Method for making X-ray anti-scatter grid

A method for manufacturing an anti-scatter grid having a desired height comprising:

• positioning a bottom surface of a mask of dielectric material, with a depth at least equal to the desired height of the anti-scatter grid, on a sheet of metal;
• cutting first and second series of intrinsically focused slots through a top surface of the mask to the sheet of metal:
• plating the sheet of metal at the bottom of each of the slots of the mask with a radiopaque material to form partition walls of the anti-scatter grid;
• and
• continuing to plate the radiopaque material into the slots of the mask until the desired height of the anti-scatter arid is achieved, wherein the mask is cut by:
• attaching the top surface of the mask to a steel “comb” having teeth forming a plurality of parallel slots;
• mounting a conductor at a “focal” spot;
• positioning the bottom surface of the mask on a “detector” plane;
• connecting a high-resistance wire to the conductor and insulating the wire from the comb;
• pulling the high-resistance wire taunt, applying a charge through the high-resistance wire, and cutting the first series of intrinsically focused slots in the mask by passing the taunt, charged high-resistance wire along each tooth of the comb;
• attaching the metal sheet to the bottom surface of the mask;
• detaching the comb from the top surface of the mask;
• rotating the comb 90° from its original orientation on the mask;
• reattaching the comb to the top surface of the mask;
• removing the metal sheet from the bottom surface of the mask;
• cutting the second series of intrinsically focused slots in the mask by passing the high-resistance wire along each tooth of the comb;
• attaching the metal sheet to the bottom surface of the mask;
• and
• detaching the comb from the top surface of the mask.