A tongs-like intraoperative gamma-probe for specific applications in radioguided oncological surgery

A new type of hand-held non-imaging intraoperative gamma -probe, characteri zed by two detection systems each based on a square array 1 cm(2) in size o f CdTe semiconductor crystals, is presented. The detectors are mounted at t he end of two long arms of a tongs-like mechanical device, with the gamma - radiation entrance windows face to face. The tissues and/or organs to be in spected are placed between the detectors whose distance can be adjusted fro m 0.8 to about 3 cm. Due to its configuration, the tongs-like gamma -probe has an acceptance solid angle nearly two times larger than conventional int raoperative gamma -probes; furthermore, by shielding conveniently the back and the lateral sides of both detection systems, the local background can b e meaningfully reduced so that an important increasing in signal-to-backgro und ratio, therefore in sensitivity, is achievable, The scanning of the int estinal or colorectal walls, as well as other anatomic districts which can be sandwiched between the detectors, could be, for example, some specific s urgical application for the tongs-like gamma -probe in order to detect intr amural neoplastic lesion previously radiolabeled with specific markers. (C) 2000 Elsevier Science B.V. All rights reserved.