Scintillator having integrated collimator and method of manufacturing same
First Claim
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1. A method of manufacturing a detector having an integrated scintillator and collimator, the method comprising the steps of:
- positioning a block of scintillator pack on a tooling base;
positioning a collimator mold housing having a collimator mold cavity therein on the block;
aligning the block and the mold housing;
disposing a collimator mixture into the mold cavity; and
curing the collimator mixture to form an integrated scintillator and collimator.
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Abstract
The present invention is directed to an integrated scintillator and collimator array for a CT detector. The integrated scintillator and collimator are fabricated from a manufacturing process or technique whereupon an array of scintillator material is positioned on a tooling base such that a collimator mold housing having a collimator mold therein may be positioned on the block of scintillator material. The block and mold housing are then aligned allowing a collimator mixture to be disposed into the mold. The collimator mixture is then allowed to cure to form an integrated scintillator and collimator.
63 Citations
31 Claims
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1. A method of manufacturing a detector having an integrated scintillator and collimator, the method comprising the steps of:
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positioning a block of scintillator pack on a tooling base; positioning a collimator mold housing having a collimator mold cavity therein on the block; aligning the block and the mold housing; disposing a collimator mixture into the mold cavity; and curing the collimator mixture to form an integrated scintillator and collimator. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9)
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10. A detector comprising:
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an array of scintillation elements arranged to convert received x-rays to light; a plurality of collimator elements molded to an x-ray'"'"'s reception surface of the array of scintillation elements to collimate x-ray'"'"'s toward individual scintillation elements; and an array of photodiode elements arranged to receive light emissions from the array of scintillation elements. - View Dependent Claims (11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16)
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17. An integrated scintillator and collimator array formed by the steps of:
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placing an array of pixilated scintillators on a tooling base; positioning a collimator mold defining a plurality of cavities that extend adjacent to a top surface of the array; disposing a combination of collimator material within the plurality of cavities; and curing the collimator material. - View Dependent Claims (18, 19, 20, 21, 22)
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23. An apparatus for manufacturing an integrated scintillator and collimator, the apparatus comprising:
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a tooling base designed to support a block of scintillating material; a mold to be positioned on the block of scintillating material; an alignment mechanism to align the block and the mold in an aligned arrangement; and a collimator mixture supply to supply collimator material to the mold. - View Dependent Claims (24, 25, 26, 27, 28, 29, 30)
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31. A system to manufacture an integrated scintillator and collimator, the system comprising:
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means for positioning a block of scintillator pack on a tooling base; means for positioning a collimator mold over the block; means for aligning the block and the collimator mold; means for disposing a collimator material into the collimator mold; and means for curing the collimator material to form an integrated scintillator and collimator.
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Specification