Radiation detector with heating device

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-2017192110-A1
Application number	US-201515036561-A
Country	US
Kind code	A1
Filing date	Sep 15, 2015
Priority date	Sep 26, 2014
Publication date	Jul 6, 2017
Grant date	—

Abstract

The invention relates to a radiation detector ( 100′ ) and a method for detecting radiation, particularly for detecting X-rays (X) in a CT imaging apparatus ( 1000′ ). According to a preferred embodiment, the radiation detector ( 100′ ) comprises a conversion element ( 110 ) for converting incident radiation (X) into electrical signals which are read out and processed by a readout circuit ( 120 ). A heating device comprising the heat source ( 135′ ) of a Peltier element is provided with which the conversion element ( 110 ) can controllably be heated in order to reduce negative effects, e.g. of polarization, on image accuracy, wherein the heat sink ( 137′ ) of the Peltier element is oriented towards the readout circuit.

First claim

1 . A radiation detector comprising:
a conversion element for converting incident radiation into electrical signals; a readout circuit for processing said electrical signals; a heating device, separated from the readout circuit, for heating the conversion element, wherein the heating device comprises a Peltier element and wherein the heat source of said Peltier element is oriented towards the conversion element and its heat sink is oriented towards the readout circuit.

2 . A method for operating a radiation detector according to claim 1 , said method comprising the following steps:
converting incident radiation into electrical signals with the help of a conversion element; processing said electrical signals in a readout circuit; actively heating the conversion element without simultaneously heating the readout circuit.

3 . An imaging apparatus for generating images of an object, particularly a CT imaging apparatus, comprising:
a radiation source for generating radiation; a radiation detector according to claim 1 for detecting said radiation.

4 . The radiation detector according to claim 1 ,
characterized in that the heating device comprises resistive lines or structures.

5 . The radiation detector according to claim 1 ,
characterized in that it comprises an additional layer disposed adjacent to a surface of the conversion element.

6 . The radiation detector according to claim 5 ,
characterized in that the additional layer comprises the heating device.

7 . The radiation detector according to claim 5 ,
characterized in that the additional layer is disposed adjacent to the surface of the conversion element that is directed towards the readout circuit or adjacent to the surface opposite thereto.

8 . The radiation detector according to claim 5 ,
characterized in that the additional layer comprises vias for electrically connecting the conversion element to the readout circuit and/or the heating device to an electrical power supply.

9 . The radiation detector according to claim 1 ,
characterized in that a thermally conductive material is disposed between the heating device and the conversion element and/or that a thermally insulating material is disposed between the conversion element and/or the heating device and the readout circuit.

10 . The radiation detector according to claim 1 ,
characterized in that it comprises a temperature sensor for determining the temperature of the conversion element.

11 . The radiation detector according to claim 1 ,
characterized in that it comprises a control loop for controlling the operation of the heating device.

12 . The radiation detector according to claim 1 ,
characterized in that it comprises a cooling device for selectively cooling the conversion element and/or the readout circuit.

Assignees

• Koninklijke Philips Nv

Inventors

• Steadman Booker Roger
• Herrmann Christoph
• Verbakel Frank

Classifications

• A61B6/4488

  Means for cooling (A61B6/045 takes precedence) · CPC title

• G01T1/247

  Detector read-out circuitry (for processing gain or off-set correction H04N) · CPC title

• G01T1/244 Primary

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

• A61B6/032

  Transmission computed tomography [CT] · CPC title