A multidetector scintillation camera with 254 channels.

A computer-based scintillation camera has been designed for both dynamic and static radionuclide studies. The detecting head has 254 independent sodium iodide crystals, each with a photomultiplier and amplifier. In dynamic measurements simultaneous events can be recorded, and 1 million total counts per second can be accommodated with less than 0.5% loss in any one channel. This corresponds to a calculated deadtime of 5 nsec. The multidetector camera is being used for 133Xe dynamic studies of regional cerebral blood flow in man and for 99mTc and 197 Hg static imaging of the brain.