US 12,007,513 B2 · Method and apparatus for improved photosensor light collection in a radiation detector

Abstract

A method and apparatuses for a radiation detector apparatus, comprising a scintillator array comprising a plurality of scintillator crystals. The plurality of scintillator crystals includes a first scintillator crystal and a second scintillator crystal adjacent to the first scintillator crystal within the scintillator array. A photosensor array comprising a plurality of photosensors including a first photosensor configured to detect photons from the first scintillator crystal. A first separator positioned between the first scintillator crystal and the second scintillator crystal. First separator optically separates the first scintillator crystal and the second scintillator crystal such that the first photosensor detects photons from the first scintillator crystal and not from the second scintillator crystal.

Claims14

Dependent claims

A radiation detector apparatus, comprising:

a scintillator array comprising a first scintillator crystal and a plurality of second scintillator crystals adjacent to the first scintillator crystal within the scintillator array;
a photosensor array comprising a first photosensor which is coupled in a one-to-one relationship with the first scintillator crystal;
a light-guide positioned between the scintillator array and the photosensor array;
and
a first separator positioned between the first scintillator crystal and the plurality of second scintillator crystals, positioned between the first scintillator crystal and the plurality of second scintillator crystals within the light-guide, and positioned around the first photosensor, wherein the first separator is an optical reflector.

2 more elements

A medical image diagnosis apparatus comprising:

a scintillator array comprising a first scintillator crystal and a plurality of second scintillator crystals adjacent to the first scintillator crystal within the scintillator array;
a photosensor array comprising a first photosensor which is coupled in a one-to-one relationship with the first scintillator crystal;
a light-guide positioned between the scintillator array and the photosensor array;
and
a first separator positioned between the first scintillator crystal and the plurality of second scintillator crystals, positioned between the first scintillator crystal and the plurality of second scintillator crystals within the light-guide, and positioned around the first photosensor, wherein the first separator is an optical reflector.

2 more elements

A method of an improved photosensor light collection, the method comprising:

receiving incident radiation by a scintillator array comprising a first scintillator crystal and a plurality of second scintillator crystals adjacent to the first scintillator crystal within the scintillator array,
detecting photons by a photosensor array from the first scintillator crystal, wherein the photosensor array comprising a first photosensor which is coupled in a one-to-one relationship with the first scintillator crystal,
wherein a first separator positioned between the first scintillator crystal and the plurality of second scintillator crystals, positioned between the first scintillator crystal and the plurality of second scintillator crystals within a light-guide, and positioned around the first photosensor, wherein the first separator is an optical reflector.

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.

Method and apparatus for improved photosensor light collection in a radiation detector

Life of this patent

Method and apparatus for improved photosensor light collection in a radiation detector

Life of this patent

Abstract

Claims14