# US 2021/0278352 A1 · Tunnel computerised tomographic scanner and method for acquiring images from a scintillator of a tunnel computerised tomography scanner > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 2021/0278352 A1 - Document ID: US20210278352A1 - Status: Published application - Kind: A1 - Application number: 17/259,869 - Filed: 2020-01-31 - Published: 2021-09-09 - Earliest claimed: 2019-02-04 - Assignees: Microtec S.R.L. - Applicants: Microtec S.R.L. - Inventors: MARCO BOSCHETTI; ENRICO URSELLA - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US20210278352A1 ## CPC - G01N 23/046: using tomography, e.g. computed tomography [CT] - G01N 2223/3303: object fixed; source and detector move - G01N 2223/417: recording with co-ordinate markings - G01N 2223/419: computed tomograph - G01N 2223/505: scintillation - G01N: INVESTIGATING OR ANALYSING MATERIALS BY DETERMINING THEIR CHEMICAL OR PHYSICAL PROPERTIES (measuring or testing apparatus or processes other than immunoassay, involving enzymes or microorganisms C12M, C12Q) ## Abstract A tunnel computerised tomographic scanner comprising a rotor (3), an X-ray emitter (7) mounted on the rotor (3), an X-ray detector (8) mounted on the rotor (3), on the opposite side of a detecting zone (4), the X-ray detector (8) comprising a scintillator (9) which has at least one emission face (10) from which the scintillator (9) emits light in the visible spectrum when it is struck by X-rays, and a plurality of video cameras (12) which are positioned in such a way that each of them frames at least one portion of the scintillator (9), for acquiring one after another second images, in the visible spectrum, of the respective portion of the scintillator (9), wherein, according to the method, at least two separate video cameras (12) substantially frame each zone of the emission face (10), and an electronic processing unit is programmed to combine all of the second images obtained by the video cameras (12) and to obtain a first image of the emission face (10), to be used for the tomographic reconstruction of an object (6) which is placed in the detecting zone (4). ## Claims ### Claim 1 A tunnel computerised tomographic scanner comprising: a supporting structure (2); a rotor (3) supported by the supporting structure (2) and rotatable relative to the supporting structure (2) about an axis of rotation, the rotor (3) surrounding a detecting zone (4) through which the axis of rotation passes; a motor connected to the rotor (3) for driving its rotation about the axis of rotation; an X-ray emitter (7) mounted on the rotor (3); an X-ray detector (8) mounted on the rotor (3), on an opposite side of the detecting zone (4) relative to the X-ray emitter (7), the X-ray detector (8) comprising at least one scintillator (9) which has at least one emission face (10) from which the scintillator (9) emits light in the visible spectrum when it is struck by X-rays; an electronic processing unit connected to the X-ray detector (8) and programmed to combine first images acquired by the X-ray detector (8), in a plurality of separate angular positions of the rotor (3) around the axis of rotation, for reconstructing a three-dimensional structure of an object (6) placed in the detecting zone (4); wherein: the X-ray detector (8) also comprises a plurality of video cameras (12) which are connected to the electronic processing unit, each video camera (12) being positioned in such a way as to frame at least one portion of the scintillator (9), for acquiring, in each of said separate angular positions of the rotor (3), second images, in the visible spectrum, of the respective portion of the scintillator (9); at least two separate video cameras (12) of said plurality of video cameras substantially frame each zone of the at least one emission face (10) of the scintillator (9), and the electronic processing unit is programmed to obtain each first image by combining all of the second images obtained by the video cameras (12). ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The tunnel computerised tomographic scanner according to claim 1, wherein the electronic processing unit is programmed to obtain each first image alternatively either by adding together, or by taking an average of, the plurality of second images obtained by the different video cameras (12) for each zone of the at least one emission face (10) of the scintillator (9). ### Claim 3 (depends on 1) The tunnel computerised tomographic scanner according to claim 1, wherein the electronic processing unit is also programmed to combine the second images in order to obtain a first image which corresponds to an image of the entire emission face (10) which could be obtained by using a single sensor with known characteristics. ### Claim 4 (depends on 1) The tunnel computerised tomographic scanner according to claim 1 wherein there are also means present for determining the angular position of the rotor (3) about the axis of rotation at the moment when the second images are acquired. ### Claim 5 (depends on 4) The tunnel computerised tomographic scanner according to claim 4, wherein the means for determining the angular position of the rotor (3) are constituted of the electronic processing