Area detector array for computer tomography scanning system
First Claim
1. An area detector array for a CT scanning system, said detector array comprising:
- a. A substrate for supporting the detector array;
b. A plurality of photodiodes arranged on the substrate in a two-dimensional array;
c. means on said substrate for transmitting electrical signals generated by the photodiodes to signal processing means; and
d. A scintillator crystal assembly overlying and interfaced with said photodiode array, said crystal assembly comprising;
i. a plurality of individual scintillator crystals, andii. a set of alignment grids for arranging said scintillator crystals in a two-dimensional array corresponding to the photodiode array, wherein said alignment grids provide substantial dimensional stability to the detector array during operation of the scanning system,wherein each of said scintillator crystals is substantially aligned with and interfaced with a corresponding photodiode, and each crystal and photodiode pair is substantially electrically and optically isolated from the other crystal and photodiode pairs.
1 Assignment
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Accused Products
Abstract
A two-dimensional area detector array for a CT scanning system includes a set of alignment grids for aligning individual scintillator crystals with corresponding photodiodes and for preventing optical and electrical interference between adjacent photodiodes. The alignment grids thus facilitate efficient transfer of information from the scintillation crystals to the photodiodes and also permit the detector array to be constructed with many very small, very closely spaced individual detector elements. The alignment grids are preferably made of a substantially opaque material having a relatively low coefficient of thermal expansion. They provide a highly beneficial dimensional stability to the detector array under the typical operating conditions of the CT scanner.
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Citations
23 Claims
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1. An area detector array for a CT scanning system, said detector array comprising:
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a. A substrate for supporting the detector array; b. A plurality of photodiodes arranged on the substrate in a two-dimensional array; c. means on said substrate for transmitting electrical signals generated by the photodiodes to signal processing means; and d. A scintillator crystal assembly overlying and interfaced with said photodiode array, said crystal assembly comprising; i. a plurality of individual scintillator crystals, and ii. a set of alignment grids for arranging said scintillator crystals in a two-dimensional array corresponding to the photodiode array, wherein said alignment grids provide substantial dimensional stability to the detector array during operation of the scanning system, wherein each of said scintillator crystals is substantially aligned with and interfaced with a corresponding photodiode, and each crystal and photodiode pair is substantially electrically and optically isolated from the other crystal and photodiode pairs. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17)
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18. A method of making an area detector array for a CT scanning system, said method comprising the steps of:
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a. Providing a plurality of photodiodes and arranging said photodiodes in a two-dimensional array on a substrate; b. Establishing a signal transmitting path on said substrate and said photodiode array for transmitting electrical signals generated by said photodiodes to signal processing means; and c. providing a scintillator crystal assembly comprising; i. a plurality of individual scintillator crystals, and ii. a set of alignment grids for arranging said scintillator crystals in a two-dimensional array corresponding to the photodiode array, wherein said alignment grids provide substantial dimensional stability to the detector array during operation of the scanning system, and substantially aligning each of said scintillator crystals with a corresponding photodiode so that each crystal and photodiode pair is substantially electrically and optically isolated from the other crystal and photodiode pairs. - View Dependent Claims (19)
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20. In a CT scanning system including a radiation source, means for detecting radiation emitted from said source and providing signals representative of the detected radiation, means for moving said source and detecting means about and relative to an object to be scanned, means for supplying power to said radiation source, and means for processing said signals to acquire image data relating to said object being scanned, an area detector array comprises:
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a. A substrate for supporting the detector array; b. A plurality of photodiodes arranged on the substrate in a two-dimensional array; c. means on said substrate for transmitting electrical signals generated by the photodiodes to signal processing means; and d. A scintillator crystal assembly overlying and interfaced with said photodiode array, said crystal assembly comprising; i. a plurality of individual scintillator crystals, and ii. a set of alignment grids for arranging said scintillator crystals in a two-dimensional array corresponding to the photodiode array, wherein said alignment grids provide substantial dimensional stability to the detector array during operation of the scanning system, wherein each of said scintillator crystals is substantially aligned with and interfaced with a corresponding photodiode, and each crystal and photodiode pair is substantially electrically and optically isolated from the other crystal and photodiode pairs. - View Dependent Claims (21, 22, 23)
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Specification