Laminate radiation collimator
First Claim
1. A radiation collimator defining a plurality of spaced apart radiation transmissive paths separated by radiation absorbent regions for suppressing intercepted radiation other than intercepted radiation which is traveling along said plurality of paths, wherein said collimator is comprised of a plurality of sheets of material each extending across said plurality of paths, each of said sheets of material being formed of a lamination of radiation transmissive material having a lamination of radiation absorbent material on at least one surface, said lamination of radiation absorbent material of each of said sheets being transpierced by a plurality of spaced apart radiation transmissive passages, corresponding ones of said passages of each of said laminations of radiation absorbent material being aligned to establish said radiation transmissive paths of said collimator.
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Accused Products
Abstract
A collimator (21, 38, 38A) transmits intercepted X rays or the like along an array of predetermined spaced apart paths (22, 22A), which may be parallel or convergent, while absorbing intercepted radiation which is traveling in other directions. A laminated construction of the collimator provides for an extremely large number of very minute and closely spaced radiation passages (42, 42A) which may have a noncircular cross section to increase transmissivity. The laminated construction also reduces the amount of heavy and sometimes costly radiation absorbent material required in the collimator, enables precise control of the transmitted radiation paths and facilitates the establishing of a desired focal point for the paths. Photoetching techniques, including optical image reduction, are used in the manufacture of the collimator laminations. In some variations of the method, the radiation absorbent material is plated onto the laminations.
80 Citations
12 Claims
- 1. A radiation collimator defining a plurality of spaced apart radiation transmissive paths separated by radiation absorbent regions for suppressing intercepted radiation other than intercepted radiation which is traveling along said plurality of paths, wherein said collimator is comprised of a plurality of sheets of material each extending across said plurality of paths, each of said sheets of material being formed of a lamination of radiation transmissive material having a lamination of radiation absorbent material on at least one surface, said lamination of radiation absorbent material of each of said sheets being transpierced by a plurality of spaced apart radiation transmissive passages, corresponding ones of said passages of each of said laminations of radiation absorbent material being aligned to establish said radiation transmissive paths of said collimator.
- 9. A radiation collimator comprising a plurality of spaced apart collimating laminations formed at least in part of radiation absorbent material, each of said collimating laminations having an array of spaced apart radiation transmissive passages through said radiation absorbent material, corresponding passages of successive ones of said collimating laminations being aligned to define a plurality of spaced apart radiation paths through said collimator, and a plurality of spacer laminations alternated with said collimating laminations along said radiation paths, said spacer laminations being flat sheets of radiation transmissive material extending in parallel relationship with said collimating laminations and being in contact therewith.
Specification