Patent US6479824B1 successfully refreshed from Google Patents.
US6479824B1
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Scintillator arrays for CT imaging and other applications
Assignee: GE Medical Systems Global Technology Co LLC
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Filing: 2000-11-08
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Granted: 2002-11-12
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Expires: 2020-11-08
Abstract
Abstract One embodiment of the present invention is a detector for detecting x-rays of an imaging system. The detector has a plurality of photodetectors; and a plurality of scintillator elements optically coupled to the plurality of photodetectors. The scintillator elements have sides separated from adjacent scintillator elements by gaps; and a cast reflector mixture in the gaps between the sides of the scintillator elements. The cast reflector mixture include a first powdered material having a higher Z and a higher density than titanium dioxide, and a refractivity index sufficient to effectively scatter and reflect light within the cast reflector mixture.
Inventors
- 👤 David M. Hoffman
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-06 13:38
CPC Classifications
G; G01; G01T; G01T1/00; G01T1/16; G01T1/20; G01T1/2018; G01T1/20183; G01T1/2002; G01T1/20182; A; A61; A61B; A61B6/00; A61B6/02; A61B6/03; A61B6/032
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 44
Claim 1
Independent Claim
104 words
A detector for detecting x-rays of an imaging system, said detector comprising: a plurality of photodetectors; a plurality of scintillator elements optically coupled to the plurality of photodetectors, the scintillator elements having sides separated from adjacent scintillator elements by gaps; and a cast reflector mixture in the gaps between the sides of the scintillator elements, said cast reflector mixture comprising a first powdered material having a higher Z and a higher density than titanium dioxide, and a refractivity index sufficient to effectively scatter and reflect light within the cast reflector mixture, and a second powdered material having higher refractivity than said first powdered material.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
104 words
A detector for detecting x-rays of an imaging system, said detector comprising: a plurality of photodetectors; a plurality of scintillator elements optically coupled to the plurality of photodetectors, the scintillator elements having sides separated from adjacent scintillator elements by gaps; and a cast reflector mixture in the gaps between the sides of the scintillator elements, said cast reflector mixture comprising a first powdered material having a higher Z and a higher density than titanium dioxide, and a refractivity index sufficient to effectively scatter and reflect light within the cast reflector mixture, and a second powdered material having higher refractivity than said first powdered material.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
19 words
A detector in accordance with claim 1 wherein the first powdered material has a refractivity index greater than 1.5.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
16 words
A detector in accordance with claim 2 wherein the cast reflector mixture further comprises an epoxy.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
24 words
A detector in accordance with claim 2 wherein the cast reflector mixture comprises at least 10 percent by weight of the first powdered material.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
22 words
A detector in accordance with claim 4 wherein the cast reflector mixture comprises a maximum dispersible amount of the first powdered material.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
33 words
A detector in accordance with claim 4 wherein the first powdered material comprises a material selected from the group consisting of white oxides of metals, white inorganic compounds of metals, and combinations thereof.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
40 words
A detector in accordance with claim 4 wherein the first powdered material comprises a material selected from the group consisting of white oxides, carbonates, and sulfates of lead, zinc, tin, antimony, bismuth, tantalum, tungsten, lanthanum, and zirconium, and combinations thereof.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
45 words
A detector in accordance with claim 4 wherein the scintillator elements have a front and a back, the plurality of photodetectors are optically coupled to the back of the plurality of scintillator elements, and the cast reflector mixture covers the front of the scintillator elements.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
20 words
A detector in accordance with claim 1 wherein the second powdered material has a refractivity index not less than 1.6.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
23 words
A detector in accordance with claim 9 wherein the cast reflector mixture comprises at least 10% by weight of the second powdered material.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
36 words
A detector in accordance with claim 10 wherein the cast reflector mixture comprises a maximum dispersible amount of the second powdered material, taking into account the at least 10% by weight of the first powdered material.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
45 words
A detector in accordance with claim 10 wherein the second powdered material comprises a material selected from the group consisting of white oxides, sulfates, and carbonates of titanium, barium, magnesium, calcium, aluminum, and strontium that have refractivity indices not less than 1.6, and combinations thereof.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
18 words
A detector in accordance with claim 12 wherein the cast reflector mixture further comprises a light absorbing powder.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
17 words
A detector in accordance with claim 13 wherein the light absorbing powder comprises an oxide of chromium.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
15 words
A detector in accordance with claim 13 wherein the light absorbing powder comprises carbon black.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
16 words
A detector in accordance with claim 2 wherein the first powdered material is luminescent to x-rays.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
19 words
A detector in accordance with claim 16 wherein the first powdered material has a refractivity index greater than 1.5.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
23 words
A detector in accordance with claim 17 wherein the cast reflector mixture comprises at least 10% by weight of the first powdered material.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
35 words
A detector in accordance with claim 18 wherein the first powdered material comprises a material selected from the group consisting of gadolinium oxysulfide, cadmium tungstate, calcium tungstate, bismuth germanate, yttrium gadolinium oxide, and mixtures thereof.
