Direct conversion energy discriminating CT detector with over-ranging correction
First Claim
Patent Images
1. A CT scanner comprising:
- a rotatable gantry having an opening to receive an object to be scanned;
an x-ray source configured to project x-ray photons toward the object;
a detector array having a plurality of detectors designed to provide energy sensitive output in response to detected x-ray photons, the energy sensitive output separately indicating at least one of a number of x-ray photons detected or an energy level of x-ray photons detected;
a data acquisition system (DAS) connected to the detector array and configured to receive the detector outputs;
an image reconstructor connected to the DAS and configured to reconstruct an image of the object from the detector outputs received by the DAS; and
means for determining an output for a given detector of the detector array when a portion of the given detector has reached an x-ray saturation state.
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Abstract
A CT detector capable of energy discrimination and direct conversion is disclosed. The detector includes multiple layers of semiconductor material with the layers having varying thicknesses. The detector is constructed to be segmented in the x-ray penetration direction so as to optimize count rate performance as well as avoid saturation. The detector also includes variable pixel pitch and a flexible binning of pixels to further enhance count rate performance.
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Citations
12 Claims
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1. A CT scanner comprising:
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a rotatable gantry having an opening to receive an object to be scanned; an x-ray source configured to project x-ray photons toward the object; a detector array having a plurality of detectors designed to provide energy sensitive output in response to detected x-ray photons, the energy sensitive output separately indicating at least one of a number of x-ray photons detected or an energy level of x-ray photons detected; a data acquisition system (DAS) connected to the detector array and configured to receive the detector outputs; an image reconstructor connected to the DAS and configured to reconstruct an image of the object from the detector outputs received by the DAS; and means for determining an output for a given detector of the detector array when a portion of the given detector has reached an x-ray saturation state. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11)
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12. A shared detector CT/SPECT scanner comprising:
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a rotatable gantry having an opening to receive an object to be scanned; an x-ray source configured to project x-ray photons toward the object; an interchangeable collimator to provide focus either for radiation emission from the object or a focal spot of the x-ray source; a detector array having a plurality of detectors designed to provide energy sensitive output in response to detected x-ray photons, the energy sensitive output separately indicating at least one of a number of x-ray photons detected or an energy level of x-ray photons detected; a data acquisition system (DAS) connected to the detector array and configured to receive the detector outputs; an image reconstructor connected to the DAS and configured to reconstruct an image of the object from the detector outputs received by the DAS; and means for determining an output for a given detector of the detector array when a portion of the given detector has reached an x-ray saturation state.
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Specification