Abstract: A detector module includes a photosensor array having a first width, and a flexible cable operationally coupled to the photosensor array, wherein the cable has a width greater then the first width.

Abstract: The present invention discloses a method of aligning scintillator crystalline structures for computed tomography imaging and a system of use. Crystal seeds are deposited inside a glass melt and are then grown to form a plurality of layer crystallites. While growing the crystallites, a field is applied to align each crystallite structure in a uniform orientation. As a result, the crystallites are configured to reduce light scattering and improve the overall efficiency of the CT system. A CT system is disclosed implementing a scintillator array having a plurality of scintillators, each scintillator being formed of a plurality of uniformly aligned crystallites. Each crystallite includes a receiving surface and an exiting surface configured perpendicular to an x-ray beam. Further, the receiving surface and the exiting surface are connected by a plurality of surface walls arranged parallel to the x-ray beam.

Abstract: The present invention provides a detector for a multi-slice CT system. The detector includes a scintillator for receiving and converting high frequency electromagnetic energy directly to electrons. The detector is further configured to directly conduct the electrons. The detector comprises a compound formed of scintillator bulk and a conducting material capable of converting high frequency energy to electrons as well as conduct electrons. The CT system also provides for a gantry having an output for projecting high frequency electromagnetic energy toward the detector and a data acquisition system for receiving electrons directly from the detector. A method to provide imaging electrons to a CT system is also provided.

Abstract: The present invention discloses a method of aligning scintillator crystalline structures for computed tomography imaging and a system of use. Crystal seeds are deposited inside a glass melt and are then grown to form a plurality of layer crystallites. While growing the crystallites, a field is applied to align each crystallite structure in a uniform orientation. As a result, the crystallites are configured to reduce light scattering and improve the overall efficiency of the CT system. A CT system is disclosed implementing a scintillator array having a plurality of scintillators, each scintillator being formed of a plurality of uniformly aligned crystallites. Each crystallite includes a receiving surface and an exiting surface configured perpendicular to an x-ray beam. Further, the receiving surface and the exiting surface are connected by a plurality of surface walls arranged parallel to the x-ray beam.

Abstract: One embodiment of the present invention is a detector for detecting x-rays of an imaging system. The detector has a plurality of photodetectors; and a plurality of scintillator elements optically coupled to the plurality of photodetectors. The scintillator elements have sides separated from adjacent scintillator elements by gaps; and a cast reflector mixture in the gaps between the sides of the scintillator elements. The cast reflector mixture include a first powdered material having a higher Z and a higher density than titanium dioxide, and a refractivity index sufficient to effectively scatter and reflect light within the cast reflector mixture.

Abstract: A detector module includes a photosensor array having a first width, and a flexible cable operationally coupled to the photosensor array, wherein the cable has a width greater then the first width.

Abstract: The present invention provides a detector for a CT imaging system. The detector includes a focused scintillator for receiving and converting high frequency electromagnetic energy to light energy. The detector further includes a photodiode positioned adjacent to the scintillator and configured to receive light energy discharged through a light exiting surface of the scintillator. The detector also includes electrical leads to transmit signals from the photodiode to a data processing unit for image construction. The CT system also provides for a gantry having an output for projecting high frequency electromagnetic energy toward the scintillator. A method of use and method of fabricating the tapered scintillators of the tapered scintillator array are also disclosed.

Abstract: To provide simpler, more efficient methods for making scintillator arrays, one embodiment of the present invention is a method for making a scintillator array. The method includes extruding a mixture of a scintillator powder and a binder into rods; laminating the extruded rods with a sinterable reflector material; and sintering the laminated rods and reflector material into a scintillator block. Scintillator array embodiments of the present invention are useful in many types of pixelated radiation detectors, such as those used in computed tomography systems.

Abstract: To provide simpler, more efficient methods for making scintillator arrays, one embodiment of the present invention is a method for making a scintillator array. The method includes extruding a mixture of a scintillator powder and a binder into rods; laminating the extruded rods with a sinterable reflector material; and sintering the laminated rods and reflector material into a scintillator block. Scintillator array embodiments of the present invention are useful in many types of pixelated radiation detectors, such as those used in computed tomography systems.

Abstract: A CT detector module utilizes a simplified FET that effectively sums detector cells in the X direction, allowing for a doubling of scan slices in the Z direction with the same or a lesser number of DAS channels found in conventional CT detector modules.

