Detector support structures for gantry scanner systems

• US 10,098,214 B2
• Filed: 03/11/2016
• Issued: 10/09/2018
• Est. Priority Date: 05/20/2008
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Rapiscan Systems Incorporated (OSI Systems Incorporated)
• Original Assignee: Rapiscan Systems Incorporated (OSI Systems Incorporated)
• Inventors: Morton, Edward James
• Primary Examiner(s): Yun, Jurie
• Application Number:
  US15/067,343
• Publication Number:
  US 20170013701A1
• Time in Patent Office: 942 Days
• Field of Search: 378 57, 378 62, 378193, 378194, 378197, 378198
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 23/04 and forming images of the material
• CPC Class Codes: G01V 5/20 Detecting prohibited goods, e.g. weapons, explosives, hazardous substances, contraband or smuggled objects
• CPC Class Codes: G01V 5/22 Active interrogation, i.e. by irradiating objects or goods using external radiation sources, e.g. using gamma rays or cosmic rays
• CPC Class Codes: G01V 5/271 using a network, e.g. a remote expert, accessing remote data or the like
• CPC Class Codes: H05G 1/10 Power supply arrangements for feeding the X-ray tube supply circuits with converters in general H02M; supply circuits for emitters and amplifiers H04B1/16 - H04B1/1623

Abstract

A gantry scanner system comprises a radiation source, a plurality of detectors and a support frame supporting the detectors. The support frame includes an elongate support member arranged to support the detectors, cable support means arranged to support power cables or signal cables connected to the detectors, and cover means arranged to cover the support member, the cable support means and the detectors.

Claims

1. A detector support structure for a gantry scanner system comprising:

a first elongate member having a cross section defined by a central horizontal member connected to two opposing vertical side members, wherein a first side of the central horizontal member and two opposing vertical side members define a first cavity;

a first rounded side portion configured to cover one of the two opposing vertical side members;

a support structure positioned in the first cavity; and

a detector attached to the support structure and positioned in the first cavity.

2. The detector support structure of claim 1, wherein the detector is separated from the central horizontal member.

3. The detector support structure of claim 1 wherein the detector is separated from the central horizontal member by a space.

4. The detector support structure of claim 1 wherein the first rounded side portion comprises at least one of carbon fiber composite, glass fiber composite, or pressed steel sheet.

5. The detector support structure of claim 1 further comprising a second rounded side portion configured to cover a second of the two opposing vertical side members.

6. The detector support structure of claim 5 wherein the second rounded side portion comprises at least one of carbon fiber composite, glass fiber composite, or pressed steel sheet.

7. The detector support structure of claim 1 further comprising a cable attached to the detector and attached to a cable support means located on an outer side of one of the two opposing vertical side members.

8. The detector support structure of claim 7 wherein the cable support means comprises a cable support tube mounted on the elongate member by a plurality of tube support brackets.

9. The detector support structure of claim 1 further comprising a radiation absorbing means located in a second cavity, wherein the second cavity is defined by a second side of the central horizontal member and the two opposing vertical side members.

10. The detector support structure of claim 9 wherein the radiation absorbing means comprises a beam-stop.

11. The detector support structure of claim 1 further comprising a cover means wherein the cover means comprises a plurality of removable cover sections, each of which is configured to be removable to allow access to the detector.

12. The detector support structure of claim 1 further comprising a plurality of support brackets positioned in the first rounded side portion.

13. The detector support structure of claim 12 wherein each of the plurality of support brackets comprises a plurality of holes and a plurality of tubes and wherein each of the plurality of tubes is positioned in one of the plurality of holes.

14. The detector support structure of claim 1 further comprising a second elongate member having a cross section defined by a central horizontal member connected to two opposing vertical side members, wherein the central horizontal member and two opposing vertical side members define a cavity;

a first rounded side portion configured to cover one of the two opposing vertical side members;

a support structure positioned in the cavity; and

a detector attached to the support structure and positioned in the cavity.

15. The detector support structure of claim 14 wherein the first elongate member and second elongate member are attached at a substantially 90 degree angle.

16. The detector support structure of claim 1, wherein the support structure is a metal tray or plastic tray.

17. The detector support structure of claim 16, wherein the support structure further comprises a molding, wherein the metal tray or plastic tray is attached to the molding using threaded inserts.

18. The detector support structure of claim 1, further comprising water absorbing materials positioned in the first cavity.

19. The detector support structure of claim 18, wherein the water absorbing material comprises silica gel.