Modular radiation detector assembly
AssigneeSaint-Gobain Ceramics & Plastics, Inc.
InventorWilliam D. Sekela
Life of this patent
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Abstract
A modular radiation detector includes a scintillator module containing a crystal, and an electronics module containing a light sensing device such as a photomultiplier tube (PMT), and an electronics package. The scintillator module and the electronics module are releaseably mechanically coupled, for example by means of mating threaded portions on each of the modules. The crystal and the PMT are optically coupled via an optical window in the scintillator module and a removable gel pad which is pressed between the modules as they are mechanically coupled together.
Claims38
A radiation detector assembly comprising:
- a scintillator module including a scintillator casing and a scintillator within the casing;
- and
- an electronics module including a photodetector casing and a light sensing device within the photodetector casing;
- wherein the scintillator casing and the photodetector casing are releaseably mechanically coupled to bring the scintillator and the light sensing device into an optically coupled relationship;
- and
- wherein the light sensing device is axially movable within the photodetector casing and resiliently biased towards the scintillator.
A radiation detector assembly comprising:
- a scintillator module including a scintillator casing and a scintillator within the casing;
- and
- an electronics module including a photodetector casing and a light sensing device within the photodetector casing;
- wherein the scintillator casing and the photodetector casing are releaseably mechanically coupled to bring the scintillator and the light sensing device into an optically coupled relationship, and wherein the optical coupling device is a gel pad.
A radiation detector assembly comprising:
- a scintillator module including a scintillator casing and a scintillator within the casing;
- and
- an electronics module including a photodetector casing and a light sensing device within the photodetector casing;
- wherein the scintillator casing and the photodetector casing are releaseably mechanically coupled to bring the scintillator and the light sensing device into an optically coupled relationship, wherein the electronics module also includes a sleeve circumscribing and mechanically coupled to the light sensing device, and wherein a face of the light sensing device and an end of the sleeve are at an inner end of the electronics module.
A radiation detector comprising:
- a scintillator module;
- an electronics module releaseably coupled to the scintillator module, the electronics module including a light sensing device, and a resilient biasing device which urges the light sensing device toward the scintillator module;
- and
- an optical coupling device between the scintillator module and the electronics module, wherein a thickness of the optical coupling device affects an axial load placed on the light sensing device by the resilient biasing device,
- wherein the electronics module further includes a photodetector casing with a stop, the stop constraining motion of the light sensing device within the photodetector casing.
A radiation detector comprising:
- a scintillator module;
- an electronics module releaseably coupled to the scintillator module, the electronics module including a light sensing device, and a resilient biasing device which urges the light sensing device toward the scintillator module;
- and
- an optical coupling device between the scintillator module and the electronics module, wherein a thickness of the optical coupling device affects an axial load placed on the light sensing device by the resilient biasing device;
- wherein the optical coupling device is a transparent gel pad.
A radiation detector comprising:
- a scintillator module;
- an electronics module releaseably coupled to the scintillator module, the electronics module including a light sensing device, and a resilient biasing device which urges the light sensing device toward the scintillator module;
- and
- an optical coupling device between the scintillator module and the electronics module, wherein a thickness of the optical coupling device affects an axial load placed on the light sensing device by the resilient biasing device;
- wherein the electronics module further includes a photodetector casing with a stop, the stop constraining motion within the photodetector casing of the light sensing device and the optical coupling device.
A radiation detector comprising:
- a scintillator module including a crystal enclosed within a scintillator module housing;
- an electronics module including a light sensing device enclosed within an electronics module housing;
- means for releaseably mechanically coupling the scintillator module housing and the electronics electronics module housing;
- and
- means for optically coupling the crystal and the light sensing device;
- and
- wherein the light sensing device is mounted within a sleeve that is axially movable within the electronics module housing.
An electronics module for use in a radiation detector assembly, comprising:
- a light sensing device;
- and
- a photodetector casing circumscribing the light sensing device, the light sensing device being movable within the photodetector casing;
- wherein the photodetector casing has a coupler at an inner end for mechanically coupling with a scintillator module.
A method of fabricating a radiation detector assembly, comprising the steps of:
- providing a scintillator module in which a scintillator is contained;
- and
- providing an electronics module in which a light sensing device is contained for optical coupling with the scintillator when the modules are coupled together and which has a threaded coupling device for releaseably mechanically coupling with a coupling device of the scintillator module.
A method of using a radiation detector assembly, comprising the steps of:
- mechanically coupling a scintillator casing of a scintillator module and a photodetector casing of an electronics module;
- and
- optically coupling a scintillator of the scintillator module and a light sensing device of the electronics module;
- wherein the optically coupling includes pressing an optical coupling device between the scintillator and the light sensing device as the scintillator module and the electronics module are mechanically coupled.
A method of using a radiation detector assembly, comprising the steps of:
- mechanically coupling a scintillator casing of a scintillator module and a photodetector casing of an electronics module;
- and
- optically coupling a scintillator of the scintillator module and a light sensing device of the electronics module;
- wherein the mechanically coupling includes screwing together mated threaded portions of the scintillator casing and the photodetector casing.
A scintillation module for use in a radiation detector assembly, comprising a scintillator and a casing surrounding the scintillator, the casing having a coupler at an optical window end therein for coupling with an electronics module, and the coupler including a threaded portion for mating with a threaded portion of another module of the detector assembly.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.