Scintillation array method and apparatus
First Claim
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1. A scintillation array comprising:
- an array comprising a plurality of scintillation pixels, the array having a depth, a high energy end and a light exit end;
a light reflective material positioned within a space between at least some pairs of adjacent pixels along less than the full depth of the adjacent pixels; and
a solid transparent material adjacent to an end of the light reflective material.
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Abstract
In one aspect a scintillation array includes a transparent material between portions of adjacent scintillation pixels. The transparent material can allow light to pass from one scintillation pixel to an adjacent scintillation pixel. The resulting image provides information regarding the depth at which a scintillation event occurs. Another aspect regards a scintillation array that includes reflector strips separating portions of adjacent scintillation pixels. Other spaces between portions of scintillation pixels need not include reflector strips and may be filled with other reflective material.
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Citations
18 Claims
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1. A scintillation array comprising:
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an array comprising a plurality of scintillation pixels, the array having a depth, a high energy end and a light exit end; a light reflective material positioned within a space between at least some pairs of adjacent pixels along less than the full depth of the adjacent pixels; and a solid transparent material adjacent to an end of the light reflective material. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8)
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9. A method of detecting the position of a scintillation event comprising:
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irradiating an array of scintillation pixels with excitatory energy, the array comprising a first portion at a first end of the array and a second portion at a second end of the array; forming visible light within a first pixel as a result of a scintillation event; conducting at least 60% of the visible light formed in the first pixel within the first portion of the array to a photo detector associated with the first pixel; and transmitting at least 45% of the visible light formed in the first pixel within the second portion of the array to a photo detector that is not associated with the first pixel; detecting a light output pattern from the array; determining the position of the scintillation event by analyzing the light output pattern; analyzing an image of the light output pattern from a given scintillation pixel; determining the relative position of different light points within the pattern; and correlating the distance of a light point from the center of the image with the depth of interaction of the corresponding scintillation event. - View Dependent Claims (10, 11)
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12. A scintillation array comprising:
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a matrix of scintillating pixels arranged in rows and columns, the matrix having a depth from a first end to a second end; a first series of reflective strips, the strips having a first height less than the depth of the matrix, the strips separating the rows of the matrix; a second series of reflective strips having a second height less than the depth of the matrix, the strips separating the columns of the matrix; and a transparent polymer adjacent to the first series of reflective strips within the rows and the second series of reflective strips within the columns. - View Dependent Claims (13, 14)
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15. A scintillation array comprising:
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an array comprising a plurality of adjacent scintillation pixels, the array having a depth, a high energy end and a light exit end; and a separator disposed between adjacent pixels, wherein the separator comprises first portion comprising a light reflective material and a second portion comprising a solid transparent material. - View Dependent Claims (16, 17, 18)
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Specification