Claim 21
Dependent Claim
28 words
A detector in accordance with claim 18 wherein the cast reflector mixture further comprises a second powdered material having a higher refractivity index than the first powdered material.
Claim 22
Dependent Claim
20 words
A detector in accordance with claim 20 wherein the second powdered material has a refractivity index not less than 1.6.
Claim 23
Dependent Claim
23 words
A detector in accordance with claim 21 wherein the cast reflector mixture comprises at least 10% by weight of the second powdered material.
Claim 24
Dependent Claim
45 words
A detector in accordance with claim 22 wherein the second powdered material comprises a material selected from the group consisting of white oxides, sulfates, and carbonates of titanium, barium, magnesium, calcium, aluminum, and strontium that have refractivity indices not less than 1.6, and combinations thereof.
Claim 25
Dependent Claim
18 words
A detector in accordance with claim 23 wherein the cast reflector mixture further comprises a light absorbing powder.
Claim 26
Dependent Claim
29 words
A detector in accordance with claim 24 wherein the light absorbing powder comprises a material selected from the group consisting of chromium oxides and carbon black, and mixtures thereof.
Claim 27
Dependent Claim
78 words
An imaging system comprising: a detector array in accordance with claim 1 ; an x-ray source; and a rotating gantry, wherein the x-ray source and detector array are on opposite sides of the rotating gantry, the x-ray source is configured to project x-rays through an object, and the detector array is configured to sense projected x-rays that pass through the object and to produce electrical signals representing attenuation of the x-ray beam as it passes through the object.
Claim 28
Dependent Claim
78 words
An imaging system comprising: a detector array in accordance with claim 7 ; an x-ray source; and a rotating gantry, wherein the x-ray source and detector array are on opposite sides of the rotating gantry, the x-ray source is configured to project x-rays through an object, and the detector array is configured to sense projected x-rays that pass through the object and to produce electrical signals representing attenuation of the x-ray beam as it passes through the object.
Claim 29
Dependent Claim
78 words
An imaging system comprising: a detector array in accordance with claim 10 ; an x-ray source; and a rotating gantry, wherein the x-ray source and detector array are on opposite sides of the rotating gantry, the x-ray source is configured to project x-rays through an object, and the detector array is configured to sense projected x-rays that pass through the object and to produce electrical signals representing attenuation of the x-ray beam as it passes through the object.
Claim 30
Dependent Claim
78 words
An imaging system comprising: a detector array in accordance with claim 16 ; an x-ray source; and a rotating gantry, wherein the x-ray source and detector array are on opposite sides of the rotating gantry, the x-ray source is configured to project x-rays through an object, and the detector array is configured to sense projected x-rays that pass through the object and to produce electrical signals representing attenuation of the x-ray beam as it passes through the object.
