CT detector having a segmented optical coupler and method of manufacturing same
First Claim
Patent Images
1. A CT system, comprising:
- a rotatable gantry having a bore centrally disposed therein;
a table movable fore and aft through the bore and configured to position a subject for CT data acquisition;
a high frequency electromagnetic energy projection source positioned within the rotatable gantry and configured to project high frequency electromagnetic energy toward the subject; and
a detector array disposed within the rotatable gantry and configured to detect high frequency electromagnetic energy projected by the projection source and impinged by the subject, wherein the detector array comprises;
a plurality of scintillators arranged in a scintillator array;
a plurality of photodiodes arranged in a photodiode array that comprises a light reception substantially planar surface; and
a 2D gridded light collimator plate array having a plurality of collimator plates that collectively define a plurality of light transmission cavities disposed between the plurality of scintillators and the plurality of photodiodes, the plurality of collimator plates formed of light reflective material and arranged such that each light transmission cavity is disposed entirely between the light reception substantially planar surface of the photodiode array and a light emission surface of a scintillator;
wherein the 2D gridded light collimator plate array extends to the light reception substantially planar surface of the photodiode array substantially without encroachment past the light reception substantially planar surface of the photodiode array.
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Abstract
The present invention is a directed to a CT detector for a CT imaging system that incorporates a segmented optical coupler between a photodiode array and a scintillator array. The segmented optical coupler also operates as a light collimator which improves the light collection efficiency of the photodiode array. The segmented optical coupler is defined by a series of reflector elements that collectively form a plurality of open cells. The open cells form light transmission cavities and facilitate the collimation of light from a scintillator to a photodiode. The cavities may be filled with optical epoxy for sealing to the photodiode array.
82 Citations
29 Claims
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1. A CT system, comprising:
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a rotatable gantry having a bore centrally disposed therein; a table movable fore and aft through the bore and configured to position a subject for CT data acquisition; a high frequency electromagnetic energy projection source positioned within the rotatable gantry and configured to project high frequency electromagnetic energy toward the subject; and a detector array disposed within the rotatable gantry and configured to detect high frequency electromagnetic energy projected by the projection source and impinged by the subject, wherein the detector array comprises; a plurality of scintillators arranged in a scintillator array; a plurality of photodiodes arranged in a photodiode array that comprises a light reception substantially planar surface; and a 2D gridded light collimator plate array having a plurality of collimator plates that collectively define a plurality of light transmission cavities disposed between the plurality of scintillators and the plurality of photodiodes, the plurality of collimator plates formed of light reflective material and arranged such that each light transmission cavity is disposed entirely between the light reception substantially planar surface of the photodiode array and a light emission surface of a scintillator; wherein the 2D gridded light collimator plate array extends to the light reception substantially planar surface of the photodiode array substantially without encroachment past the light reception substantially planar surface of the photodiode array. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16)
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17. A CT scanner having a detector array designed to convert received x-rays to electrical signals that can be processed to reconstruct a CT image, the detector array comprising:
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a scintillator array; a photodiode array that comprises a light reception substantially planar surface; and a light collimator array formed between the scintillator array and the photodiode array, the light collimator array arranged to sit atop the light reception substantially planar surface of the photodiode array, substantially without encroachment past the light reception substantially planar surface of the photodiode array, and define a single optical transmission window between an aligned scintillator and an aligned photodiode, wherein the light collimator array is defined by a 2D grid of collimator plates, each collimator plate including light reflective material. - View Dependent Claims (18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23)
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24. A CT detector, comprising:
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a plurality of scintillators arranged in an array to receive x-rays and output light in response to the reception of x-rays; a plurality of reflector elements with a single reflector element disposed between adjacent scintillators; a plurality of light detection elements arranged in an array to output electrical signals in response to light detected from the plurality of scintillators wherein the array of the plurality of light detection elements comprises a light reception substantially planar surface; and a 2D gridded light collimator plate optical coupler that permits transmission of light between the plurality of scintillators and the plurality of light detection elements and secures the plurality of scintillators to the plurality of light detection elements, wherein the 2D gridded light collimator plate optical coupler comprises a plurality of light transmission cavities defined by light collimator plates disposed between the plurality of scintillators and the light reception substantially planar surface of the array of the plurality of light detection elements; wherein the 2D gridded light collimator plate optical coupler extends to the light reception substantially planar surface of the array of the plurality of light detection elements substantially without encroachment past the light reception substantially planar surface of the array of the plurality of light detection elements. - View Dependent Claims (25, 26, 27, 28, 29)
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Specification