X-ray backscattering detector
AssigneeThe Boeing Company
InventorMorteza Safai
Life of this patent
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Abstract
Disclosed herein is a scintillator for use in an x-ray backscattering system. The scintillator comprises an inorganic scintillator portion made of inorganic scintillating material and comprising one or more inorganic material elements. Each inorganic material element of the one or more inorganic material elements comprises an outer surface, and an inner surface opposite the outer surface. The outer surface is configured to be proximate to a subject to be scanned, such that the outer surface is configured to receive x-ray photons scattered by the subject. The scintillator also comprises an organic scintillator portion made of an organic scintillating material and comprising a front surface. At least a portion of the front surface abuts the inner surface of at least one of the one or more inorganic material elements.
Claims20
A scintillator for use in an x-ray backscattering system, the scintillator comprising:
- an inorganic scintillator portion made of an inorganic scintillating material and comprising one or more inorganic material elements, wherein each inorganic material element of the one or more inorganic material elements comprises:
- an outer surface configured to be proximate to a subject to be scanned with the x-ray backscattering system, wherein the outer surface is configured to receive x-ray photons reflected from the subject;
- and
- an inner surface opposite the outer surface;
- and
- an organic scintillator portion made of an organic scintillating material and comprising a front surface, wherein at least a portion of the front surface abuts the inner surface of at least one of the one or more inorganic material elements;
- wherein:
- the inorganic scintillator portion further comprises a plurality of the inorganic material elements, spaced apart relative to each other;
- and
- the plurality of the inorganic material elements are disposed on corresponding spaced-apart first sections of the front surface of the organic scintillator portion, wherein second sections of the front surface of the organic scintillator portion are devoid of the inorganic material elements.
A method of manufacturing a scintillator, the method comprising:
- disposing a layer of organic scintillating material on a substrate, wherein:
- the layer of organic scintillating material, when disposed, comprises a back surface, directly adjacent to the substrate, and a front surface that is opposite the back surface;
- and
- the layer of organic scintillating material comprises a plurality of voids formed in the front surface;
- and
- disposing one or more inorganic material elements within one or more of the plurality of voids;
- wherein disposing a layer of organic scintillating material on a substrate comprises removing an amount of the organic scintillating material at a plurality of locations of the front surface, the removed amount of organic scintillating material defining the plurality of voids formed in the front surface.
A method of operating an x-ray backscattering system, the method comprising:
- transmitting, via an x-ray tube of the x-ray backscattering system, x-rays toward a subject;
- and
- detecting, via a scintillator of the x-ray backscattering system, one or more x-rays scattered by the subject;
- wherein the scintillator comprises:
- an inorganic scintillator portion made of an inorganic scintillating material and comprising one or more inorganic material elements, wherein each inorganic material element of the one or more inorganic material elements comprises:
- an outer surface facing the subject and an inner surface opposite the outer surface and facing away from the subject;
- and
- an organic scintillator portion made of an organic scintillating material and comprising a front surface, wherein at least a portion of the front surface abuts the inner surface of at least one of the one or more inorganic material elements, and wherein the inorganic scintillator portion is closer to the subject than the organic scintillator portion.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.