Energy discriminating scatter imaging system
First Claim
Patent Images
1. A specimen inspection system comprising:
- means for outputting photons along a transmission path;
means for translating a specimen completely through the transmission path;
a first set of photon detectors positioned at a first angle with respect to the transmission path;
a second set of photon detectors positioned at a second angle with respect to the transmission path, wherein;
the first and second sets of photon detectors are positioned to detect coherent and Compton scattered photons, respectively, scattered from the transmission path in response to interaction with the specimen passing therethrough, wherein the coherent and/or Compton scattered photons do not pass through a collimator prior to detecting the scattered photons by the first and/or second sets of photon detectors, respectively; and
means for determining from the detected scattered photons that a first material is present in the specimen, wherein;
the specimen comprises a plurality of material at least two of said plurality of materials, including the first material, block the passage of photons on the transmission path to approximately the same extent whereupon discrimination between said at least two materials based on photons exiting the specimen on the transmission path is prevented; and
the detected scattered photons are scattered in response to interaction with the first material.
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Abstract
A specimen inspection system includes a photon source for outputting photons along a transmission path and a conveyor for translating a specimen completely through the transmission path. A radiation detector is positioned offset with respect to the transmission path for detecting photons that are scattered from the transmission path in response to interaction with the specimen passing therethrough. A controller determines from the detected scattered photons that a first material is present in the specimen.
35 Citations
20 Claims
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1. A specimen inspection system comprising:
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means for outputting photons along a transmission path; means for translating a specimen completely through the transmission path; a first set of photon detectors positioned at a first angle with respect to the transmission path; a second set of photon detectors positioned at a second angle with respect to the transmission path, wherein; the first and second sets of photon detectors are positioned to detect coherent and Compton scattered photons, respectively, scattered from the transmission path in response to interaction with the specimen passing therethrough, wherein the coherent and/or Compton scattered photons do not pass through a collimator prior to detecting the scattered photons by the first and/or second sets of photon detectors, respectively; and means for determining from the detected scattered photons that a first material is present in the specimen, wherein; the specimen comprises a plurality of material at least two of said plurality of materials, including the first material, block the passage of photons on the transmission path to approximately the same extent whereupon discrimination between said at least two materials based on photons exiting the specimen on the transmission path is prevented; and the detected scattered photons are scattered in response to interaction with the first material. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8)
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9. A method of specimen inspection comprising:
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a) outputting photons along a transmission path; b) translating a specimen completely through the transmission path; c) detecting coherent scattered photons scattered from the transmission path in response to interaction with the specimen passing therethrough; d) detecting Compton scattered photons scattered from the transmission path in response to interaction with the specimen passing therethrough; e) wherein the photons scattered in said steps (c) and/or (d) are detected without passage of said scattered photons through a collimator; and f) determining from the detected scattered photons that a first material is present in the specimen, wherein; the specimen comprises a plurality of materials; at least two of said plurality of materials, including the first material, block the passage of photons on the transmission path to approximately the same extent whereupon discrimination between said at least two materials based on photons exiting the specimen on the transmission path is prevented; and the detected scattered photons are scattered in response to interaction with the first material. - View Dependent Claims (10, 11, 12)
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13. A specimen inspection system comprising:
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a combination radiation source and collimator for outputting photons along a fan shaped transmission path; a first set of photon detectors positioned at a first angle with respect to the transmission path for detecting photons scattered from the transmission path in response to interaction with a slice of a specimen defined by and disposed completely in the transmission path; a second set of photon detectors positioned at a second angle with respect to the transmission path for detecting photons scattered from the transmission path in response to interaction with a slice of a specimen defined by and disposed completely in the transmission path;
wherein;the first and second sets of photon detectors are positioned to detect coherent and Compton scattered photons, respectively, wherein the coherent and/or Compton scattered photons do not pass through a collimator prior to detecting the scattered photons by the first and/or second sets of photon detectors, respectively; and means for determining from the detected scattered photons that a first material is present in the specimen, wherein; the specimen comprises the first material and a second material that block the passage of photons on the transmission path to approximately the same extent whereupon discrimination between the first and second materials based on photons exiting the specimen on the transmission path is prevented; and the detected scattered photons are scattered in response to interaction with the first material. - View Dependent Claims (14, 15, 16)
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17. A specimen inspection system comprising:
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a) means for outputting photons along a transmission path; b) means for translating a specimen completely through the transmission path; c) a first set of photon detectors positioned at a first angle with respect to the transmission path; d) a second set of photon detectors positioned at a second angle with respect to the transmission path, wherein; the first and second sets of photon detectors are positioned to detect coherent and Compton scattered photons, respectively, scattered from the transmission path in response to interaction with the specimen passing therethrough; means for determining from the detected scattered photons that a first material is present in the specimen, wherein; the specimen comprises a plurality of materials; at least two of said plurality of materials, including the first material, block the passage of photons on the transmission path to approximately the same extent whereupon discrimination between said at least two materials based on photons exiting the specimen on the transmission path is prevented; the detected scattered photons are scattered in response to interaction with the first material; and e) a third set of photon detectors positioned at a third angle with respect to the transmission path, to detect any combination of coherent and Compton scattered photons. - View Dependent Claims (18)
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19. A specimen inspection system comprising:
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a) a combination radiation source and collimator for outputting photons along a fan shaped transmission path; b) a first set of photon detectors positioned at a first angle with respect to the transmission path for detecting photons scattered from the transmission path in response to interaction with a slice of a specimen defined by and disposed completely in the transmission path; c) a second set of photon detectors positioned at a second angle with respect to the transmission path for detecting photons scattered from the transmission path in response to interaction with a slice of a specimen defined by and disposed completely in the transmission path;
wherein;the first and second sets of photon detectors are positioned to detect coherent and Compton scattered photons, respectively; and means for determining from the detected scattered photons that a first material is present in the specimen, wherein; the specimen comprises the first material and a second material that block the passage of photons on the transmission path to approximately the same extent whereupon discrimination between the first and second materials based on photons exiting the specimen on the transmission path is prevented; the detected scattered photons are scattered in response to interaction with the first material; and d) a third set of photon detectors positioned at a third angle with respect to the transmission path, to detect any combination of coherent and Compton scattered photons. - View Dependent Claims (20)
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Specification