Methods and apparatus for collimation of detectors
AssigneeGeneral Electric Company
InventorsAbdelaziz Ikhlef, Joseph Lacey
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Abstract
Methods and apparatus for collimation of detectors in an imaging system are provided. One an imaging system includes a radiation source configured to project radiation from a focal spot onto an object and a plurality of radiation detectors disposed around at least a portion of the object. The plurality of radiation detectors detect received radiation along a path projected from the focal spot to the plurality of detectors. The imaging system also includes a plurality of collimators positioned between the object and the plurality of detectors, wherein the collimators have a tapered configuration.
Claims16
An imaging system comprising:
- a radiation source configured to project radiation from a focal spot onto an object;
- a plurality of radiation detectors disposed around at least a portion of the object, wherein the plurality of radiation detectors detect received radiation along a path projected from the focal spot to the plurality of detectors;
- and
- a plurality of collimators positioned between the object and the plurality of detectors, wherein the collimators have a tapered configuration, the plurality of collimators comprising laminated collimator plates extending along a height of the plurality of collimators, each laminated collimator plate arranged with a tallest plate interposed between shorter plates across a width of the laminated collimator plate.
A method for collimating a radiation detector, the method comprising:
- disposing a plurality of radiation detectors to surround at least a portion of an object;
- providing a plurality of tapered edge collimators between the object and the plurality of detectors, wherein the plurality of tapered edge collimators are configured to increase exposure of the plurality of radiation detectors to a range of focal spot positions, the plurality of tapered edge collimators comprising laminated collimator plates extending along a height of the plurality of tapered edge collimators, each laminated collimator plate arranged with a tallest plate interposed between shorter plates across a width of the laminated collimator plate;
- and
- configuring the plurality of radiation detectors to measure a transmitted radiation along a path projected from a focal spot to the plurality of radiation detectors through the object.
A method for manufacturing a collimator for an imaging system, the method comprising:
- forming a plurality of collimator elements that define walls for a plurality of channels for the collimator;
- and
- providing a tapered slope on a first side of the plurality of collimator elements and a tapered slope on a second side of the plurality of collimator elements, the plurality of collimator elements comprising laminated collimator plates extending along a height of the plurality of collimator elements, each laminated collimator plate arranged with a tallest plate interposed between shorter plates across a width of the laminated collimator plate.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.