Mammography detector with small chest distance

• US 10,456,098 B2
• Filed: 11/21/2014
• Issued: 10/29/2019
• Est. Priority Date: 11/21/2014
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Teledyne Digital Imaging, Inc. (Teledyne Technologies Incorporated)
• Original Assignee: Teledyne Digital Imaging, Inc. (Teledyne Technologies Incorporated)
• Inventors: van Arendonk, Anton Petrus Maria
• Primary Examiner(s): Gunberg, Edwin C
• Application Number:
  US15/525,166
• Publication Number:
  US 20170311912A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,803 Days
• Field of Search: None
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 6/4208 characterised by using a particular type of detector
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 6/4233 using matrix detectors
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 6/502 for diagnosis of breast, i.e. mammography
• CPC Class Codes: H01L 27/146 Imager structures

Abstract

An X-ray detector is manufactured bonding detector layers onto a main frame leaving a protruding edge portion extending beyond edge of the detector layers. The protruding edge portion of the main frame is then detached from the main frame along a detachment line adjacent the edge of the detector layers before a cover with a thin edge wall is applied to the detector stack.

Claims

1. A method of making an X-ray detector, comprising:

providing a main frame for supporting a detector stack, wherein the main frame comprises a detachable protruding edge portion;

bonding detector layers onto the main frame leaving the protruding edge portion extending beyond an edge of the detector layers;

detaching the protruding edge portion of the main frame along a detachment line adjacent the edge of the detector layers; and

applying a cover with a thin edge wall to the detector stack;

wherein a trench to collect excess adhesive is located in the protruding edge portion of the main frame.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the detachment line is aligned with the edge of the detector layers.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein the detachment line is located slightly inwardly of the edge of the detector layers.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein the detachment line is defined by a scribe line that is pre-scribed into the main frame, and the protruding edge portion is snapped off along the scribe line after assembly of the detector stack.

5. The method of claim 1, wherein the protruding edge portion is removably attached to the main frame by fasteners.

6. The method of claim 5, wherein the fasteners are screws.

7. The method of claim 1, wherein the detector layers comprise a glass carrier plate bonded onto a frame base portion of the main frame, one or more silicon tile layers, and a fiber-optic plate coated with a scintillator material.

8. The method of claim 1, wherein the main frame is made of aluminum.

9. The method of claim 1, wherein the main frame further comprises a frame base portion, and wherein the detector layers are bonded to the frame base portion.

10. The method of claim 9, wherein the cover is applied to the edge of the detector layers and an edge of the frame base portion.

11. The method of claim 10, wherein the cover is less than 1 mm thick.

12. An X-ray detector, comprising:

a detector stack bonded onto a frame base portion, an edge of the frame base portion being located such that it is aligned with, or under hangs an edge of the detector stack; and

a protective cover with a thin edge wall applied to the edge of the detector stack,

wherein the edge of the frame base portion further comprises a trench to collect excess adhesive flowing from the detector stack and

wherein the trench is configured to be removed along a detachment line formed in the frame base portion.

13. The X-ray detector of claim 12, wherein the detector stack comprises a glass carrier plate bonded onto the frame base portion, one or more silicon tile layers, and a fiber-optic plate coated with a scintillator material.

14. The X-ray detector of claim 12, wherein the frame base portion is made of aluminum.

15. The X-ray detector of claim 12, wherein the protective cover is applied to the edge of the detector stack and the edge of the frame base portion.

16. A precursor assembly for making an X-ray detector, comprising:

a detector stack bonded onto a main frame;

a protruding edge portion comprising an edge of the main frame protruding beyond an edge of the detector stack;

wherein the protruding edge portion is detachable along a line that is aligned with, or underhangs the edge of the detector stack; and

wherein the protruding edge portion comprises a trench to collect any adhesive flowing from the detector stack.

17. The precursor assembly of claim 16, wherein the line is in the form of a scribe line pre-scribed into the main frame.

18. The precursor assembly of claim 16, wherein the protruding edge portion is detachably attached to the main frame with fasteners.