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

A new type of hand-held non-imaging intraoperative γ-probe, characterized by two detection systems each based on a square array 1 cm2 in size of CdTe semiconductor crystals, is presented. The detectors are mounted at the end of two long arms of a tongs-like mechanical device, with the γ-radiation entrance windows face to face. The tissues and/or organs to be inspected are placed between the detectors whose distance can be adjusted from 0.8 to about 3 cm. Due to its configuration, the tongs-like γ-probe has an acceptance solid angle nearly two times larger than conventional intraoperative γ-probes; furthermore, by shielding conveniently the back and the lateral sides of both detection systems, the local background can be meaningfully reduced so that an important increasing in signal-to-background ratio, therefore in sensitivity, is achievable. The scanning of the intestinal or colorectal walls, as well as other anatomic districts which can be sandwiched between the detectors, could be, for example, some specific surgical application for the tongs-like γ-probe in order to detect intramural neoplastic lesion previously radiolabeled with specific markers.