Ascertaining an electrical direct current component in the converter element

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-10120082-B2
Application number	US-201715440298-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Feb 23, 2017
Priority date	Mar 7, 2016
Publication date	Nov 6, 2018
Grant date	Nov 6, 2018

Abstract

A counting X-ray detector for converting X-ray radiation into electrical signal pulses is disclosed. The counting X-ray detector includes, in a stacked arrangement, an illumination layer, a converter element and an evaluation unit. The illumination layer is designed to illuminate the converter element. The evaluation unit includes a measuring device for ascertaining an electrical direct current component in the converter element and a counting device for ascertaining from the signal pulses a number or an energy of events. A measuring electrode is formed on the converter element and an electrically conducting connection is formed between the measuring electrode and the measuring device.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. A detector module having a plurality of counting X-ray detectors arranged in a stacked arrangement, for converting X-ray radiation into signal pulses, the detector module comprising:
a controller; and each of the plurality of counting x-ray detectors having an illumination layer;
a converter element, the illumination layer being designed to illuminate the converter element;
an evaluation unit;
a measuring device to ascertain electrical direct current components as signal pulses in the converter element when illuminated, the evaluation unit including a counting device to ascertain from the signal pulses, a number or an energy of events, wherein

the controller receives the signal pulses from the measuring device and is configured to control illumination emitted from the illumination layer such that a direct current component induced in the plurality of converter elements is the same.

2. The X-ray detector of claim 1 , wherein the evaluation unit includes the measuring device, a measuring electrode formed on the converter element, and an electrically conducting connection formed between the measuring electrode and the measuring device.

3. The X-ray detector of claim 2 , wherein the measuring electrode is enclosed by a guard ring.

4. The X-ray detector of claim 3 , wherein the guard ring or the detector element designed for ascertainment is screened from directly incident X-ray radiation.

5. The X-ray detector of claim 2 , wherein the measuring electrode is an electrode of a detector element designed to ascertain the direct current component.

6. The X-ray detector of claim 5 , wherein the guard ring or the detector element designed for ascertainment is screened from directly incident X-ray radiation.

7. The X-ray detector of claim 2 , wherein the measuring electrode is formed in combination with a counting electrode, and wherein the counting electrode is connected to the counting device in an electrically conducting manner.

8. The X-ray detector of claim 7 , wherein with regard to the combination of measuring electrode and counting electrode, at least one of the counting device and the measuring device is selectable.

9. The X-ray detector of claim 2 , wherein a direct current component, induced through the converter element by the illumination, is ascertainable.

10. The X-ray detector of claim 9 , wherein the measuring electrode is enclosed by a guard ring.

11. The X-ray of claim 2 , wherein a direct current component through the converter element is ascertainable while the converter element is exposed to the X-ray radiation.

12. The X-ray detector of claim 11 , wherein the measuring electrode is an electrode of a detector element designed to ascertain the direct current component.

13. The X-ray detector of claim 2 , further comprising, in the stacked arrangement, at least one of a heating unit and a cooling unit.

14. A detector module comprising the X-ray detector of claim 2 .

15. The X-ray detector of claim 1 , wherein a direct current component, induced through the converter element by the illumination, is ascertainable.

16. The X-ray of claim 1 , wherein a direct current component through the converter element is ascertainable while the converter element is exposed to the X-ray radiation.

17. The X-ray detector of claim 1 , further comprising, in the stacked arrangement, at least one of a heating unit and a cooling unit.

18. A detector module comprising the X-ray detector of claim 1 .

19. A system, comprising:
the detector module of claim 18 ; and
a control system, wherein the direct current component is an input signal to the control system.

20. A medical apparatus, comprising:
the detector module of claim 18 .

21. A system, comprising:
the X-ray detector of claim 1 ; and
a control system, wherein the direct current component is an input signal to the control system.

22. The system of claim 21 , wherein the input signal is not affected by incident X-ray radiation.

23. A medical apparatus, comprising:
the system of claim 21 .

24. A medical apparatus, comprising:
the X-ray detector of claim 1 .

25. A method for stabilizing a state of a plurality of converter elements of an X-ray detector or of a detector module, comprising:
illuminating the plurality of converter elements by a first luminous energy, emitted by an illumination layer of the X-ray detector or detector module;
ascertaining a direct current component in the plurality of converter elements when illuminated; and
adjusting at least one of a second luminous energy of an illumination and a temperature of a heating element as a function of the ascertained direct current component such that the direct current component is the same in the plurality of converter elements based on the direct current component.

26. The method of claim 25 , wherein the ascertaining of the direct current component in the converter element is performed by a measuring electrode formed on the converter element and by a measuring device in an evaluation unit.

27. The method of claim 26 , wherein the method is iterative.

28. The method of claim 25 , wherein the ascertaining of the direct current component in the converter element is performed by a voltage supply for applying a voltage to the converter element.

29. The method of claim 28 , wherein the method is iterative.

30. The method of claim 25 , wherein the method is iterative.

31. The method of claim 25 , further comprising:
correcting a count rate of a number or an energy of events as a function of the ascertained direct current component.

Assignees

• Siemens Healthcare Gmbh

Inventors

• Ergler Thorsten
• Goederer Edgar
• Hosemann Michael
• Stadlthanner Kurt

Classifications

• G01T1/00

  Measuring X-radiation, gamma radiation, corpuscular radiation, or cosmic radiation (G01T3/00, G01T5/00 take precedence) · CPC title

• G01R19/0092 Primary

  Measuring current only · CPC title

• A61B6/4241 Primary

  using energy resolving detectors, e.g. photon counting · CPC title

• G01T1/244

  Auxiliary details, e.g. casings, cooling, damping or insulation against damage by, e.g. heat, pressure or the like · CPC title

• G01T1/18 Primary

  with counting-tube arrangements, e.g. with Geiger counters (tubes H01J47/08; {with alarm provision G01T7/125}) · CPC title