Scintillator having integrated collimator and method of manufacturing same
First Claim
1. A method of manufacturing a detector having an integrated scintillator and collimator, the method comprising the steps of:
- positioning a block of scintillator pack on a tooling base;
positioning a collimator mold housing having a collimator mold cavity therein on the block;
aligning the block and the mold housing;
disposing a collimator mixture into the mold cavity; and
curing the collimator mixture to form an integrated scintillator and collimator.
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Accused Products
Abstract
The present invention is directed to an integrated scintillator and collimator array for a CT detector. The integrated scintillator and collimator are fabricated from a manufacturing process or technique whereupon an array of scintillator material is positioned on a tooling base such that a collimator mold housing having a collimator mold therein may be positioned on the block of scintillator material. The block and mold housing are then aligned allowing a collimator mixture to be disposed into the mold. The collimator mixture is then allowed to cure to form an integrated scintillator and collimator.
28 Citations
30 Claims
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1. A method of manufacturing a detector having an integrated scintillator and collimator, the method comprising the steps of:
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positioning a block of scintillator pack on a tooling base;
positioning a collimator mold housing having a collimator mold cavity therein on the block;
aligning the block and the mold housing;
disposing a collimator mixture into the mold cavity; and
curing the collimator mixture to form an integrated scintillator and collimator. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9)
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10. A detector for a CT system, the detector comprising:
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an array of scintillation elements arranged to convert received x-rays to light;
a plurality of collimator elements integrally formed within an x-rays reception surface of the array of scintillation elements to collimate x-rays toward individual scintillation elements; and
an array of photodiode elements arranged to receive light emissions from the array of scintillation elements. - View Dependent Claims (11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16)
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17. An integrated scintillator and collimator array formed by the steps of:
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placing an array of pixilated scintillators on a tooling base;
positioning a collimator mold defining a plurality of cavities that extend to a top surface of the array adjacent;
disposing a combination of collimator material within the plurality of cavities; and
curing the collimator material. - View Dependent Claims (18, 19, 20, 21, 22)
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23. An apparatus for manufacturing an integrated scintillator and collimator, the apparatus comprising:
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a tooling base designed to support a block of scintillating material;
a mold to be positioned on the block of scintillating material;
an alignment mechanism to align the block and the mold in an aligned arrangement;
a mold evacuator designed to remove air from cavities in the mold; and
a collimator mixture supply to supply collimator material to the mold. - View Dependent Claims (24, 25, 26, 27, 28, 29)
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30. A system to manufacture an integrated scintillator and collimator, the system comprising:
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means for positioning a block of scintillator pack on a tooling base;
means for positioning a collimator mold over the block;
means for aligning the block and the collimator mold;
means for removing air cavities from the mold;
means for disposing a collimator material into a volume previously occupied by the removed air cavities; and
means for curing the collimator material to form an integrated scintillator and collimator.
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Specification