Covered X-ray machine

Abstract

Systems, methods, apparatus, and computer program products are provided for the detection of X-ray electromagnetic radiation using a scintillator. [Solution] In one exemplary embodiment, at least one X-ray device may have an X-ray source configured to emit an X-ray cone, a scintillator, a detector, and at least one shroud positioned to block stray light from reaching the detector.

Description

[Technical field]

[0001] CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

[0001] This application claims the benefit of and priority to U.S. Provisional Patent Application No. 63 / 280,064, filed November 16, 2021. The contents of this referenced patent application are incorporated herein by reference in their entirety.

[0002] Technical Field Some illustrative embodiments may relate generally to detection of X-ray electromagnetic radiation using a scintillator and / or a shroud. For example, certain illustrative embodiments may relate to systems and / or methods for non-invasive scanning of objects using X-ray electromagnetic radiation. [Background technology]

[0003] background

[0003] X-ray devices, such as computed tomography (CT) devices, can be used to detect defects and / or damage in an object without disassembling the object. However, current X-ray detection equipment is in need of improvement because they are too expensive for certain analyses, too large or bulky to be used in certain situations, cannot image the interior of an object with adequate resolution, and have other problems known in the art. Described herein are solutions to these and other problems known in the art. Summary of the Invention [Means for solving the problem]

[0004] overview

[0004] According to various illustrative embodiments, the X-ray device may include at least one X-ray source configured to emit an X-ray cone, a scintillator, a detector, and at least one shroud positioned to block stray light from reaching the detector.

[0005] In certain illustrative embodiments, the shroud may block 90% to 99.999% of stray light from reaching the detector.

[0006] In some illustrative embodiments, the shroud can block at least 80% of stray light from reaching the detector.

[0007] In various illustrative embodiments, the shroud can block at least 90% of stray light from reaching the detector.

[0008] In certain illustrative embodiments, the shroud may block at least 95% of stray light from reaching the detector.

[0009]

[0009] In some illustrative embodiments, the shroud can block at least 99% of stray light from reaching the detector.

[0010] In various exemplary embodiments, the shroud can block stray light to less than 0.1% of the signal.

[0011]

[0011] In certain exemplary embodiments, the shroud may block stray light at or near the detector readout.

[0012]

[0012] In some illustrative embodiments, the shroud may block only the scintillation light from the scintillator from incident light on the detector.

[0013] In various exemplary embodiments, the scintillator can be an organic scintillator, an inorganic scintillator, an organic-inorganic scintillator, or any combination thereof.

[0014] In some example embodiments, the scintillator can be an organic scintillator material, an inorganic scintillator material, an organic-inorganic scintillator material, or any combination thereof.

[0015]

[0015] In certain illustrative embodiments, the scintillator may be an inorganic scintillator selected from alkali metal halides, optionally with dopants, phosphors, quantum dots, and combinations thereof.

[0016] In some example embodiments, the scintillator may include gadolinium sulfate (Gadox), terbium activated Gadox, cesium iodide, or a combination thereof.

[0017] In various exemplary embodiments, the form factor of the scintillator can be a thin film.

[0018] In certain illustrative embodiments, the detector may include an optical camera, a charge-coupled device detector, a photodiode, or any combination thereof.

[0019]

[0019] In some illustrative embodiments, the optical camera may include a complementary metal oxide semiconductor digital camera sensor.

[0020] In various illustrative embodiments, the optical camera may include a red-green-green-blue Bayer filter.

[0021]

[0021] In certain illustrative embodiments, the optical camera may include a monochrome optical camera.

[0022]

[0022] In some illustrative embodiments, the optical camera may include a back-illuminated sensor.

[0023]

[0023] In various illustrative embodiments, the optical camera may include a front-illuminated sensor.

[0024] In certain illustrative embodiments, the shroud may be positioned between at least one x-ray source and the detector.

[0025] In some example embodiments, the shroud may be flat and have an opening that allows at least 90% of the x-ray light cone to propagate through the shroud.

[0026]

[0026] In various illustrative embodiments, the shroud can include a tapered, truncated tip that matches the optical entrance of the detector.

[0027] In a particular illustrative embodiment, the x-ray light cone may include a right cone having an angle between 20° and 90°.

[0028]

[0028] In some example embodiments, the long axis of the scintillator and the long axis of the shroud can be parallel.

[0029]

[0029] In various exemplary embodiments, the scintillator may have a length and a width, the shroud may have a length and a width, the length of the scintillator may be parallel to the length of the shroud, and the width of the scintillator may be parallel to the width of the shroud.

[0030] Certain illustrative embodiments further include one or more mirrors configured to reflect light from the scintillator to the detector.

[0031] In some example embodiments, the one or more mirrors can be configured to reflect light from the scintillator 90 degrees to the detector.

[0032] In various illustrative embodiments, the one or more mirrors can be configured to reflect light from the scintillator at 45° to the detector.

