Planar X-ray imager having a moisture-resistant sealing structure

A radiation imaging device comprising:

• a scintillator having a first and a second end surface, said first and second end surfaces being opposite one another such that radiation incident on said device enters said scintillator through said end first surface;
• a photodetector array comprising a plurality of photodetectors disposed on an imager substrate and forming an active portion of said photodetector array, said photodetector array being optically coupled to said second end surface of said scintillator to receive light therefrom;
• an enclosure ring, said ring being disposed on said photodetector array around said active portion and surrounding the outer sidewalls of said scintillator;
• an enclosure ring cover hermetically bonded to and suspended from said enclosure ring and extending across and in contact with portions of said first end surface of said scintillator, said cover being disposed to be in close non-conformal proximity to the scintillator first end surface so that said cover is within about 10 .mu.m from the underlying scintillator first end surface, said cover being substantially impervious to moisture and radiation transmissive and disposed so as to substantially prevent scattering of light photons from said scintillator, said enclosure ring and said cover forming a chamber to sealably enclosure said scintillator;
• a processing circuit, said processing circuit being coupled to receive signals generated by said photodetector array;
• and
• display and analysis equipment, said equipment being coupled to, and responsive to, said processing unit.