Abstract: A method for making a detector array comprising a photosensor and scintillators, including placing a thermoplastically encased reflective film between scintillators of a scintillator array and optically coupling the scintillators with the photosensor.

Abstract: One aspect of the present invention is a detector array for an imaging system, the detector array having a plurality of electrically conductive busses, a plurality of detector elements arranged in rows extending in an x-direction and columns extending in a z-direction, a plurality of scan lines, each operatively coupled to at least one of the detector elements so that electrical activation of one of the scan lines transfers an electrical charge from the detector element onto one of the busses; a plurality of read-out lines; and an interconnection matrix operatively coupled to the busses and the read-out lines and electrically reconfigurable to transfer electrical charges from the busses selectively to the read-out lines.

Abstract: An x-ray detector includes a two-dimensional array of detector elements that is segmented into regions. The detector elements in each region may be separately gated, or may be gated in blocks of elements to read out data onto a common data line to a region pre-amplifier. A scan sequencer operates the gate control lines to perform a scan in which the spatial resolution of the data read out from each region of the detector array may be separately selected to optimize the x-ray detector for particular clinical applications.

Abstract: The present invention discloses a method of aligning scintillator crystalline structures for computed tomography imaging and a system of use. Crystal seeds are deposited inside a glass melt and are then grown to form a plurality of layer crystallites. While growing the crystallites, a field is applied to align each crystallite structure in a uniform orientation. As a result, the crystallites are configured to reduce light scattering and improve the overall efficiency of the CT system. A CT system is disclosed implementing a scintillator array having a plurality of scintillators, each scintillator being formed of a plurality of uniformly aligned crystallites. Each crystallite includes a receiving surface and an exiting surface configured perpendicular to an x-ray beam. Further, the receiving surface and the exiting surface are connected by a plurality of surface walls arranged parallel to the x-ray beam.

Abstract: An enhanced photosensor module is used in a computed tomography system having a DAS system for receiving data. The module includes a substrate having a photodiode array thereon optically coupled to a scintillator array, an FET chip electrically connected to the photodetector system via a flex connector and mounted on the substrate. The module also includes a flex circuit connected to the FET chip and the DAS system. The flex circuit is mounted on the substrate and positioned 90 degrees to the substrate.

Abstract: An enhanced CT detector module design utilizing a simplified FET mode option that effectively sums selected detector cells in X, allowing a coupling of scan slices in Z with the same or less number of DAS channels. In an embodiment of this invention wherein some cells float (i.e. they are left open) their collected charge will automatically re-distribute itself among the neighboring cells. This embodiment will allow cell summing in the x direction with a much simpler interconnect scheme i.e. far fewer FET switches and simplified decoder.

Abstract: A method for making a detector array comprising a photosensor and scintillators, including placing a thermoplastically encased reflective film between scintillators of a scintillator array and optically coupling the scintillators with the photo sensor.

Abstract: A technique is provided for improving the efficiency of an imaging system. Generally, a digital detector has an array of rows and columns of pixels, read out electronics and scan electronics that are configured to generate and transmit signals based upon radiation impacting the detector. The detector is placed within a housing, which is then transferred to the location of use. The present technique provides a mechanism for protecting the housing and the detector from corruptive elements such as moisture. Particularly, the present technique involves the sealing of the detector after manufacture and sealing of the housing after assembly.

Abstract: The present invention discloses a method of aligning scintillator crystalline structures for computed tomography imaging and a system of use. Crystal seeds are deposited inside a glass melt and are then grown to form a plurality of layer crystallites. While growing the crystallites, a field is applied to align each crystallite structure in a uniform orientation. As a result, the crystallites are configured to reduce light scattering and improve the overall efficiency of the CT system. A CT system is disclosed implementing a scintillator array having a plurality of scintillators, each scintillator being formed of a plurality of uniformly aligned crystallites. Each crystallite includes a receiving surface and an exiting surface configured perpendicular to an x-ray beam. Further, the receiving surface and the exiting surface are connected by a plurality of surface walls arranged parallel to the x-ray beam.

Abstract: One aspect of the present invention is a finished detector module suitable for use in a computed tomography (CT) imaging system. The finished detector module includes a substrate; a photosensor array mounted on the substrate; an array of scintillators optically coupled to the photosensor array and separated therefrom by a gap filled with either air or a compliant clear film; and a flexible electrical cable electrically coupled to the photosensor array.