Abstract: In the present invention a direct X-ray conversion layer comprises a material having a perovskite crystal structure. This is preferable since this enables constructing an X-ray detector with edge-on illuminated detector elements.

Abstract: The invention relates to a correction device (8) for a radiation detector (2) including detector elements each for detecting incident photons. The correction device (8) is configured to read detection signals representative of an incident photon flux detected by the detector elements for different incident photon fluxes, and an evaluation unit (11) configured to determine for each detector element a dead time of the detector element and a parameter representative of an effective area of the detector element on the basis of a collective evaluation of the detection signals of the respective detector element. Further, the correction device (8) is configured to determine for each detector element correction parameters to compensate for differences in the effective areas and in the dead times of the detector elements on the basis of the determined parameters representative of the effective area and the determined dead times of the detector elements.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a detection module (22) for the detection of ionizing radiation emitted by a radiation source (20) comprising a scintillator element (24) for emitting scintillation photons in response to incident ionizing radiation, a first photosensitive element (32a) optically coupled to the scintillator element (24) for capturing scintillation photons (30) and a flexible substrate (34) for supporting the first photosensitive element (32a). The present invention also relates to an imaging device (10) that comprises such a detection module (22).

Abstract: Method of pixel volume confinement in a crystal of an energy resolving radiation detector, preferably an X-ray detector, more preferably a Computed Tomography detector, the crystal having a cathode side and an anode side, comprising: a. Inducing a break line (501) in the crystal along a pixel virtual limits b. Passivating the break line.

Abstract: The present invention is directed towards a photon counting radiation detector (10) comprising an array of pixels (13) comprising a plurality of detection pixels (131) for detecting imaging information. At least one pixel of the array of pixels (132) is shielded from receiving radiation. A dark current is determined from the shielded pixel (132) and is used to compensate for dark current in the other, non-shielded pixels (131). Embodiments are directed to integrating pixel shielding within an Anti Scatter Grid or in a mask.

Abstract: The invention relates a photon counting device and method for counting photon interactions in a piece of converter material and addressing the issue of charge sharing. The occurrence of a charge sharing event is already detected upon the onset of the pulse, taking into consideration an onset of a pulse in a neighboring pixel within a preferably very short coincidence window. According to the invention, it is detected whether a pulse is being processed and one or more neighboring pixels are scouted to decide whether a simultaneous interaction has been registered within a very short coincidence window.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a radiation detector, in particular a direct conversion radiation detector. To provide for simple distribution of provided high voltage the radiation detector comprises a plurality of detector modules (10, 20) arranged adjacent to each other. Each detector module comprises a sensor layer (14, 24) for converting incident radiation (100) into electrical charges, a first electrode (15, 25) deposited on a first surface of the sensor layer facing the incident radiation (100), a second electrode (16, 26) deposited on a second surface of the sensor layer opposite the first surface, a readout electronics (12, 22) in electrical contact with the second electrode, and a carrier (13, 23) for carrying the sensor layer and the readout electronics.

Abstract: The invention relates to a detection values determination system, especially for photon-counting CT scanners, comprising a detection pulse providing unit for providing detection pulses for an array of detection pixels 17, which is provided with an anti-charge-sharing grid 15 for suppressing charge sharing between different clusters 14 of the detection pixels, wherein the detection pulses are indicative of the energy of photons incident on the detection pixels. Charge-sharing-corrected detection values are determined based on the provided detection pulses, wherein for determining a charge-sharing-corrected detection value for a detection pixel of a cluster only detection pixels of the same cluster are considered. This allows for a relatively high detective quantum efficiency, wherein the technical efforts for providing the charge sharing correction can be relatively low.

Abstract: The present invention is directed towards a photon counting radiation detector (10) comprising an array of pixels (13) comprising a plurality of detection pixels (131) for detecting imaging information. At least one pixel of the array of pixels (132) is shielded from receiving radiation. A dark current is determined from the shielded pixel (132) and is used to compensate for dark current in the other, non-shielded pixels (131). Embodiments are directed to integrating pixel shielding within an Anti Scatter Grid or in a mask.

Abstract: Method of pixel volume confinement in a crystal of an energy resolving radiation detector, preferably an X-ray detector, more preferably a Computed Tomography detector, the crystal having a cathode side and an anode side, comprising: a. Inducing a break line (501) in the crystal along a pixel virtual limits b. Passivating the break line.

Abstract: Photon-counting x-ray detectors (3) suffer from a degradation of their performance due to polarization. In order to correct the effects of polarization to the generated x-ray images, the invention suggests (i) exposing the radiation detector (3) to a first radiation pulse emitted by a further radiation source (11) and obtaining a first electric pulse signal generated by the radiation detector (3) in response thereto, (ii) later exposing the 5 radiation detector (3) to a second radiation pulse emitted by the further radiation source (11) during the acquisition of the image and obtaining a second electric pulse signal generated by the radiation detector (3) in response thereto, and (iii) comparing amplitudes of the first and second electric pulse signals and generating the x-ray image based on a result of the comparison. The invention provides a corresponding x-ray device and a corresponding method.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a dual- or multi-source CT system and method. For suppressing or even completely eliminating the negative effects of cross-scatter, the proposed CT system comprises two x-ray sources (10, 11), two detectors (13, 14), two read-out units (15, 16), a control unit (17) and a reconstruction unit (19). Further, a scatter correction unit (18) is provided or the read-out units (15, 16) are configured to generate scatter-corrected read-out signals from the detected radiation, wherein a scatter-corrected read-out signal is generated from the radiation detected by a detector during a single projection interval (I) including multiple repetitions of three phases, in which the sources are alternately switched on and off and in which the read-out units alternately register primary radiation or cross-scatter radiation.

