초록 ▼

A method for fabricating an array adapted to receive a plurality of scintillators for use in association with an imaging device. The method allows the creation of a detector array such that location of the impingement of radiation upon an individual scintillator detector is accurately determinable.

A method for fabricating an array adapted to receive a plurality of scintillators for use in association with an imaging device. The method allows the creation of a detector array such that location of the impingement of radiation upon an individual scintillator detector is accurately determinable. The array incorporates an air gap between all the scintillator elements. Certain scintillators may have varying height reflective light partitions to control the amount of light sharing which occurs between elements. Light transmission is additionally optimized by varying the optical transmission properties of the reflective light partition, such as by varying the thickness and optical density of the light partitions. In certain locations, no light partitions exist, thereby defining an air gap between those elements. The air gap allows a large increase in the packing fraction and therefore the overall sensitivity of the array.

대표청구항 ▼

Having thus described the aforementioned invention, we claim: 1. A detector array for use in association with an imaging device, said detector array comprising: an M횞N array of scintillator elements positioned within the imaging device such that radiation within the imaging device impinges upon sai

Having thus described the aforementioned invention, we claim: 1. A detector array for use in association with an imaging device, said detector array comprising: an M횞N array of scintillator elements positioned within the imaging device such that radiation within the imaging device impinges upon said array of scintillator elements, and whereby a location of impingement of radiation within each of said array of scintillator elements is ascertainable; a plurality of reflective light partitions interposed between selected of said scintillator elements, at least one of said plurality of reflective light partitions defining a first height, and at least one of said plurality of reflective light partitions defining a second height; an air gap defined between adjacent scintillator elements; and a mechanism for maintaining a relative position of each of said array of scintillator elements with respect to each of said array of scintillator elements. 2. The detector array of claim 1 wherein each of said array of scintillator elements defines a top surface, a bottom surface, and a plurality of side surfaces, and wherein each of said plurality of side surfaces is optimized to a selected degree to define a selected light collection efficiency and to control light sharing between said array of scintillator elements. 3. The detector array of claim 1 wherein said air gap is defined between adjacent of said array of scintillator elements between which no said reflective light partition is positioned, and between said scintillator elements and said plurality of reflective light partitions. 4. The detector array of claim 1 wherein said plurality of reflective light partitions is fabricated from a material selected from the group consisting of at least reflective powders, plastics, paints, polyvinyl alcohol, ceramics, and films. 5. The detector array of claim 4 wherein said plurality of reflective light partitions is fabricated from film, said film being adhered to one side of an adjacent pair of said selected scintillator elements, said air gap being defined between said film and an opposing side of said adjacent pair of said selected scintillator elements. 6. The detector array of claim 4 further comprising a grid array defined by said mechanism for maintaining a relative position of each of said array of scintillator elements with respect to each of said array of scintillator elements and said plurality of reflective light partitions, said grid array defining a plurality of scintillator element cells adapted to receive said array of scintillators. 7. The detector array of claim 6 wherein said array of scintillator elements are received within each of said scintillator element cells without a binding agent, said air gap being defined between each scintillator element and said side wall of said scintillator element cell. 8. The detector array of claim 6, said grid array being fabricated from at least one component selected from the group consisting of at least: reflective powders, plastics, paints, ceramics, titanium dioxide, barium sulfate, silicon dioxide, calcium carbonate, aluminum oxide, magnesium oxide, zinc oxide, zirconium oxide, talcum, alumina, polyethylene terephthalate film, polytetrafluoroethylene (PTFE), calcium fluoride, silica gel, polyvinyl alcohol, and films. 9. The detector array of claim 8 wherein said grid array is fabricated from a composition including 20% titanium dioxide (TiO 2), 2% PTFE, 0.2% optical brightener, and polypropylene. 10. The detector array of claim 1 further comprising at least one photodetector, said array of scintillator elements being coupled to said at least one photodetector. 11. The detector array of claim 10 wherein said mechanism for maintaining a relative position of each of said array of scintillator elements with respect to each of said array of scintillator elements is a bonding agent for bonding each of said array of scintillator elements to said at least one photodetector. 12. The detector array of claim 10 wherein said at least one photodetector is selected from the group consisting of at least a photomultiplier tube, a position sensitive photomultiplier tube, an avalanche photodiode, a pin diode, a CCD, and a solid state detector. 13. The detector array of claim 10 further comprising a light guide disposed between said array of scintillator elements and said at least one photodetector, said scintillator elements being coupled to said at least one photodetector via said light guide. 14. The detector array of claim 13 wherein said mechanism for maintaining a relative position of each of said array of scintillator elements with respect to each of said array of scintillator elements is a bonding agent for bonding each of said array of scintillator elements to said light guide.