Flexible connectors for pet detectors
AssigneeKoninklijke Philips N.V.
InventorsJinling Liu, Bjoern Weissler, Steven R. Martin, Volkmar Schulz, Pierre Klaus Gebhardt, Peter Michael Jakob Dueppernbecker, Wolfgang Renz
Life of this patent
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Abstract
A PET or SPECT radiation detector module (50) includes an array of detectors (54, 58) and their associated processing circuitry are connected by a flexible cable having releasable connectors. A method of mounting and dismounting includes mounting a radiation detector array in a support structure in a diagnostic scanner, connecting one end of a flexible connector to the detector array, and connecting the other end of the flexible connector to its associated circuitry.
Claims20
A radiation detector module comprising:
- an array of radiation detectors which generate signals in response to receiving radiation events;
- associated processing circuitry which processes the signals;
- and
- a flexible connector connected between the radiation detectors and at least some of the associated processing circuitry.
A method of mounting a radiation detector array comprising:
- mounting a support structure which supports associated processing circuitry to a diagnostic scanner;
- connecting a first end of a flexible connector to a detector army;
- connecting a second end of the flexible connector to the associated circuitry.
A nuclear diagnostic imager comprising:
- a plurality of modules each including electronics and an array of radiation detectors;
- an annular structure around an imaging region;
- and
- a plurality of detector modules mounted to the annular structure, each module including:
- an array of radiation detectors which generate signals in response to receiving radiation events, the array of detectors being contained in a housing that forms a cooled volume around the array of radiation detectors;
- associated processing circuitry which processes the signals, the associated circuitry being located outside of the cooled volume;
- and
- a flexible connector between the radiation detectors and at least some of the associated processing circuitry which passes through an aperture in the housing.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.