Support assembly for scintillating crystal
First Claim
1. An apparatus for use with a gamma camera detector assembly having an array of photodetectors in optical communication with a layer of scintillating material which emits light in response to incident radiation, the apparatus comprising:
- a sheet of light transmissive material having first and second opposed surfaces, the first surface being adapted to support the layer of scintillating material; and
a unitary member which defines a corresponding array of apertures adapted to allow light emitted by the scintillating material to be received by the array of photodetectors, the member being rigidly attached to the second surface of the sheet of light transmissive material.
1 Assignment
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
A gamma camera includes at least one detector assembly 10. The detector assembly includes an array of photomultiplier tubes, a sheet of scintillating crystal material, a sheet of optical glass, and a matrix of mu-metal material. The mu-metal matrix defines an array of apertures corresponding to the array of photomultiplier tubes into which apertures the photomultiplier tubes are inserted. The scintillating crystal is bonded to the first surface of the optical glass. The mu-metal matrix is connected to the second surface of the sheet of optical glass using an adhesive such as an epoxy cement. By integrating the metal matrix into the structure formed by the glass sheet and the crystal, the glass sheet may be made thinner than before while the crystal is supported against possible bending and consequent fracture.
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Citations
24 Claims
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1. An apparatus for use with a gamma camera detector assembly having an array of photodetectors in optical communication with a layer of scintillating material which emits light in response to incident radiation, the apparatus comprising:
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a sheet of light transmissive material having first and second opposed surfaces, the first surface being adapted to support the layer of scintillating material; and a unitary member which defines a corresponding array of apertures adapted to allow light emitted by the scintillating material to be received by the array of photodetectors, the member being rigidly attached to the second surface of the sheet of light transmissive material. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9)
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10. In a gamma camera detector assembly of the type having
a scintillator crystal having a first generally planar surface; -
an array of photomultiplier tubes in optical communication with the scintillator crystal; a sheet of light transmissive material disposed between the scintillator crystal and the array of photomultiplier tubes, the sheet having first and second opposed, generally planar surfaces, the first surface of the sheet supporting the first surface of the crystal; and a mu-metal matrix which defines an array of apertures corresponding to the array of photomultiplier tubes, each of the photomultiplier tubes being inserted in one of the apertures; the improvement characterized in that the mu-metal matrix resists flexure of the sheet of light transmissive material along an axis normal to the sheet of light transmissive material. - View Dependent Claims (11, 12)
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13. A gamma camera comprising first and second detectors mounted about an examination region for detecting gamma radiation emanating therefrom, the first and second detectors each comprising:
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a scintillator crystal which emits light in response to incident radiation, the crystal having opposed first and second surfaces, the first surface facing the examination region; a sheet of light transmissive material having opposed first and second surfaces, the first surface of the sheet of light transmissive material facing the second surface of the crystal; a unitary member defining a plurality of apertures having axes normal to the second surface of the sheet of light transmissive material; a plurality of photodetectors in optical communication with the crystal, the apertures allowing light emitted by the scintillator crystal to be received by the photodetectors; means for rigidly affixing the member to the second surface of the sheet of light transmissive material, whereby the member resists flexure of the sheet. - View Dependent Claims (14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20)
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21. A method of assembling a sheet of optical glass having first and second opposed surfaces, the first surface being adapted to support a layer of scintillating material, and an unitary mu-metal member, the method comprising the steps of
placing unitary mu-metal member which defines an array of apertures adapted to receive a corresponding array of photomultiplier tubes in contact with the second surface of the optical glass; - and
attaching the unitary mu-metal member to the optical glass. - View Dependent Claims (22, 23, 24)
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Specification