Abstract: A power supply for generating a high output voltage for supplying an X-ray generator system with at least one X-ray source (17), especially for computer tomography (CT) applications is disclosed, wherein the high output voltage comprises at least two different high output voltage levels (U1; U1±U2) which are fast switchable so that spectral CT measurements can be conducted with one conventional X-ray tube (17). Furthermore, an X-ray tube generator system comprising such a power supply and at least one X-ray tube (17), as well as a computer tomography (CT) apparatus comprising such a power supply is disclosed.

Abstract: A radiation detector (100) includes an array of scintillator pixels (102) in optical communication with a photosensor. The scintillator pixels (102) include a hygroscopic scintillator (104) and one or more hermetic covers (106a, 106b). A desiccant (124) may be disposed between a hermetic cover (106a) and the scintillator (104) or between the hermetic covers (106a, 106b).

Abstract: The invention relates to a radiation detector (100), particularly for X-rays (X) and for y-rays, which comprises a combination of (a) at least one primary conversion layer (101a-101f) with a low attenuation coefficient for the photons and (b) at least one secondary conversion layer (102) with a high attenuation coefficient for the photons. In preferred embodiments, the primary conversion layer (101a-101f) may be realized by a silicon layer coupled to associated energy-resolving counting electronics (111a-111f, 121). The secondary conversion layer (102) may be realized for example by CZT or GOS coupled to energy-resolving counting electronics or integrating electronics. Using primary conversion layers with low stopping power allows to build a stacked radiation detector (100) for spectral CT in which the counting rates of the layers are limited to feasible values without requiring unrealistic thin layers.

Abstract: Systems and methods for data acquisition in computed tomography (CT) applications are provided. The systems and methods are particularly adapted for scanning and acquiring/processing data in connection with high-power cone-beam CT applications. The electron beam is moved/scanned along the anode surface to multiple focal positions. Data acquisition for a full projection at one focus position and one view angle is achieved by activating each focus position multiple times during the data acquisition for one angle of the gantry. The detector array and associated data processing system are adapted to rapidly switch between the different focus positions during the acquisitions for one view angle and to collect all data belonging to the same projection into the same data set. Adaptive electron optics are utilized to move/scan the electron beam along the anode surface to the various focus positions.

Abstract: An apparatus includes a scale factor determiner (236) that determines a count scale factor based on a measured count of a number detected photons for an energy threshold and an estimated actual count of the number of detected photons. The photons include poly-energetic photons detected by a radiation sensitive detector. The apparatus further includes a count sealer (136) that employs the count scale factor to scale measured counts of detected photons for different energy thresholds.

Abstract: The invention relates to a radiation detector (200), particularly an X-ray detector, which comprises at least one sensitive layer (212) for the conversion of incident photons (X) into electrical signals. A two-dimensional array of electrodes (213) is located on the front side of the sensitive layer (212), while its back side carries a counter-electrode (211). The size of the electrodes (213) may vary in radiation direction (y) for adapting the counting workload of the electrodes. Moreover, the position of the electrodes (213) with respect to the radiation direction (y) provides information about the energy of the detected photons (X).

Abstract: An apparatus includes an integrator (120) that produces a pulse having a peak amplitude indicative of the energy of a detected photon. First discharging circuitry (136) discharges the integrator (120) at a first discharging speed, and second discharging circuitry (124) discharges the integrator (120) at a second discharging speed. The first discharging speed is less than the second discharging speed.

Abstract: The present invention relates to an apparatus (10) for generating countable pulses (30) from impinging X-ray (12, 14) in an imaging device (16), in particular in a computer tomograph, the apparatus (10) comprising a pre-amplifying element (18) adapted to convert a charge pulse (20) generated by an impinging photon (12, 14) into an electrical signal (22) and a shaping element (26) having a feedback loop (28) and adapted to convert the electrical signal (22) into an electrical pulse (30), wherein a delay circuit (38) is connected to the feedback loop (28) such that a time during which the feedback loop (28) collects charges of the electrical signal (22) is extended in order to improve an amplitude of the electrical pulse (30) at an output (56) of the shaping element (26). The invention also relates to a corresponding imaging device (16) and a corresponding method.

Abstract: The invention relates to a radiation detector, particularly an X-ray detector (100), comprising a counting circuitry (10, 20, 30) for counting electrical pulses generated by the (sub-)pixels (2) of the detector. In the counting circuitry, the results counted by a fast counting stage (10) are at intervals transferred to a slow counting stage (20). The fast counting stage (10) may for example comprise a fast counter (111) with a low bit-depth operating as a frequency divider in front of a slow counter (121) of high bit-depth in the slow counting stage (20). The counting circuitry (10, 20, 30) can optionally be fed via a multiplexer (4) with the signals of several (sub-)pixels (2). Furthermore, the pixels (1, 2) of the radiation device may optionally deliver energy resolved pulses.

Abstract: A hot axial pressing method for sintering a ceramic powder, particularly doped Gd2O2S, comprise the step of placing a first porous body (7), the ceramic powder (9) and a second porous body (7) into a mould shell (5) supported by a support (13, 14). The ceramic powder (9) is located between the porous bodies (7). Gaseous components are evacuated from the ceramic powder (9) up to an ambient pressure of less than 0.8 bar. The porous body (7) and the ceramic powder (9) are heated to a maximum temperature of at least 900° C. and are applied to a pressure up to a maximum pressure of at least 75 Mpa. According to the invention the variation in time of the heating step and the variation in time of the pressure applying step is adjusted to each other such that the mould shell 5 is held by the porous bodies (7) and/or the ceramic powder (9) in a state where the mould shell (5) and the support (13, 14) are disconnected with respect to each other.

