초록 ▼

In certain exemplary embodiments of the present invention, three-dimensional micro-mechanical devices and/or micro-structures can be made using a production casting process. As part of this process, an intermediate mold can be made from or derived from a precision stack lamination and used to fabric

In certain exemplary embodiments of the present invention, three-dimensional micro-mechanical devices and/or micro-structures can be made using a production casting process. As part of this process, an intermediate mold can be made from or derived from a precision stack lamination and used to fabricate the devices and/or structures. Further, the micro-devices and/or micro-structures can be fabricated on planar or nonplanar surfaces through use of a series of production casting processes and intermediate molds. The use of precision stack lamination can allow the fabrication of high aspect ratio structures. Moreover, via certain molding and/or casting materials, molds having cavities with protruding undercuts also can be fabricated.

대표청구항 ▼

1. A device, comprising: a radiation attenuating, cast, monolithic body comprising at least one surface that defines: a protruding undercut; anda plurality of 3-dimensional micro-features;said surface derived from and substantially spatially invertedly replicating a stack lamination mold surface for

1. A device, comprising: a radiation attenuating, cast, monolithic body comprising at least one surface that defines: a protruding undercut; anda plurality of 3-dimensional micro-features;said surface derived from and substantially spatially invertedly replicating a stack lamination mold surface formed by a stacked plurality of metallic foil layers comprised by a stack lamination mold;wherein said body comprises particles having a size ranging from 1 to 150 microns. 2. The device of claim 1, wherein: by virtue of one or more features, compositions, properties, dimensions, structural elements, and/or geometric shapes of said body, said device is adapted to serve as a mammography scatter reduction grid. 3. The device of claim 1, wherein: by virtue of one or more features, compositions, properties, dimensions, structural elements, and/or geometric shapes of said body, said device is adapted to serve as a nuclear medicine collimator. 4. The device of claim 1, wherein: by virtue of one or more features, compositions, properties, dimensions, structural elements, and/or geometric shapes said body, said device is adapted to serve as a computed-tomography collimator. 5. The device of claim 1, wherein: said body defines a collimator focused in two orthogonal directions. 6. The device of claim 1, wherein: said body defines a plurality of open passages that are focally aligned to a predetermined distance. 7. The device of claim 1, wherein: said body defines a cross-grid. 8. The device of claim 1, wherein: said body defines a grid ratio of less than 4. 9. The device of claim 1, wherein: said body defines a grid ratio of less than 8. 10. The device of claim 1, wherein: said body defines a grid ratio of less than 12. 11. The device of claim 1, wherein: said body defines a plurality of non-redundant cells. 12. The device of claim 1, wherein: said body defines a plurality of cells, each cell from said plurality of cells having a unique cross-sectional shape with respect to each other cell from said plurality of cells. 13. The device of claim 1, wherein: said body defines a cell having a non-planar wall. 14. The device of claim 1, wherein: said body defines a cell having a wall having a non-uniform thickness. 15. The device of claim 1, wherein: said body defines a cell having a non-rectangular cell cross-sectional shape. 16. The device of claim 1, wherein: said body defines a cell having a cell cross-sectional shape comprising 3 distinct sides. 17. The device of claim 1, wherein: said body defines a cell having a cell cross-sectional shape comprising 5 distinct sides. 18. The device of claim 1, wherein: said body defines a cell having a cell cross-sectional shape comprising greater than 6 distinct sides. 19. The device of claim 1, wherein: said body defines a cell having a width of between approximately 25 microns and approximately 250 microns. 20. The device of claim 1, wherein: said body defines a cell having a width of less than 1 millimeter. 21. The device of claim 1, wherein: said at least one surface is non-planar. 22. The device of claim 1, wherein: said at least one surface is anisotropic. 23. The device of claim 1, wherein: said at least one surface is isotropic. 24. The device of claim 1, wherein: said at least one surface has a predetermined surface finish. 25. The device of claim 1, wherein: said body defines at least one wall having an aspect ratio of greater than 25:1. 26. The device of claim 1, wherein: said body defines at least one wall having an aspect ratio of greater than 10:1. 27. The device of claim 1, wherein: said body defines at least one wall having a thickness of less than 20 microns. 28. The device of claim 1, wherein: said body defines at least one wall having a thickness of less than 100 microns. 29. The device of claim 1, wherein: said body defines at least one wall having a height of up to 10,000 microns. 30. The device of claim 1, wherein: said body defines at least one wall having a height of between approximately 4 centimeters and approximately 30 centimeters. 31. The device of claim 1, wherein: said body comprises a lead alloy. 32. The device of claim 1, wherein: said body comprises a lead alloy combined with a plurality of dense particles selected from gold, tantalum, and tungsten. 33. The device of claim 1, wherein: said body comprises a cured polymer. 34. The device of claim 1, wherein: said body comprises a cured epoxy. 35. The device of claim 1, wherein: said body comprises a cured binder loaded with metallic powder. 36. The device of claim 1, wherein: said body comprises a material having a density of approximately 7.0 grams/cc to approximately 12.5 grams/cc. 37. The device of claim 1, wherein: said body comprises a material having a density of approximately 12.5 grams/cc to approximately 14 grams/cc. 38. The device of claim 1, further comprising: a pixilated detector array. 39. The device of claim 1, further comprising: a plurality of scintillators. 40. The device of claim 1, further comprising: a plurality of radiation detector elements. 41. The device of claim 1, further comprising: a plurality of radiation detector elements focally aligned by openings defined by said body. 42. The device of claim 1, further comprising: a plurality of radiation detector elements focally aligned by openings defined by said body to a radiation source at a predetermined distance.