Beam-oriented pixellated scintillators for radiation imaging
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Publication Number
US-7692156-B1
Publication Date
2010-04-06
Expiration Date
Abstract
The present invention provides radiation detectors and methods, including radiation detection devices having beam-oriented scintillators capable of high-performance, high resolution imaging, methods of fabricating scintillators, and methods of radiation detection. A radiation detection device includes a beam-oriented pixellated scintillator disposed on a substrate, the scintillator having a first pixel having a first pixel axis and a second pixel having a second pixel axis, wherein the first and second axes are at an angle relative to each other, and wherein each axis is substantially parallel to a predetermined beam direction for illuminating the corresponding pixel.
Core Innovation
The invention relates to a radiation detection device that includes a two-dimensional, beam-oriented monolithic pixellated scintillator. The scintillator has pixels where each pixel has a pixel axis that is oriented to substantially match a predetermined illumination direction of a radiation beam reaching the pixel, and at least one pixel axis is at an angle relative to another pixel axis.
A related approach is provided for fabricating the beam-oriented pixellated scintillator by forming a plurality of grooves in a slab of scintillator material. The grooves form an array of pixels, and the pixel axes are oriented to substantially match predetermined illumination directions of radiation beams reaching the pixels, with at least one pixel axis oriented at an angle relative to another pixel axis in the array.
The invention is further applied to radiation detection and imaging architectures that use the beam-oriented pixellated scintillator. In an X-ray imaging device, the invention combines a beam-oriented pixellated scintillator imaging plate with an X-ray source spaced from the imaging plate, and the invention also includes a radiation-detection method in which a target is positioned within a field of view of a beam-oriented pixellated monolithic scintillator detector to detect emissions or absorption from the target.
Claims Coverage
The provided material contains six independent claims. Across these claims, the main inventive features are beam-oriented pixel axes in a two-dimensional monolithic pixellated scintillator, with angled pixel axes, and in some independent claims a spaced collimator arrangement, an X-ray source spaced from an imaging plate, fabrication by forming grooves in a scintillator slab, and target positioning within a detector field of view.
Beam-oriented monolithic pixellated scintillator with angled pixel axes
A two-dimensional beam-oriented monolithic pixellated scintillator with a first pixel axis and a second pixel axis at an angle relative to each other, where each axis is substantially parallel to a predetermined beam direction for illuminating the corresponding pixel.
Beam-oriented pixellated scintillator array with pixel axes matching illumination direction
A two-dimensional beam-oriented monolithic pixellated scintillator having an array of pixels, where each pixel axis is oriented to substantially match a predetermined illumination direction of a radiation beam reaching the pixel, and at least one pixel axis is at an angle relative to another pixel axis of the array.
Collimator spaced from the scintillator between source and scintillator with beam-oriented pixel axes
A two-dimensional pixellated monolithic scintillator with pixels that each comprise a pixel axis oriented substantially along a predetermined illumination direction of a radiation beam reaching the corresponding pixel, with at least one pixel having a pixel axis oriented at an angle relative to another pixel; and a collimator spaced from the scintillator and disposed between the radiation source and the scintillator.
X-ray imaging device with beam-oriented pixellated scintillator imaging plate and spaced X-ray source
An X-ray imaging device including a two-dimensional monolithic imaging plate comprising a beam-oriented pixellated scintillator with an array of pixels, where each pixel axis is oriented to substantially match a predetermined illumination direction of a radiation beam reaching the pixel, and at least one pixel has an axis at an angle relative to another pixel axis; and an X-ray source spaced from the imaging plate.
Fabrication of beam-oriented pixellated scintillator by forming grooves with angled pixel axes
A method of fabricating a beam-oriented pixellated scintillator by forming a plurality of grooves in a slab of scintillator material to form an array of pixels, where each pixel axis is oriented to substantially match a predetermined illumination direction of a radiation beam reaching the pixel and at least one pixel axis is at an angle relative to another pixel axis of the array.
Radiation detection method using a beam-oriented pixellated monolithic scintillator detector and target positioning
A method of performing radiation detection by providing a radiation detector with a two-dimensional beam-oriented pixellated monolithic scintillator having an array of pixels with pixel axes oriented to substantially match a predetermined illumination direction of a radiation beam reaching the pixels, where at least one pixel axis is at an angle relative to another pixel axis; and positioning a target within a field of view of the radiation detector to detect emissions or absorption from the target.
Across the independent claims, the core coverage centers on a two-dimensional beam-oriented monolithic pixellated scintillator or imaging plate where pixel axes are oriented to match predetermined illumination directions, including angled pixel axes within the array. Additional independent claim coverage includes a collimator spaced from the scintillator between the radiation source and scintillator, an X-ray imaging device arrangement with an X-ray source spaced from the imaging plate, a groove-based fabrication of the beam-oriented pixellated scintillator, and a radiation-detection method using target positioning within the detector field of view.
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