Composite scintillator screen

Claim 2

A scintillator screen for an X-ray system comprising: a substrate of low-Z, non-scintillating material; and bodies associated with the substrate including a high-Z, scintillating material adapted to scintillate upon exposure to photoelectrons produced by X-rays passing through the high-Z material of the bodies, the bodies being of such size and being spatially separated from one another by the low-Z material of the substrate to provide the screen with a predetermined sensitivity to X-rays within a preselected energy range.

Claim 3

A screen as defined in claim 1 wherein the bodies are dispersed uniformly throughout the substrate.

Claim 4

A screen as defined in claim 1 wherein the materials of the substrate and the bodies have indices of refraction which are within ten percent of each other.

Claim 5

A screen as defined in claim 1 wherein each of the bodies has a thickness between about 1×10 -3 mm and 1×10 -2 mm as measured in a direction therethrough which corresponds generally to the direction of travel of an X-ray into the bodies.

Claim 6

The screen as defined in claim 1 wherein the bodies are provided by grains embedded within the substrate.

Claim 7

A screen as defined in claim 5 wherein the high-Z material of the bodies comprises about 25% of the total volume of the screen.

Claim 8

The screen as defined in claim 1 wherein at least one of the bodies is provided by a layer of high-Z material juxtaposed with the substrate material.

Claim 9

A screen as defined in claim 7 wherein the high-Z material of the bodies comprises about 25% of the total volume of the screen.

Claim 10

A screen as defined in claim 1 wherein the high-Z material of the bodies comprises about 25% of the total volume of the screen.

Claim 11

A screen as defined in claim 1 wherein the bodies include gadolinium oxysulphide and the substrate includes plastic.

Claim 12

The screen of claim 1 further comprising: a second substrate positioned adjacent said first substrate, said second substrate including low-Z material; and second bodies associated with the second substrate including high-Z material, at least one of said second substrate and said second bodies being adapted to scintillate upon exposure to photoelectrons provided by X-rays passing through the high-Z material of said second bodies, said second bodies being of such a size and being spatially separated one from another by the low-Z material of said second substrate to provide a pre-selected sensitivity to X-rays within an alternative energy range.

Claim 13

A scintillator screen for an X-ray system comprising: a substrate of low-Z material; and bodies comprised of fibers associated with the substrate including a high-Z material, at least one of the materials of the substrate and bodies adapted to scintillate upon exposure to photoelectrons produced by X-rays passing through the high-Z material of the bodies, the bodies being of such size and being spatially separated from one another by the low-Z material of the substrate to provide the screen with a predetermined sensitivity to X-rays within a preselected energy range.

Claim 14

A scintillator screen for an X-ray system comprising: a substrate of low-Z material; and bodies comprised of fibers associated with the substrate including a high-Z material, at least one of the materials of the substrate and bodies adapted to scintillate upon exposure to photoelectrons produced by X-rays passing through the high-Z material of the bodies, the bodies being of such size and being spatially separated from one another by the low-Z material of the substrate to provide the screen with a predetermined sensitivity to X-rays within a preselected energy range.

Claim 15

A screen as defined in claim 12 wherein the high-Z material of the bodies comprises about 25% of the total volume of the screen.

Claim 16

A scintillator screen for an X-ray system comprising: a substrate including lithium fluoride; and bodies associated with the substrate including barium fluoride, the bodies being of such size and being spatially separated from one another by the lithium fluoride of the substrate to provide the screen with a predetermined sensitivity to X-rays within a preselected energy range.

Claim 17

A scintillator screen for an X-ray system comprising: a substrate including lithium fluoride; and bodies associated with the substrate including barium fluoride, the bodies being of such size and being spatially separated from one another by the lithium fluoride of the substrate to provide the screen with a predetermined sensitivity to X-rays within a preselected energy range.

Claim 18

A scintillator screen for an X-ray system comprising: a substrate including anthracene; and bodies associated with the substrate including heavy flint glass, the bodies being of such size and being spatially separated from one another by the anthracene of the substrate to provide the screen with a predetermined sensitivity to X-rays within a preselected energy range.

Claim 19

A scintillator screen for an X-ray system comprising: a substrate including anthracene; and bodies associated with the substrate including heavy flint glass, the bodies being of such size and being spatially separated from one another by the anthracene of the substrate to provide the screen with a predetermined sensitivity to X-rays within a preselected energy range.

Claim 20

A scintillator screen for an X-ray system comprising: a substrate of low-Z material; and bodies associated with the substrate including a quantity of leaded plastic coated with a low-Z material, at least one of the materials of the substrate and bodies adapted to scintillate upon exposure to photoelectrons produced by X-rays passing through the bodies, and the bodies are of such size and are spatially separated from one another by the low-Z material of the substrate to provide the screen with a predetermined sensitivity to X-rays within a preselected energy range.

Claim 21

A scintillator screen for an X-ray system comprising: a substrate of low-Z material; and bodies associated with the substrate including a quantity of leaded plastic coated with a low-Z material, at least one of the materials of the substrate and bodies adapted to scintillate upon exposure to photoelectrons produced by X-rays passing through the bodies, and the bodies are of such size and are spatially separated from one another by the low-Z material of the substrate to provide the screen with a predetermined sensitivity to X-rays within a preselected energy range.

Claim 22

A scintillator screen for an X-ray system comprising: a substrate including lithium fluoride and bodies associated with the substrate including barium fluoride, the bodies having a thickness of about 10 microns as measured in a direction therethrough which corresponds generally to the direction of travel of an X-ray into the body, the bodies being uniformly dispersed throughout the substrate and occupying about 25% of the total volume of the screen, and the bodies being of such size and being spatially separated from one another to provide the screen with a predetermined sensitivity to X-rays within a preselected energy range.

Claim 23

A scintillator screen for an X-ray system comprising: a substrate including lithium fluoride and bodies associated with the substrate including barium fluoride, the bodies having a thickness of about 10 microns as measured in a direction therethrough which corresponds generally to the direction of travel of an X-ray into the body, the bodies being uniformly dispersed throughout the substrate and occupying about 25% of the total volume of the screen, and the bodies being of such size and being spatially separated from one another to provide the screen with a predetermined sensitivity to X-rays within a preselected energy range.