unit which is programmed to determine the angular position by processing the first images as a function of the known position of one or more fixed reference elements which are present at the detecting zone (4). ### Claim 6 (depends on 1) The tunnel computerised tomographic scanner according to claim 1, wherein the electronic processing unit is split into two or more main units, which are programmed to carry out separate processing, one or more rotor main units which are mounted on the rotor (3) and connected directly to the video cameras (12) and one or more stator main units which are stationary relative to the rotation of the rotor (3). ### Claim 7 (depends on 1) The tunnel computerised tomographic scanner according to claim 1, wherein each video camera (12) comprises an acquisition sensor and a photographic lens (13) optically coupled to the acquisition sensor, the photographic lens (13) being focused or focusable on the emission face (10) of the scintillator (9). ### Claim 8 (depends on 7) The tunnel computerised tomographic scanner according to claim 7, wherein the acquisition sensor is a CCD or CMOS sensor. ### Claim 9 (depends on 7) The tunnel computerised tomographic scanner according to claim 7 wherein the emission face (10) of the scintillator (9) is flat and the photographic lens (13) has an optical axis positioned perpendicularly to the emission face (10). ### Claim 10 (depends on 1) The tunnel computerised tomographic scanner according to claim 1 wherein the X-ray detector (8) also comprises an angled mirror (14) and/or a protective shield (15) for protecting against the X-rays which is placed along an optical path extending from the main face to one or more of the video cameras (12). ### Claim 11 (depends on 1) The tunnel computerised tomographic scanner according to claim 1 wherein each video camera (12) comprises a plurality of detecting pixels and wherein, in at least one video camera (12), the detecting pixels are grouped in a plurality of groups each comprising at least two pixels, and wherein the detections of the pixels of each group are unified in a single reading. ### Claim 12 (depends on 1) The tunnel computerised tomographic scanner according to claim 1 wherein the X-ray detector (8) also comprises one or more lenses coupled to the emission face (10) for focusing the light emitted by the emission face (10) in the video cameras (12). ### Claim 13 (depends on 1) The tunnel computerised tomographic scanner according to claim 1, wherein the video cameras (12) are cooled. ### Claim 14 (depends on 1) The tunnel computerised tomographic scanner according to claim 1, wherein the emission face (10) of the scintillator (9) is facing the X-ray emitter (7). ### Claim 15 (depends on 1) The tunnel computerised tomographic scanner according to claim 1, wherein the scintillator (9) comprises two coupled flat scintillator bodies (11) which each define an emission face (10), the two emission faces (10) facing one towards the X-ray emitter (7) and the other the opposite way, wherein at least two separate video cameras (12) frame each zone of each emission face (10), and wherein the electronic processing unit is programmed to obtain each first image, by combining all of the second images obtained by the video cameras (12). ### Claim 16 (depends on 15) The tunnel computerised tomographic scanner according to claim 15, wherein the video cameras (12) of a first group of said plurality of video cameras (12) are positioned in such a way that each of them frames at least one zone of one emission face (10), and the video cameras (12) of a second group of said plurality of video cameras (12) are positioned in such a way that each of them frames at least one zone of the other emission face (10). ### Claim 17 (depends on 1) The tunnel computerised tomographic scanner according to claim 1, also comprising a conveying device (5) for conveying objects (6) which is mounted through the detecting zone (4) for feeding an object (6) parallel to the axis of rotation during rotation of the rotor (3) about the axis of rotation. ### Claim 18 A method for acquiring images from a scintillator (9) of a tunnel computerised tomographic scanner (1), wherein an emission face (10) of the scintillator (9) emits light in the visible spectrum when the scintillator (9) is struck by X-rays, the method comprising the operating steps of: for substantially each zone of the emission face (10) of the scintillator (9) for which an image must be acquired, framing that zone with at least two separate video cameras (12); with each video camera (12) which frames each zone of the emission face (10) of the scintillator (9) generating a second image of the zone; by means of an electronic processing unit combining the second images in order to obtain a single first image which is representative of the entire scintillator (9). ### Claim 19 (depends on 18) The method according to claim 18 wherein the step of combining the second images comprises, for each zone of the emission face (10) of the scintillator (9), alternatively either the operating step of adding together the second images relative to that zone, or the operating step of taking an average of the second images relative to that zone.