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US 7,888,647 B2Granted
X-ray detector assemblies and related computed tomography systems
AssigneeUnited Technologies Corporation
InventorsRodney H. Warner, Royce McKim
Life of this patent
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Abstract
X-ray detector assemblies and related computed tomography systems are provided. In this regard, a representative X-ray detector assembly includes: a scintillator assembly having a scintillation component and an optical fiber; the scintillation component being operative to emit light responsive to X-rays being incident thereon; the optical fiber being positioned to receive light emitted from the scintillation component.
Claims16
A computed tomography system for use with a target, the system comprising:
- an X-ray detector array having a plurality of scintillator assemblies and a plurality of photomultiplier assemblies, the X-ray detector array being operative to output signals corresponding to an amount of X-rays detected;
- each scintillator assembly having a scintillation component and an optical fiber, the scintillation component being operative to emit light responsive to X-rays being incident thereon, the optical fiber being positioned to receive light emitted from the scintillation components;
- each photomultiplier assembly having a plurality of photomultiplier tubes disposed with a housing having cavities extending therethrough, each photomultiplier tube being operative to output an electrical signal responsive to light propagated thereto by the optical fiber of a respective one of the scintillator assemblies, wherein each photomultiplier tube has a contact portion and a tube portion that is received at least partially within a corresponding one of the cavities, and wherein each of the photomultiplier tubes is replaceable.
An X-ray detector assembly, comprising:
- a plurality of modular photomultiplier assemblies, each modular photomultiplier assembly having a tube housing, a plurality of photomultiplier tubes and analog-to-digital converter circuitry;
- the tube housing having cavities extending therethrough;
- each of the photomultiplier tubes being operative to output electrical signals responsive to light propagated thereto, each of the photomultiplier tubes having a tube portion and a contact portion, the tube portion of each of the photomultiplier tubes being received at least partially within a corresponding one of the cavities, wherein each of the photomultiplier tubes is replaceable;
- and
- the analog-to-digital converter circuitry is operative to output digital signals corresponding to the electrical signals.
2 more elements
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.