Abstract An energy discriminating apparatus and method is disclosed for use in connection with digital radiography and fluoroscopy. In use of the detection system and method an x-ray source (S) is actuated to direct x-rays through a patient's body (P), the x-rays including both higher and lower energy radiation. A first detector element, including a plurality of segments, is positioned opposite the source to receive and respond predominantly to x-rays in a lower energy range, the remaining x-rays, being generally of higher energy, passing through the first detector element. A second detector element, also including a plurality of segments, each segment including a phosphor coating layer and a sensor, is positioned to receive and respond to the higher energy radiation passing through the first element. The sensors are coupled respectively to each detector element segment for substantially simultaneously sensing the response and spatial location, relative to the detector elements, of radiation to which each detector element respectively responds. A filter element is interposed between the first and second detectors to enhance discrimination in the energy response of the respective detector elements. Particular preferred detector phosphor materials are identified. The sensors produce separately and simultaneously information representing patterns of relatively lower and higher energy emergent from the patient's body. Digital data processing and conversion equipment responds to the sensors to produce digital information representing each of said images, which can be digitally processed to enhance image characteristics.
A radiation imaging system comprising: a) a source for propagating penetrative radiation along a path from a focal spot; b) a detector assembly spaced from said source and interposed in said path, said detector assembly comprising: i) a front array of individual detector elements, each front array element including a penetrative radiation sensitive receiving face having a discrete geometry, said front array element faces being located at substantially a distance F₁ from said focal spot; ii) a rear array of individual detector elements, each said rear array element including a penetrative radiation sensitive receiving face having a discrete geometry, wherein each element of said rear array is substantially aligned behind a corresponding element of said front array, with respect to said focal spot, and in which each rear array element has a receiving face which has a larger area than the receiving face of its corresponding aligned front array element, said rear array receiving faces being located at substantially a distance F₂ from said focal spot, and c) circuitry coupled to said detector arrays for producing a representation of radiation when incident on said detector elements.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
186 words
A radiation imaging system comprising: a) a source for propagating penetrative radiation along a path from a focal spot; b) a detector assembly spaced from said source and interposed in said path, said detector assembly comprising: i) a front array of individual detector elements, each front array element including a penetrative radiation sensitive receiving face having a discrete geometry, said front array element faces being located at substantially a distance F₁ from said focal spot; ii) a rear array of individual detector elements, each said rear array element including a penetrative radiation sensitive receiving face having a discrete geometry, wherein each element of said rear array is substantially aligned behind a corresponding element of said front array, with respect to said focal spot, and in which each rear array element has a receiving face which has a larger area than the receiving face of its corresponding aligned front array element, said rear array receiving faces being located at substantially a distance F₂ from said focal spot, and c) circuitry coupled to said detector arrays for producing a representation of radiation when incident on said detector elements.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
55 words
A system as claimed in Claim 1, wherein: a) said receiving faces of said detector elements of said front and rear arrays have similar geometry, and b) a dimension D₁ of one of said front array elements is related to a corresponding dimension D₂ of one of said rear array elements by the following relation:
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
76 words
A system as claimed in Claim 1 or Claim 2 in which each said front array element comprises a first material of a kind which is preferentially responsive to penetrative radiation of a first energy range, and in which each said array element comprises a second material different in kind from said first material and of a kind which is preferentially responsive to radiation of a second energy range extending higher than said first energy range.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
No citation records indexed.
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
Maintenance schedule is calculated for granted US utility patents.