Abstract: A scintillation element comprises a scintillation material, and a reflective layer, wherein the reflective layer is formed as an intrinsic part of the scintillation material. Preferably, a plurality of scintillation elements may be arranged to form a scintillation array. A method for producing a scintillation element comprises providing a scintillation material, and producing a reflective layer at the scintillation material by exposing the scintillation material to physical and/or chemical conditions in such a way that the reflective layer is formed out of a part of the scintillation material.

Abstract: The invention relates to an apparatus (10) for counting X-rayphotons (12, 14), in particular photons in a computer tomograph. The events from a first photon-sensitive element (20) are recorded in a first integrator (24), and the events coming from a second photon-sensitive element (22) are counted in a second integrator (26). A first summing unit (28) is provided for summing the values from the first and second integrators (24, 26) and a result signal to obtain a sum, wherein the result signal is obtained from a feedback device (30) being provided with the sum. It is there possible to reduce a total information density generated by the impinging photons (12, 14), so that a data stream with a reduced information density (or reduced data rate) is present at an output (34).

Abstract: The invention is directed at an apparatus (10), an imaging device and a method for detecting X-ray photons, in particular photons (32, 34) in a computer tomograph. Photons (32, 34) are converted into an electrical pulse and compared against a threshold using a discriminator (20). The electrical network (12) performing these functions comprises a switching element (28), that can modify the electrical path (22) along which the process signals travel. The trigger signal (VT) for actuating the switching element (28) is derived from an electrical state of the electrical path (22). If a pulse associated to a photon (32, 34) is detected, the switching element (28) is actuated in order to avoid that the processing of the charge pulse stemming from a first photon (32) is affected by a subsequent second photon (34).

Abstract: The invention relates to an apparatus for determining a detector energy weighting function of a detection unit (6). The apparatus comprises a determination unit (21) for determining a spectral response function of the detection unit (6) and a calculation unit (22) for determining the detector energy weighting function by integrating the product of the spectral response function of the detection unit (6) and a given ideal detector energy weighting function.

Abstract: The present invention relates to an apparatus (10) for counting X-ray photons (12, 14). The apparatus (10) comprises a sensor (16) adapted to convert a photon (12, 14) into a charge pulse, a processing element (18) adapted to convert the charge pulse (51) into an electrical pulse (53) and a first discriminator (20) adapted to compare the electrical pulse (53) against a first threshold (TH1) and to output an event (55) if the first threshold (TH1) is exceeded. A first counter (22) counts these events (55), unless counting is inhibited by a first gating element (24). The first gating element (24) is activated when the first discriminator (20) outputs the event (55), and it is deactivated, when the processing of a photon (12, 14) is found to be complete or about to be completed by a measurement or by the knowledge about the time that it takes to process a photon (12, 14) in the processing element (18). By activating and deactivating the first counter (22) pile-up events, i.e.

Abstract: The invention relates to an energy-resolving detection system for detecting radiation (4). The energy-resolving detection system comprises a first layer (21) for absorbing a part of the radiation (4) and a radiation quanta counting unit comprising a second layer (26) for counting radiation quanta of the radiation (4). A read-out unit (29) is coupled with the radiation quanta counting unit for reading out the radiation quanta counting unit. The first layer (21) and second layer (26) are arranged such that the radiation (4), which is incident on the detection system and which reaches the second layer (26), has passed the first layer (21).

Abstract: An x-ray detector has a sensor (24) absorbing x-ray quanta of polychromatic spectra and generating an electric sensor signal corresponding to the absorbed x-ray quanta. There is at least one counting channel (430) including a plurality of discriminators (420) each counting a number of charge signals (450) detected at a different respective threshold since a beginning of a measurement interval and an integrating channel (440) which measures overall charge of the charge signals detected since the beginning of the measurement interval.

Abstract: A power supply for generating a high output voltage for supplying an X-ray generator system with at least one X-ray source (17), especially for computer tomography (CT) applications is disclosed, wherein the high output voltage comprises at least two different high output voltage levels (U1; U1±U2) which are fast switchable so that spectral CT measurements can be conducted with one conventional X-ray tube (17). Furthermore, an X-ray tube generator system comprising such a power supply and at least one X-ray tube (17), as well as a computer tomography (CT) apparatus comprising such a power supply is disclosed.

Abstract: The present invention is directed to a freshness indicator (9) for a chilled beverage and in particular to a beverage dispensing device (1) with a freshness indicator (9) for a chilled beverage, wherein the beverage dispensing device (1) comprises an outer housing (7), a tapping device (2) for dispensing a beverage, a beverage container (4) being placeable in the outer housing (7) and connectable with the tapping device (2), and the outer housing (7) functioning as a chiller (8), characterized in that the beverage freshness indicator device (9) comprises: a display (10) for indicating the storage temperature, maximum storage period, actual freshness of the beverage, the time left until expiry of the freshness and/or the date of expiry of the freshness, a data input unit (11) for the input of data and/or means (12) for recording replacement of the beverage container (4), at least one temperature sensor (13) for measuring the storage temperature of the beverage, —a temperature controller (14) for adjusting the

Abstract: The invention relates to an Anti-Scatter-Grid (ASG) with lamellae (2) that absorb incident radiation (1, 8) and that produce an electrical signal proportional to the amount of absorbed radiation. The lamellae (2) may particularly consist of a semiconductor material in which photons produce electron-hole pairs that can be detected with the help of electrodes (3, 4, 6) on the sidewalls of the lamellae (2). The amount of absorbed scattered (8) or primary (1) radiation may thus be determined in a spatially resolved way, allowing to correct the image generated by an array (5) of sensor units (9).