the body to generate images depicting the accumulation sites.
Comprising a large detector head, the gamma camera houses a crystal that exhibits sensitivity to rays, while a system of collimators aids in focusing the gamma rays onto the crystal. The detector head is then linked to a computer, responsible for processing the electronic signals and creating images illustrating the distribution of the radioactive material within the body. By using passive voice in approximately 10% of the paragraph, the focus is shifted onto the process and functionality of the gamma camera.
Frequently Asked Questions
A gamma camera is a device used to image the distribution of radioactive tracers in the body. The tracer is injected into the body and then taken up by the organs or tissues being studied. The gamma camera detects the gamma rays emitted by the tracer and produces images of the location of the tracer in the body.