COLLIMATOR ASSEMBLY FOR COMPUTED TOMOGRAPHY SYSTEM

• US 20040227092A1
• Filed: 05/13/2003
• Published: 11/18/2004
• Est. Priority Date: 05/13/2003
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: K-NFB Reading Technology Inc.
• Original Assignee: GE Medical Systems Global Technology Company LLC (GE Healthcare Technologies, Inc.)
• Inventors: Kappel, Mark A., Ratzmann, Paul Michael
• Granted Patent: US 7,655,915 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 250/367
• CPC Class Codes: G01T 1/1648 Ancillary equipment for scintillation cameras, e.g. reference markers, devices for removing motion artifacts, calibration devices adapted for flow studies G01T1/1647

Abstract

A detector assembly 18 for an imaging system 20 is provided comprising a plurality of scintillator elements 50 positioned within a scintillator pack 56. The scintillator pack 56 forms a scintillator pack upper surface 58 and a plurality of scintillator pack walls 60 positioned between the plurality of scintillator elements 50. A plurality of collimator elements 64 are mounted on the scintillator pack upper surface 58. Each of the plurality of collimator elements 50 is comprised of a stack laminated base 66 mounted to the scintillator pack upper surface 58 and a cast upper wall 68 formed on the stack laminated base 66.

Claims

1. A detector assembly for an imaging system comprising:

a plurality of scintillator elements positioned within a scintillator pack, said scintillator pack forming a scintillator pack upper surface and a plurality of scintillator pack walls positioned between said plurality of scintillator elements;

a plurality of collimator elements mounted on said scintillator pack upper surface, each of said plurality of collimator elements comprising;

a stack laminated base mounted to said scintillator pack upper surface; and

a cast upper wall formed on said stack laminated base.

2. A detector assembly for an imaging system as described in claim 1, wherein said stack laminated base includes a stack lamination width, said cast upper wall includes a cast wall thickness, and said cast wall thickness is less than said stack lamination width.

3. A detector assembly for an imaging system as described in claim 1, wherein said cast upper wall can include a tapered cast width that decreases towards a cast upper edge.

4. A detector assembly for an imaging system as described in claim 3, wherein said cast upper wall includes an irregular surface.

5. A detector assembly for an imaging system as described in claim 1, wherein said cast upper wall comprises a thin wall with a substantially constant cast width.

6. A detector assembly for an imaging system as described in claim 1, wherein said cast upper wall is cast directly onto said stack laminated base.

7. A detector assembly for an imaging system as described in claim 1, wherein said stack lamination base includes a stack lamination width, said stack lamination base positioned to coincide with one of said scintillator pack walls.

8. A detector assembly for an imaging system as described in claim 7, further comprising:

a wall overlap defined between a side of said stack laminated base and a side of one of said scintillator elements, said stack lamination width minimizing said wall overlap.

9. A detector assembly for an imaging system as described in claim 1, wherein said scintillator pack comprises a cast reflector material.

10. A detector assembly for an imaging system as described in claim 1, further comprising:

a plurality of detector elements, each on said plurality of detector elements in communication with one of said plurality of scintillator elements.

11. A detector assembly for an imaging system as described in claim 1, wherein said stack laminated base is bonded directly to said scintillator pack upper surface.

12. A detector assembly for an imaging system comprising:

a plurality of scintillator elements positioned within a scintillator pack, said scintillator pack forming a scintillator pack upper surface;

a plurality of collimator elements mounted on said scintillator pack upper surface, each of said plurality of collimator elements comprising;

a stack laminated base mounted to said scintillator pack upper surface, said stack laminated base including a stack lamination width; and

a cast upper wall formed on said stack laminated base, said cast upper wall including a cast wall thickness, said cast wall thickness less than said stack lamination width.

13. A detector assembly for an imaging system as described in claim 12, wherein said cast upper wall can include a tapered cast width that decreases towards a cast upper edge.

14. A detector assembly for an imaging system as described in claim 12, wherein said cast upper wall includes an irregular surface.

15. A detector assembly for an imaging system as described in claim 12, wherein said stack lamination base includes a stack lamination width, said stack lamination base positioned to coincide with one of a plurality of scintillator pack walls.

16. A detector assembly for an imaging system as described in claim 12, further comprising:

a wall overlap defined between a side of said stack laminated base and a side of one of said scintillator elements, said stack lamination width minimizing said wall overlap.

17. A detector assembly for an imaging system as described in claim 12 wherein said stack laminated base is bonded directly to said scintillator pack upper surface.

18. A method of generating a detector assembly for an imaging systems comprising:

stack laminating a collimator base onto a scintillator pack upper surface;

casting a collimator upper wall onto said collimator base.

19. A method of generating a detector assembly as described in claim 18, further comprising:

controlling the height of a collimator element by adjusting the height of said collimator base.

20. A method of generating a detector assembly as described in claim 18, further comprising:

casting an irregular taper into said collimator upper wall.

21. A method of generating a detector assembly as described in claim 18, further comprising:

casting said collimator upper wall with a cast wall thickness less than a stack lamination width of said collimator base.