# US 2017/0285183 A1 · Scintillating glass pixelated imager > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 2017/0285183 A1 - Document ID: US20170285183A1 - Status: Published application - Kind: A1 - Application number: 15/089,422 - Filed: 2016-04-01 - Published: 2017-10-05 - Earliest claimed: 2016-04-01 - Assignees: Varian Medical Systems, Inc. - Applicants: Varian Medical Systems, Inc. - Inventors: Daniel Shedlock; Josh M. Star-Lack; Adam Wang - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US20170285183A1 ## CPC - G01T 1/20183: {Arrangements for preventing or correcting crosstalk, e.g. optical or electrical arrangements for correcting crosstalk} - G01T 1/2002: {Optical details, e.g. reflecting or diffusing layers} - G01T 1/247: {Detector read-out circuitry (for processing gain or off-set correction H04N)} - 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) ## Abstract In a method of making pixelated scintillators, a block of an amorphous scintillator material is divided into plural sections. The plural sections of the block are rejoined with plural first reflective septa to form an assembly. In the assembly, each of the plural first reflective septa separates two adjacent sections of the block. The assembly is then divided into plural sections in a way such that each of the plural sections of the block is divided into plural pixels. The plural sections of the assembly are rejoined with plural second reflective septa. Each of the plural second reflective septa separates two adjacent sections of the assembly, forming an array comprising plural rows and columns of pixels of the amorphous scintillator material. In the array, each pixel is separated from adjacent pixels by a portion of at least one of the plural first reflective septa and at least one of the second reflective septa. ## Claims ### Claim 1 A method of fabricating pixelated scintillators, comprising: dividing a block of an amorphous scintillator material into plural sections; rejoining the plural sections of the block with plural first reflective septa to form an assembly, wherein in the assembly each of the plural first reflective septa separates two adjacent sections of the block; dividing the assembly into plural sections, wherein the assembly is divided such that each of the plural sections of the block is divided into plural pixels; rejoining the plural sections of the assembly with plural second reflective septa to form an array, wherein in the array each of the plural second reflective septa separates two adjacent sections of the assembly thereby forming the array comprising plural rows and columns of pixels of the amorphous scintillator material, wherein each pixel is separated from adjacent pixels by a portion of at least one of the plural first reflective septa and at least one of the plural second reflective septa. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1, wherein the amorphous scintillator material comprises scintillating glass. ### Claim 3 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1, wherein the amorphous scintillator material comprises silicate or borate glass incorporated with one or more rare earth scintillation activators. ### Claim 4 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1, wherein the amorphous scintillator material comprises silicate or borate glass incorporated with terbium-, cerium- or europium-doped oxides. ### Claim 5 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1, wherein the amorphous scintillator material comprises scintillating nanospheres having a size significantly less than a wavelength of light emitted by the scintillating nanospheres. ### Claim 6 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1, wherein the amorphous scintillator material comprises poly vinyl toluene incorporated with a scintillating dopant material. ### Claim 7 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1, wherein the first and/or second reflective septa comprises a specular reflector. ### Claim 8 (depends on 7) The method of claim 7, wherein the first and/or second reflective septa comprises a same material. ### Claim 9 (depends on 7) The method of claim 7, wherein the specular reflector comprises aluminized polyethylene terephthalate (PET) or polyester. ### Claim 10 (depends on 7) The method of claim 7, wherein the specular reflector comprises silver, gold, and aluminum. ### Claim 11 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1, wherein the rejoining of the plural sections of the block with the plural first reflective septa comprises placing the plural first reflective septa in between the plural sections of the block and bonding the plural first reflective septa to the plural sections of the block using an adhesive. ### Claim 12 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1, wherein the rejoining of the plural sections of the block with the plural first reflective septa comprises applying a coating of the first reflective septa on the plural sections of the block, and bonding the plural sections of the block coated with the first reflective septa using an adhesive. ### Claim 13 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1, wherein the rejoining of the plural sections of the assembly with the plural second reflective septa comprises placing the plural second reflective septa in between the plural sections of the assembly and bonding the plural second reflective septa to the plural sections of the assembly using an adhesive. ### Claim 14 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1, wherein the rejoining of the plural sections of the assembly with the plural second reflective septa comprises applying a coating of the second reflective septa on the plural sections of the assembly, and bonding the plural sections of the assembly coated with the second reflective septa using an adhesive. ### Claim 15 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1, further comprising assembling a plurality of the arrays in a one-dimensional configuration to form a pixelated scintillator layer. ### Claim 16 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1, further comprising assembling a plurality of the arrays in a two-dimensional configuration to form a pixelated scintillator layer. ### Claim 17 An apparatus, comprising: a pixelated scintillator layer configured to generate light photons from x-rays having energy at a megavolt level; and a detector array configured to produce electrical signals from light photons, wherein the pixelated scintillator layer comprises one or more arrays each comprising plural rows and columns of pixels of an amorphous scintillator material, wherein each pixel is separated from adjacent pixels by a reflective septum. ### Claim 18 (depends on 17) The apparatus of claim 17, wherein the reflective septum comprises a specular reflector. ### Claim 19 (depends on 17) The apparatus of claim 17, wherein each of the pixels of the amorphous scintillator material is rectangular or square in cross-section. ### Claim 20 (depends on 17) The apparatus of claim 17, wherein the pixelated scintillator layer has a pixel pitch ranging from about 0.05 mm to about 40 mm. ### Claim 21 (depends on 17) The apparatus of claim 17, wherein the pixelated scintillator layer has an aspect ratio ranging from about 1:1 to about 50:1. ### Claim 22 (depends on 17) The apparatus of claim 17, wherein the detector array comprises a thin film transistor (TFT) flat panel. ### Claim 23 (depends on 17) The apparatus of claim 17, wherein the pixelated scintillator layer comprises more arrays arranged in a one-dimensional configuration. ### Claim 24 (depends on 17) The apparatus of claim 17, wherein the pixelated scintillator layer comprises more arrays arranged in a two-dimensional configuration. ### Claim 25 A system, comprising: a radiation source operable to produce x-rays having energy at a megavolt level; and an imaging device operable to acquire images using the x-rays produced by the radiation source, wherein the imaging device comprises: a pixelated scintillator layer configured to generate light photons from the x-rays produced by the radiation source; and a detector array producing electrical signals from the light photons, wherein the pixelated scintillator layer comprises plural rows and columns of pixels of an amorphous scintillator material, and wherein each of the pixels is separated from adjacent pixels by a reflective septum. ### Claim 26 (depends on 25) The system of claim 25, wherein the radiation source and the imaging device are operable to conduct cone-beam computed tomography (CBCT). ### Claim 27 (depends on 25) The system of claim 25, wherein the radiation source is operable to produce x-rays having an energy level ranging from 4 to 25 MV. ### Claim 28 (depends on 25) The system of claim 25, wherein the reflective septum comprises a specular reflector. ### Claim 29 (depends on 28) The system of claim 28, wherein the specular reflector comprises aluminized polyethylene terephthalate (PET) or polyester. ### Claim 30 (depends on 25) The system of claim 25, wherein the pixelated scintillator layer has a pixel pitch ranging from about 0.05 mm to about 40 mm. ### Claim 31 (depends on 25) The system of claim 25, wherein the pixelated scintillator layer has an aspect ratio ranging from about 1:1 to about 50:1.