Abstract: The invention relates to a method and a pulse processing circuit (100) for the processing of current pulses (CP) generated by incident photons (X) in a piece of converter material, for instance in a pixel (11) of a radiation detector. Deviations of the pulse shape from a reference are detected and used to identify pulse corruption due to pile-up effects at high count rates and/or charge sharing between neighboring pixels. The deviation detection may for instance be achieved by generating, with a pulse shaper (110), bipolar shaped pulses from the current pulse (CP) and/or two shaped pulses of different shapes which can be compared to each other.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a detector (22?) for detecting ionizing radiation, comprising: a directly converting semi-conductor layer (36) for producing charge carriers in response to incident ionizing radiation; and a plurality of electrodes (34) corresponding to pixels for registering the charge carriers and generate a signal corresponding to registered charge carriers; wherein an electrode of the plurality of electrodes (34) is structured to two-dimensionally intertwine with at least two adjacent electrodes to register the charge carriers by said electrode and by at least one adjacent electrode. The present invention further relates to a detection method and to an imaging apparatus.

Abstract: An imaging detector module (112) of an imaging system includes at least one detector pixel (114) and self-diagnosing circuitry (116). The self-diagnosing circuitry includes a microprocessor (202) and at least measurement device (210). The microprocessor controls the at least measurement device to measure at least one parameter of the at least one detector pixel, wherein a value of the at least one parameter is indicative of a health state of the imaging system. A method includes employing self-diagnosing circuitry embedded in an imaging detector module to measure at least one parameter of at least one detector pixel of the imaging detector module. A value of the at least one parameter is indicative of a health state of the imaging detector. The method further includes generating, with the self diagnosing circuitry, a signal indicating a health state of the imaging detector module based on the measured at least one parameter.

Abstract: An imaging system (100) includes a detector module (114). The detector module includes a block (300) of a plurality of direct conversion photon counting detector pixels (122) and corresponding electronics (124, 604, 606, 132, 134 or 124, 128, 130, 134, 802) with hardware for both high energy resolution imaging mode and high X-ray flux imaging mode connected with the block of the plurality of direct conversion photon counting detector pixels. A method includes identifying a scanning mode for a selected imaging protocol, wherein the scanning modes includes one of a higher energy resolution mode and a higher X-ray flux mode, configuring a detector module, which is configurable for both the higher energy resolution mode and the higher X-ray flux mode, based on the identified scanning mode, performing the scan with the detector module configured for the mode of the selected imaging protocol, and processing scan data from the scan, generating volumetric image data.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a sensor device for detecting radiation signals. To enable high signal integrity and cost efficiency while maintaining the capability of being four-sidedly buttable, the proposed sensor device comprises a sensor array (22) comprising a plurality of detectors (11, 11a-d), a sensor element (14) for converting said received radiation signals (74, 74?) into a plurality of corresponding electric signals, an interposer element (16, 16a-d) extending laterally between a first side (28) and a second side (30), and an integrated circuit element (18, 18a-d). The interposer element (16, 16a-d) comprises a front surface (24) facing said sensor element (14) and a back surface (26) parallel to said front surface (24), wherein a front contact arrangement (36) is provided on said front surface (24) for directing said electric signals to a back contact arrangement (40) provided on said back surface (26).

Abstract: The present invention relates to a detector (22?) for detecting ionizing radiation, comprising: a directly converting semi-conductor layer (36) for producing charge carriers in response to incident ionizing radiation; and a plurality of electrodes (34) corresponding to pixels for registering the charge carriers and generate a signal corresponding to registered charge carriers; wherein an electrode of the plurality of electrodes (34) is structured to two-dimensionally intertwine with at least two adjacent electrodes to register the charge carriers by said electrode and by at least one adjacent electrode. The present invention further relates to a detection method and to an imaging apparatus.

Abstract: The invention relates to a system (31) for generating spectral computed tomography projection data. A spectral projection data generation device (6) comprising an energy-resolving detector generates spectral computed tomography projection databased on polychromatic radiation (4), which has been provided by a radiation device (2), after having traversed an examination zone (5), and a reference values generation device generates energy-dependent reference values based on radiation, which has not traversed the examination zone. A spectral parameter providing unit (12) provides a spectral parameter being indicative of a spectral property of the radiation device based on the energy-dependent reference values.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a detection device (6) for detecting photons emitted by a radiation source (2) and capable of adjusting ballistic deficit. The detection device (6) comprises a pre-amplifying unit (11) (such as, e.g., a charge-sensitive amplifier), a shaping unit (60) comprising a feedback discharge unit (13, I) (such as, e.g., a feedback resistor or a feedback current source), and a feedback discharge control unit (50) coupled to the feedback discharge unit (13, I). The feedback discharge control unit (50) is adapted to, e.g., adjust a resistance of a feedback resistor (and/or to adjust the current value of the feedback current source) if an electrical pulse generated by the shaping unit (60) does not exceed at least one energy comparison value (X1, X2, . . . , XN). The feedback discharge control unit (50) is adapted to not adjust the parameter of the feedback discharge unit (13, I) if the electrical pulse exceeds the at least one energy comparison value (X1, X2, . . . , XN).