# US 12,007,513 B2 · Method and apparatus for improved photosensor light collection in a radiation detector > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 12,007,513 B2 - Document ID: US12007513B2 - Status: Granted - Kind: B2 - Application number: 17/581,005 - Filed: 2022-01-21 - Published: 2023-07-27 - Granted: 2024-06-11 - Earliest claimed: 2022-01-21 - Assignees: Canon Medical Systems Corporation - Applicants: Canon Medical Systems Corporation - Inventors: Peng Peng; Yi Qiang; Xiaoli Li; Kent C. Burr; Manabu Teshigawara - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US12007513B2 ## CPC - G01T 1/1642: {using a scintillation crystal and position sensing photodetector arrays, e.g. ANGER cameras} - A61B 6/037: {Emission tomography} - A61B 6/4233: {using matrix detectors} - A61B 6/4258: {for detecting non x-ray radiation, e.g. gamma radiation (A61B6/037 takes precedence)} - G01T 1/1644: {using an array of optically separate scintillation elements permitting direct location of scintillations (G01T1/1645 takes precedence)} - G01T 1/2018: {Scintillation-photodiode combinations} - G01T 1/2985: {In depth localisation, e.g. using positron emitters; Tomographic imaging (longitudinal and transverse section imaging; apparatus for radiation diagnosis sequentially in different planes, steroscopic radiation diagnosis); (using external radiation sources A61B6/02)} - G01T: MEASUREMENT OF NUCLEAR OR X-RADIATION (radiation analysis of materials, mass spectrometry G01N23/00; tubes for determining the presence, intensity, density or energy of radiation or particles H01J47/00) - A61B: DIAGNOSIS; SURGERY; IDENTIFICATION (usefulness limited to only animals A61D) ## 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. ## Claims ### Claim 1 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. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The radiation detector apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the plurality of second scintillator crystals includes a second scintillator crystal and a third scintillator crystal, and wherein the first scintillator crystal and the second scintillator crystal are adjacent to each other in a first direction and the first scintillator crystal and the third scintillator crystal are adjacent to each other in a second direction perpendicular to the first direction. ### Claim 3 (depends on 2) The radiation detector apparatus according to claim 2, further comprising: a second separator positioned between the first scintillator crystal and the third scintillator crystal, wherein the second separator optically separates the first scintillator crystal and the third scintillator crystal such that the first photosensor detects photons from the first scintillator crystal and not from the third scintillator crystal. ### Claim 4 (depends on 1) The radiation detector apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the first separator is at least one of (a) a reflective layer cut into a light guide using laser dicing and (b) a reflective material selected from the group consisting of: a glass material, a resin material, deposited metallic silver, deposited aluminum, Teflon particles mixed with an adhesive material, and a reflective film. ### Claim 5 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. ### Claim 6 (depends on 5) The medical image diagnosis apparatus according to claim 5, wherein the plurality of second scintillator crystals includes a second scintillator crystal and a third scintillator crystal, and wherein the first scintillator crystal and the second scintillator crystal are adjacent to each other in a first direction and the first scintillator crystal and the third scintillator crystal are adjacent to each other in a second direction perpendicular to the first direction. ### Claim 7 (depends on 6) The medical image diagnosis apparatus according to claim 6, further comprising: a second separator positioned between the first scintillator crystal and the third scintillator crystal, wherein the second separator optically separates the first scintillator crystal and the third scintillator crystal such that the first photosensor detects photons from the first scintillator crystal and not from the third scintillator crystal. ### Claim 8 (depends on 5) The medical image diagnosis apparatus according to claim 5, wherein the first separator is at least one of (a) a reflective layer cut into a light guide using laser dicing and (b) a reflective material selected from the group consisting of: a glass material, a resin material, deposited metallic silver, deposited aluminum, Teflon particles mixed with an adhesive material, and a reflective film. ### Claim 9 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. ### Claim 10 (depends on 9) The method according to claim 9, wherein the plurality of second scintillator crystals includes a second scintillator crystal and a third scintillator crystal, and wherein the first scintillator crystal and the second scintillator crystal are adjacent to each other in a first direction and the first scintillator crystal and the third scintillator crystal are adjacent to each other in a second direction perpendicular to the first direction. ### Claim 11 (depends on 9) The method according to claim 9, wherein the first separator is at least one of (a) a reflective layer cut into a light guide using laser dicing and (b) a reflective material selected from the group consisting of a glass material, a resin material, deposited metallic silver, deposited aluminum, Teflon particles mixed with an adhesive material, and a reflective film. ### Claim 12 (depends on 1) The radiation detector apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the first separator is configured to optically separate the first scintillator crystal and the plurality of second scintillator crystals such that the first photosensor detects photons from the first scintillator crystal and not from the plurality of second scintillator crystals in the scintillator array. ### Claim 13 (depends on 5) The medical image diagnosis apparatus according to claim 5, wherein the first separator is configured to optically separate the first scintillator crystal and the plurality of second scintillator crystals such that the first photosensor detects photons from the first scintillator crystal and not from the plurality of second scintillator crystals in the scintillator array. ### Claim 14 (depends on 9) The method according to claim 9, wherein the first separator is configured to optically separate the first scintillator crystal and the plurality of second scintillator crystals such that the first photosensor detects photons from the first scintillator crystal and not from the plurality of second scintillator crystals in the scintillator array.