Ct detector having a segmented optical coupler and method of manufacturing same
AssigneeGeneral Electric Company
InventorsDavid Hoffman, Michael Hoge
Life of this patent
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Abstract
The present invention is a directed to a CT detector for a CT imaging system that incorporates a segmented optical coupler between a photodiode array and a scintillator array. The segmented optical coupler also operates as a light collimator which improves the light collection efficiency of the photodiode array. The segmented optical coupler is defined by a series of reflector elements that collectively form a plurality of open cells. The open cells form light transmission cavities and facilitate the collimation of light from a scintillator to a photodiode. The cavities may be filled with optical epoxy for sealing to the photodiode array.
Claims20
A CT system, comprising:
- a rotatable gantry having a bore centrally disposed therein;
- a table movable fore and aft through the bore and configured to position a subject for CT data acquisition;
- a high frequency electromagnetic energy projection source positioned within the rotatable gantry and configured to project high frequency electromagnetic energy toward the subject;
- and
- a detector array disposed within the rotatable gantry and configured to detect high frequency electromagnetic energy projected by the projection source and impinged by the subject, wherein the detector array comprises:
- a plurality of scintillators arranged in a scintillator array;
- a plurality of photodiodes arranged in a photodiode array;
- and
- a 2D gridded light collimator plate array having a plurality of collimator plates that collectively define a plurality of light transmission cavities disposed between the plurality of scintillators and the plurality of photodiodes, the plurality of collimator plates formed of light reflective material and arranged such that each light transmission cavity is disposed entirely between a light reception surface of a photodiode and a light emission surface of a scintillator.
A CT scanner having a detector array designed to convert received x-rays to electrical signals that can be processed to reconstruct a CT image, the detector array comprising:
- a scintillator array;
- a photodiode array;
- and
- a light collimator array formed between the scintillator array and the photodiode array, the light collimator array arranged to sit atop a light reception surface of the photodiode array and define a single optical transmission window between an aligned scintillator and an aligned photodiode, wherein the light collimator array is defined by a 2D grid of collimator plates, each collimator plate including light reflective material.
A CT detector, comprising:
- a plurality of scintillators arranged in an array to receive x-rays and output light in response to the reception of x-rays;
- a plurality of reflector elements with a single reflector element disposed between adjacent scintillators;
- a plurality of light detection elements arranged in an array to output electrical signals in response to light detected from the plurality of scintillators;
- and
- a 2D gridded light collimator plate optical coupler that permits transmission of light between the plurality of scintillators and the plurality of light detection elements and secures the plurality of scintillators to the plurality of light detection elements, wherein the 2D gridded light collimator plate optical coupler comprises a plurality of light transmission cavities defined by light collimator plates disposed between the plurality of scintillators and the plurality of light detection elements.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.