Claim 31
Dependent Claim
78 words
An imaging system comprising: a detector array in accordance with claim 22 ; an x-ray source; and a rotating gantry, wherein the x-ray source and detector array are on opposite sides of the rotating gantry, the x-ray source is configured to project x-rays through an object, and the detector array is configured to sense projected x-rays that pass through the object and to produce electrical signals representing attenuation of the x-ray beam as it passes through the object.
Claim 32
Independent Claim
86 words
A method for making an x-ray detector comprising the steps of: optically coupling a plurality of photodetectors to a plurality of scintillator elements, the scintillator elements each having sides, a front, and a back; and casting a reflector mixture comprising a first powdered material having a higher Z and a higher density than titanium dioxide, and a refractivity index sufficient to effectively scatter and reflect light within the cast reflector mixture, and a second powdered material having a higher refractivity index than the first powdered material.
Claim 33
Independent Claim
86 words
A method for making an x-ray detector comprising the steps of: optically coupling a plurality of photodetectors to a plurality of scintillator elements, the scintillator elements each having sides, a front, and a back; and casting a reflector mixture comprising a first powdered material having a higher Z and a higher density than titanium dioxide, and a refractivity index sufficient to effectively scatter and reflect light within the cast reflector mixture, and a second powdered material having a higher refractivity index than the first powdered material.
Claim 34
Dependent Claim
45 words
A method in accordance with claim 31 wherein the casting of a reflector mixture comprising a first powdered material comprises the step of casting a reflector mixture containing at least 10% by weight of a first powdered material having a refractivity index greater than 1.5.
Claim 35
Dependent Claim
39 words
A method in accordance with claim 32 wherein the first material comprises a material selected from the group consisting of white oxides, carbonates, and sulfates of lead, zinc, tin, antimony, bismuth, tantalum, tungsten, lanthanum, and zirconium, and combinations thereof.
Claim 36
Dependent Claim
59 words
A method in accordance with claim 32 wherein said step of optically coupling a plurality of photodetectors to a plurality of scintillator elements comprises optically coupling the plurality of photodetectors to the backs of the plurality of scintillator elements, and said method further comprises the step of casting the cast reflector mixture over the front of the scintillator elements.
Claim 37
Dependent Claim
26 words
A method in accordance with claim 32 wherein the cast reflector mixture further comprises a second powdered material having higher refractivity than the first powdered material.
Claim 38
Dependent Claim
36 words
A method in accordance with claim 35 wherein the second powdered material has a refractivity index not less than 1.6 and the cast reflector mixture comprises at least 10% by weight of the second powdered material.
Claim 39
Dependent Claim
18 words
A method in accordance with claim 36 wherein the cast reflector mixture further comprises a light absorbing powder.
Claim 40
Dependent Claim
16 words
A method in accordance with claim 31 wherein the first powdered material is luminescent to x-rays.
Claim 41
Dependent Claim
35 words
A method in accordance with claim 38 wherein the first powdered material has a refractivity index greater than 1.5 and the cast reflector mixture comprises at least 10% by weight of the first powdered material.
Claim 42
Dependent Claim
35 words
A method in accordance with claim 39 wherein the first powered material comprises a material selected from the group consisting of gadolinium oxysulfide, cadmium tungstate, calcium tungstate, bismuth germanate, yttrium gadolinium oxide, and mixtures thereof.
Claim 43
Dependent Claim
32 words
A method in accordance with claim 31 wherein the second powdered material has a refractivity index not less than 1.6 and comprises at least 10% by weight of the second powdered material.
Claim 44
Dependent Claim
18 words
A method in accordance with claim 41 wherein the cast reflector mixture further comprises a light absorbing powder.
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USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 2005-11-11 | 2006-05-13 | 2006-11-12 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 2009-11-11 | 2010-05-13 | 2010-11-12 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 2013-11-11 | 2014-05-13 | 2014-11-12 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |