Detector array for imaging modality

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-10459094-B2
Application number	US-201415307938-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Apr 30, 2014
Priority date	Apr 30, 2014
Publication date	Oct 29, 2019
Grant date	Oct 29, 2019

Abstract

A detector array such as for use in a radiation imaging modality is provided. The detector array includes a first pixel (302a) having a first scintillator (402). The first scintillator has a first detection surface (408) and a first light emission surface (412). The first detection surface extends along a first detection surface plane and the first light emission surface extends along a first light emission surface plane. The detector array includes a second pixel (302b) having a second scintillator (420). The second scintillator has a second detection surface (426) and a second light emission surface (430). The second detection surface extends along a second detection surface plane and the second light emission surface extends along a second light emission surface plane. At least one of the first detection surface plane is not coplanar with the second detection surface plane or the first light emission surface plane is not coplanar with the second light emission surface plane.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. A detector array configured to detect radiation photons, the detector array comprising:
a first pixel comprising:
a first photodetector;
a first scintillator overlying the first photodetector and configured to convert a first radiation photon into first light energy;
an optical carrier intervening between the first scintillator and the first photodetector; and
first reflective material beginning and ending adjacent a sidewall of the first scintillator; and

a second pixel partially underlying the first pixel and comprising:
a second photodetector;
a second scintillator directly on the second photodetector and configured to convert a second radiation photon into second light energy; and
second reflective material beginning and ending adjacent a sidewall of the second scintillator.

2. The detector array of claim 1 , wherein the first reflective material at least partially overlies the second reflective material.

3. The detector array of claim 1 , wherein the first reflective material at least partially overlies the second scintillator.

4. The detector array of claim 1 , wherein the first scintillator has a first width and the first photodetector has a second width less than the first width.

5. The detector array of claim 1 , wherein the second reflective material underlies the first scintillator.

6. The detector array of claim 1 , further comprising a support structure disposed over a top surface of the second scintillator of the second pixel and under a bottom surface of the first scintillator of the first pixel.

7. The detector array of claim 6 , wherein the support structure is disposed between the first scintillator and the optical carrier of the first pixel.

8. The detector array of claim 1 , wherein the first scintillator has a first scintillator thickness and the second scintillator has a second scintillator thickness, the second scintillator thickness different than the first scintillator thickness.

9. The detector array of claim 1 , wherein the first scintillator is configured to measure radiation photons having a first energy spectrum and the second scintillator is configured to measure radiation photons having a second energy spectrum different than the first energy spectrum.

10. The detector array of claim 1 , wherein the second pixel comprises a filter and the first pixel does not comprise a filter.

11. The detector array of claim 1 , wherein the first scintillator has a first composition and the second scintillator has a second composition different than the first composition.

12. The detector array of claim 1 , wherein a width of first scintillator is greater than a width of the optical carrier.

13. The detector array of claim 1 , further comprising a third pixel partially underlying the first pixel and comprising:
a third photodetector;
a third scintillator directly on the third photodetector and configured to convert a third radiation photon into third light energy; and
third reflective material beginning and ending adjacent a sidewall of the third scintillator.

14. The detector array of claim 13 , wherein the first pixel intervenes between the second pixel and the third pixel.

15. The detector array of claim 14 , wherein the optical carrier of the first pixel extends from and between the second reflective material of the second pixel and the third reflective material of the third pixel.

16. A detector array configured to detect radiation photons, the detector array comprising:
a first pixel, comprising:
a first photodetector;
an optical carrier over the first photodetector;
a first scintillator over the optical carrier and configured to convert a first radiation photon into first light energy; and
first reflective material that begins and ends adjacent a sidewall of the first scintillator; and

a second pixel adjacent the first pixel and comprising:
a second photodetector;
a second scintillator directly contacting the second photodetector and configured to convert a second radiation photon into second light energy; and
second reflective material that begins and ends adjacent a sidewall of the second scintillator; and

a support structure disposed under the first scintillator of the first pixel and over the second scintillator of the second pixel.

17. The detector array of claim 16 , wherein the first scintillator of the first pixel and the second scintillator of the second pixel each directly contact the support structure.

18. A detector array configured to detect radiation photons, the detector array comprising:
a first pixel, comprising:
a first photodetector;
a first scintillator over the first photodetector and configured to convert a first radiation photon into first light energy;
an optical carrier extending from and between the first scintillator and the first photodetector; and
first reflective material beginning and ending adjacent a sidewall of the first scintillator; and

a second pixel, comprising:
a second photodetector;
a second scintillator on the second photodetector and configured to convert a second radiation photon into second light energy; and
second reflective material beginning and ending adjacent a sidewall of the second scintillator; and

a support structure disposed under the first scintillator and over each of the optical carrier and the second scintillator.

19. The detector array of claim 18 , wherein the first scintillator has a first composition and the second scintillator has a second composition different than the first composition.

20. The detector array of claim 18 , wherein the first scintillator has a first scintillator thickness and the second scintillator has a second scintillator thickness, the second scintillator thickness different than the first scintillator thickness.

Assignees

• Analogic Corp

Inventors

• Simanovsky Sergey
• Litvin Andrew
• Abenaim Daniel

Classifications

• G01T1/243

  Modular detectors, e.g. arrays formed from self contained units (constructional or manufacturing details H10W90/00) · CPC title

• G01T1/2985 Primary

  In depth localisation, e.g. using positron emitters; Tomographic imaging (longitudinal and transverse section imaging; apparatus for radiation diagnosis sequentially in different planes, steroscopic radiation diagnosis); (using external radiation sources A61B6/02) · CPC title

• G01T1/2018

  Scintillation-photodiode combinations · CPC title

• G01T1/20183

  Arrangements for preventing or correcting crosstalk, e.g. optical or electrical arrangements for correcting crosstalk · CPC title