FLEXIBLE ANTISCATTER GRID

• US 20160247590A1
• Filed: 02/24/2015
• Published: 08/25/2016
• Est. Priority Date: 02/24/2015
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: CareStream Health Incorporated
• Original Assignee: CareStream Health Incorporated
• Inventors: Young, Ted G.
• Granted Patent: US 9,826,947 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 6/4291 the detector being combined with a grid or grating
• CPC Class Codes: G21K 1/02 using diaphragms, collimators
• CPC Class Codes: G21K 1/025 using multiple collimators, e.g. Bucky screens; other devices for eliminating undesired or dispersed radiation
• CPC Class Codes: G21K 1/10 Scattering devices; Absorbing devices; Ionising radiation filters

Abstract

An antiscatter grid for radiological imaging, the grid formed as a stack of two or more sheets having a flexible substrate, wherein each sheet has spaced-apart opaque cavities, each opaque cavity containing a radio-opaque material. The opaque cavities define a plurality of channels that extend through the sheets to allow ionizing radiation to pass therethrough. Magnets disposed along the sheets couple each sheet to one or more neighboring sheets of the stack.

Claims

1. An antiscatter grid for radiological imaging, the grid comprising:

a stack of two or more flexible sheets, wherein each sheet comprises;

(i) a plurality of spaced apart opaque cavities, each opaque cavity containing a radio-opaque material, wherein the opaque cavities define a plurality of channels extending through the sheets that are transmissive to ionizing radiation; and

(ii) a plurality of magnets that are disposed in or on each of the sheets to couple each sheet to one or more neighboring sheets of the stack.

2. The antiscatter grid of claim 1, wherein the plurality of channels converge toward a focal point.

3. The antiscatter grid of claim 1, wherein the plurality of magnets are formed in magnetic cavities in the sheets.

4. The antiscatter grid of claim 1, wherein the plurality of magnets include one or more electromagnets.

5. The antiscatter grid of claim 1, further comprising a bucky that is energizable to move and reposition the grid.

6. The antiscatter grid of claim 1, wherein the radio-opaque material comprises is selected from the group consisting of tungsten and lead.

7. The antiscatter grid of claim 3, wherein the plurality of magnets are formed by filling the magnetic cavities with a liquid magnetizable material and magnetizing the material after it sets.

8. The antiscatter grid of claim 1, wherein a major surface of one or more of the stacked sheets comprises a protective coating thereon.

9. The antiscatter grid of claim 1, wherein the opaque cavities are formed using a laser.

10. The antiscatter grid of claim 1, further comprising inter-sheet spacers that provide a different focal length for the grid as compared to the grid without inter-sheet spacers.

11. The antiscatter grid of claim 1, wherein the cavities are formed by simultaneously forming holes through a plurality of stacked sheet substrates.

12. The antiscatter grid of claim 1, wherein the cavities are formed while bending a sheet substrate over a radius.

13. The antiscatter grid of claim 1, wherein the cavities comprise a substantially uniform size and spacing.

14. The antiscatter grid of claim 1, wherein the cavities comprise varied size or spacing along one or more of the sheets.

15. The antiscatter grid of claim 1, wherein the grid is configured to be wrapped about a curved surface.

16. A radiological imaging system comprising:

an x-ray source;

an x-ray detector; and

a first antiscatter grid, the first antiscatter grid comprising a stack of two or more flexible sheets, each flexible sheet comprising;

a plurality of spaced-apart opaque cavities, wherein each opaque cavity contains a radio-opaque material, and wherein the plurality of opaque cavities define a plurality of radio-lucent channels extending through the grid; and

a plurality of magnets disposed along the sheet to couple the sheet to one or more neighboring sheets of the stack.

17. The system of claim 16, further comprising a transport assembly, the transport assembly energizable to move the antiscatter grid to a position in front of at least a portion of the detector and to a position behind at least a portion of the detector.

18. The system of claim 17, wherein the stack of two or more sheets are separated by one or more combs of wires as the transport assembly moves the antiscatter grid.

19. The system of claim 18, wherein the one or more combs of wires extend along one or more side edges of the antiscatter grid.

20. The system of claim 17, further comprising a second antiscatter grid, wherein the transport assembly is further energizable to move at least a portion of the second antiscatter grid to the position in front of the detector.