Devices, methods, and systems involving cast computed tomography collimators

• US 7,518,136 B2
• Filed: 10/29/2002
• Issued: 04/14/2009
• Est. Priority Date: 12/17/2001
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Raytheon Technologies Corporation d/b/a RTX (Rtx Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Tecomet, Inc.
• Inventors: Appleby, Michael, Fraser, Iain, Atkinson, James E.
• Primary Examiner(s): Vanore; David A.
• Application Number:
  US10/282,441
• Publication Number:
  US 20030128813A1
• Time in Patent Office: 2,359 Days
• Field of Search: 378/147, 378/149, 378/154, 378/155
• US Class Current: 250/505.1
• CPC Class Codes: B29C 33/3842 Manufacturing moulds, e.g. shaping the mould surface by machining
• CPC Class Codes: B29C 33/42 characterised by the shape of the moulding surface, e.g. ribs or grooves
• CPC Class Codes: B29C 39/021 by casting in several steps
• CPC Class Codes: B29C 39/34 for undercut articles
• CPC Class Codes: B29C 69/001 a shaping technique combined with cutting, e.g. in parts or slices combined with rearranging and joining the cut parts for reinforced material B29C70/545; B29C49/4278, B29C51/268 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: B29K 2083/00 Use of polymers having silicon, with or without sulfur, nitrogen, oxygen, or carbon only, in the main chain, as moulding material
• CPC Class Codes: G21K 1/02 using diaphragms, collimators

Abstract

Certain exemplary embodiments of the present invention comprise a device comprising a cast computed-tomography collimator descended from a lithographically-derived micro-machined metallic foil stack lamination mold. Certain exemplary embodiments of the present invention comprise a method comprising filling a mold having a stacked plurality of micro-machined metallic foil layers with a first casting material to form a first cast product; demolding the first cast product from the mold; filling the first cast product with a second casting material to form a cast computed-tomography collimator; and demolding the cast computed-tomography collimator from the first cast product. It is emphasized that this abstract is provided to comply with the rules requiring an abstract that will allow a searcher or other reader to quickly ascertain the subject matter of the technical disclosure. This abstract is submitted with the understanding that it will not be used to interpret or limit the scope or meaning of the claims.

Claims

1. A device, comprising:

a radiation attenuation device, including;

a cast monolithic material comprising a cured binder having a cavity defined by at least one wall with an aspect ratio of greater than 25;

1, said wall having a thickness of less than 100 microns;

said cast monolithic material further comprising

a first cast product demolded from a mold of a plurality of stacked micro-machined metallic foil layers filled with a first cast material; and

a second cast material,

wherein said first cast product is surrounded by said second cast material and solidified to form said cast monolithic material.

2. The device of claim 1, said radiation attenuation device defining a cell width of between approximately 25 and approximately 3000 microns.

3. The device of claim 1, said radiation attenuation device defining a cell width of between approximately 25 and approximately 2000 microns.

4. The device of claim 1, said radiation attenuation device defining a cell width of between approximately 25 and approximately 1000 microns.

5. The device of claim 1, said radiation attenuation device defining a wall height of up to 10,000 microns.

6. The device of claim 1, said radiation attenuation device defining a grid ratio of less than 4.

7. The device of claim 1, said radiation attenuation device defining a grid ratio of less than 8.

8. The device of claim 1, said radiation attenuation device defining a grid ratio of less than 12.

9. The device of claim 1, said radiation attenuation device defining a non-rectangular cell cross-sectional shape.

10. The device of claim 1, said radiation attenuation device defining a cell having a non-planar wall.

11. The device of claim 1, said cast monolithic material further comprising lead combined with a plurality of dense particles.

12. The device of claim 1, said cast monolithic material further comprising a lead alloy combined with a plurality of dense particles.

13. The device of claim 1, said cured binder comprising a polymer combined with a plurality of dense particles.

14. The device of claim 1, said cast monolithic material having a density of approximately 7.0 grams/cc to approximately 12.5 grams/cc.

15. The device of claim 1 wherein the cast monolithic material further comprises particles having a size ranging from 1 to 150 microns.

16. The device of claim 1 wherein the cured binder is a cured polymer.

17. The device of claim 1 wherein the cured binder is a cured epoxy.

18. The device of claim 1 wherein the cured binder is loaded with metallic powder.

19. The device of claim 1 wherein the one or more walls are configured to attenuate radiation.

20. The device of claim 1, wherein the plurality of micro-machined metallic foil layers are lithographically-derived.

21. The device of claim 1, wherein the plurality of micro-machined metallic foil layers are non-lithographically-derived.

22. A device, comprising:

a radiation attenuation device including;

a cast monolithic material comprising a cured binder having a cavity defined by at least one wall with an aspect ratio of greater than 25;

1 said cast monolithic material having a density of approximately 12.5 grams/cc to approximately 14 grams/cc;

said cast monolithic material further comprising

a first cast product demolded from a mold of a plurality of stacked micro-machined metallic foil layers filled with a first cast material; and

a second cast material,

wherein said first cast product is surrounded by said second cast material and solidified to form said cast monolithic material.

23. The device of claim 22, wherein the plurality of micro-machined metallic foil layers are non-lithographically-derived.

25. The device of claim 22, wherein the plurality of micro-machined metallic foil layers are lithographically-derived.

24. A device, comprising a radiation attenuation device including a cast monolithic material comprising a cured binder having a cavity defined by at least one wall with an aspect ratio of greater than 25:

1 said radiation attenuation device defining a cell width of between approximately 25 and approximately 250 microns;

said cast monolithic material further comprising

a first cast product demolded from a mold of a plurality of stacked micro-machined metallic foil layers filled with a first cast material; and

a second cast material,

wherein said first cast product is surrounded by said second cast material and solidified to form said cast monolithic material.