Method of fabricating scintillators for computed tomograph system

• US 6,245,184 B1
• Filed: 11/26/1997
• Issued: 06/12/2001
• Est. Priority Date: 11/26/1997
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: General Electric Company
• Original Assignee: General Electric Company
• Inventors: Schedler, Matthew, Riedner, Robert J.
• Primary Examiner(s): YAO, SAMCHUAN CUA
• Application Number:
  US08/977,441
• Time in Patent Office: 1,294 Days
• Field of Search: 156/259, 156/250, 156/299, 156/246, 156/247, 156/264, 156/344, 250/361.R
• US Class Current: 156/247
• CPC Class Codes: G01T 1/2002 Optical details, e.g. reflecting or diffusing layers
• CPC Class Codes: G01T 1/202 the detector being a crystal
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 156/1052 with cutting, punching, tearing or severing
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 156/1067 Continuous longitudinal slitting
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 156/1961 Severing delaminating means [e.g., chisel, etc.]

Abstract

A method of fabricating scintillators using a inside diameter saw is described. The inner diameter saw includes a blade having a diamond coated inner circumference cutting edge. In one embodiment, a plurality of scintillators are stacked and cut with the ID saw to form a plurality of first bars. The first bars are placed in a fixture creating a gap which is filled with a cast reflector material. The first bars are then cut with the ID saw at a 90 degree angle to the pieces creating second bars. The second bars are placed in a fixture and spaced to create second gaps similar to the first gaps. The second gaps are filled similar to the first gaps with a cast reflector material forming scintillator array. The described method minimizes the number of handling operations, therefore saving time.

Claims

1. A method for fabricating scintillators for a computed tomograph system using an inner diameter saw, the inner diameter saw having a blade with an inner circumference cutting edge, said method comprising the steps of:

temporarily adhesively bonding a plurality of scintillators to form a stack,

cutting the stack into a plurality of first bar stacks with the inside diameter saw cutting edge; and

after said cutting, breaking the temporary adhesive bond and separating the first bar stacks into individual first bars.

2. A method in accordance with claim 1 wherein the scintillators are temporally bonded together using a low melting point adhesive.

3. A method in accordance with claim 1 wherein the scintillators are polycrystalline ceramic scintillators.

4. A method in accordance with claim 1 wherein the scintillators are single crystal scintillators.

5. A method in accordance with claim 1 further comprising the steps of:

placing the first bars in a fixture spaced by gaps;

bonding the first bars into a first bar array; and

casting a reflector material on the first bar surfaces and into the gaps.

6. A method in accordance with claim 5 wherein cutting the first bars into a desired size array comprises the steps of:

cutting the first bar array into a plurality of second bars with the inside diameter saw cutting edge;

placing the second bars in a fixture spaced by second gaps; and

casting a reflector material on the second bar surfaces and into the second gaps.

7. A method in accordance with claim 5 wherein cutting the first bars into a desired size array comprises the steps of:

placing a plurality of first bar arrays into a second stack;

cutting the second stack into a plurality of second bar stacks with the inside diameter saw cutting edge;

separating the second bar stacks into a plurality of second bars;

placing the second bars in a fixture spaced by second gaps; and

casting a reflector material on the second bar surfaces and into the second gaps.

8. A method in accordance with claim 5 wherein the desired size array has scintillator elements having dimensions of X by Y by Z, where X is about 1 mm, Y is about 3 mm, and Z is about 2 mm.

9. A method in accordance with claim 1 further comprising the steps of:

placing the first bar stacks into a fixture;

spacing the first bar stacks in an array; and

casting a reflector material on surfaces of the first bar stacks.

10. A method in accordance with claim 9 wherein spacing the bars in an array creates a plurality of gaps.

11. A method in accordance with claim 10 wherein the gap has a thickness in a range of between about 0.5 and 6 mils.