[0033]

[0033] In a particular exemplary embodiment, a first mirror of the one or more mirrors can be mounted at 45° with respect to the scintillator, and a second mirror of the multiple mirrors can be mounted at 90° with respect to the first mirror.

[0034] In some example embodiments, one or more of the mirrors may be configured to reflect light 180 degrees.

[0035]

[0035] In various exemplary embodiments, the first mirror may be positioned approximately 200 millimeters from the scintillator, the second mirror may be positioned approximately 300 millimeters from the first mirror, and the detector may be positioned approximately 300 millimeters from the second mirror.

[0036] In certain illustrative embodiments, the detector may be positioned between the shroud and the at least one x-ray source.

[0037] In some example embodiments, the scintillator may include a panel having a length of 320 millimeters and a width of 320 millimeters.

[0038] In various exemplary embodiments, the scintillator can include a number of mounting tabs positioned within 20 millimeters of the edge of the panel.

[0039] In certain example embodiments, the shroud may include a first component and a second component, where the first component may be longer than the second component.

[0040] In some illustrative embodiments, the first component and the second component can form an angle of less than 180°.

[0041] In various exemplary embodiments, the first component and the second component can form an angle of approximately 40° to 60°.

[0042] In a particular illustrative embodiment, the first component and the second component can form an angle of approximately 45 degrees.

[0043] In some example embodiments, the shroud may be transparent to x-ray light.

[0044] In various illustrative embodiments, at least 80% of the x-ray light cone can propagate through the shroud.

[0045] In certain exemplary embodiments, at least 90% of the x-ray light cone may propagate through the shroud.

[0046]

[0046] In some example embodiments, the scintillator and the shroud may not be parallel.

[0047] In various illustrative embodiments, the shroud can be at least 50% opaque to the wavelengths of light that are detectable by the detector.

[0048] In certain illustrative embodiments, the shroud may be 100% opaque to the wavelengths of light that are detectable by the detector.

[0049]

[0049] In some illustrative embodiments, the light detectable by the detector may include infrared and visible light.

[0050] In various illustrative embodiments, the x-ray light cone may include x-rays selected from soft x-rays and hard x-rays.

[0051] In certain illustrative embodiments, the x-ray light can be generated by electrodes having a voltage in the range of 20 kV to 225 kV.

[0052] In some example embodiments, the x-ray light may be in the range of 5 pm to 60 pm.

[0053]

[0053] In various exemplary embodiments, the stray light can be selected from light from at least one X-ray source, light from at least one X-ray source controller, light from a limit switch, light from a detector, and reflected light.

[0054]

[0054] In certain illustrative embodiments, the stray light may be non-scintillation light.

[0055]

[0055] In some example embodiments, the shroud may include fabric, foam, sheet metal, paper, cardboard, or any combination thereof.

[0056] In various illustrative embodiments, the x-ray device may not have one or more mirrors to reflect light from the scintillator to the detector.

[0057] In a particular illustrative embodiment, the X-ray device may be an X-ray computed tomography device.

[0058] In some example embodiments, the x-ray device may further include a motion system configured to reposition the x-ray device during scanning.

[0059] In various example embodiments, at least one of the at least one x-ray source, the detector, and the scan target may be configured to be moved by a motion system during scanning.

[0060] In certain illustrative embodiments, the at least one x-ray source can be configured to emit an x-ray cone as a pencil beam, a fan beam, or a cone beam.

[0061]

[0061] In some illustrative embodiments, the stray light may include at least one of visible light, infrared light, or ultraviolet light.

[0062] According to various illustrative embodiments, a method of providing a radiograph can include detecting optical or infrared scintillation light using an x-ray device.

[0063] According to some illustrative embodiments, the method may include at least one x-ray source propagating x-rays toward a scintillator, where the x-rays may pass through an object to be imaged. In response to receiving the x-rays, the scintillator may emit visible light.

[0064]

[0064] In certain illustrative embodiments, the method may further include moving at least one of the at least one x-ray source, the detector, and the scan target with a motion system.

[0065]

[0065] In some illustrative embodiments, the stray light may include at least one of visible light, infrared light, or ultraviolet light.

[0066]

[0066] The detector may detect visible light from the scintillator, and the shroud may be positioned to block the detector from at least one of stray light or x-ray light from the x-ray source.

[0067] In some embodiments, the disclosure herein is useful for imaging objects using X-ray CT in environments that include stray light. The disclosure herein provides the ability to place X-ray CT scanners in locations that cannot currently be used due to stray light issues.

[0068]

[0068] In some embodiments, the disclosure herein describes methods of using the disclosure herein to provide at least one or more radiographs.

[0069]

[0069] In some embodiments, the disclosure herein describes a method of providing at least one or more radiographs using an X-ray device including at least one X-ray source configured to emit an X-ray cone, a scintillator, a detector, and at least one shroud positioned to block stray light from reaching the detector.

[0070] BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0070] For a proper understanding of the illustrative embodiments, reference should be made to the accompanying drawings, in which: [Brief description of the drawings]

[0071] [Figure 1]

[0071] An example of an X-ray device is shown in accordance with a particular illustrative embodiment. [Diagram 2]

[0072] 1 illustrates an example of another X-ray device in accordance with various illustrative embodiments. [Diagram 3]

[0073] 1 illustrates an example of another X-ray device, according to some illustrative embodiments. [Figure 4]

[0074] 1 illustrates an example of a flow diagram of a method performed by an X-ray device in accordance with certain illustrative embodiments. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

[0072] Detailed Description

[0075] It will be readily understood that the components of the specific example embodiments as generally described and illustrated in the Figures herein could be arranged and designed in a wide variety of different configurations, and thus, the following detailed description of several example embodiments of systems, methods and apparatus for detecting x-ray images is not intended to limit the scope of the specific example embodiments, but instead represents selected example embodiments.

[0073] definition

[0076] As used herein, the term "approximately" means substantially, in the region, around, or any similar equivalent.

[0074]

[0077] As used herein, the term "backside illuminated sensor" refers to a digital image sensor having a particular configuration of imaging elements. For example, a backside illuminated sensor can have (described from top to bottom) lenses (e.g., microlenses, top layer), filters (e.g., color filters), photodiode substrates, and metal wiring (e.g., bottom layer).

[0075]

[0078] As used herein, the term "CCD" means charge coupled device.

[0076]

[0079] As used herein, the term "CMOS" means complementary metal oxide semiconductor.

[0077]

[0080] As used herein, the term "CPU" means central processing unit.

[0078]

[0081] As used herein, the term "CsI" means cesium iodide.

[0079]

[0082] As used herein, the term "CT" means computed tomography.

[0080]

[0083] As used herein, the term "detector" refers to a device or instrument configured to detect visible, ultraviolet, or infrared light.

[0081]

[0084] As used herein, the term "front-illuminated sensor" refers to a digital image sensor having a particular configuration of imaging elements. For example, a front-illuminated sensor may have (written from top to bottom) a lens (or microlens, top layer), a filter (e.g., color filter), metal wiring, and a photodiode substrate (bottom layer).

[0082]

[0085] As used herein, the term "Gadox" means gadolinium sulfate.

[0083]

[0086] As used herein, the term "kV" means kilovolts.

[0084]

[0087] As used herein, the term "near detector read noise" refers to the inherent noise or background signal associated with detection during operation.

[0085]

[0088] As used herein, the term "RGGB" means Red-Green-Green-Blue.

[0086]

[0089] As used herein, the term "PS" means polystyrene.

[0087]

[0090] As used herein, the term "PVT" means polyvinyl toluene.

[0088]

[0091] As used herein, the term "scintillator" means a material that emits visible, ultraviolet, and / or infrared light when excited by X-ray radiation.

[0089]

[0092] As used herein, the term "shroud" means a covering that blocks visible, ultraviolet, and / or infrared light from reaching a detector.

[0090]

[0093] As used herein, the term "signal" refers to an image pixel intensity value that corresponds to the intensity of light incident on a sensor pixel.

[0091]

[0094] As used herein, the term "stray light" means visible, infrared, and / or ultraviolet light that affects a detector by contributing noise above the read noise of the detector.

[0092]

[0095] As used herein, the term "thin film" means a film having a thickness of less than 1 micron.

[0093]

[0096] As used herein, the term "Tb" means terbium.

[0094]

[0097] As used herein, the term "X-ray source" means a device that emits X-ray radiation.

[0095]

[0098] Certain example embodiments described herein may have various benefits and / or advantages to overcome the above-mentioned shortcomings. For example, certain example embodiments may improve image quality and / or life span of imaging devices. Certain example embodiments are portable. Certain example embodiments are easier to maintain than known x-ray devices. Accordingly, certain example embodiments described below are directed to improvements in computer-related technology, specifically x-ray scanning and imaging technology.

[0096]

[0099] 1 illustrates an example of an x-ray device 100. The x-ray device 100 may include an x-ray source 101 configured to emit x-rays 102 toward a scintillator 103. As the x-rays 102 pass through a scan target 107 and collide with the scintillator 103, the scintillator 103 may emit visible light 108 that depicts an image. One or more mirrors 104 may reflect the visible light 108 toward a detector 105.

[0097]

[0100] In various illustrative embodiments, the X-ray device 100 may include a motion system 106 configured to move, reposition, manipulate, or otherwise steer the X-ray source 101, the detector 105, and / or the scan target 107. Additionally, the X-ray device 100 may be an X-ray CT device. In various illustrative embodiments, the X-ray source 101 may emit an X-ray cone, which may be a pencil beam, a fan beam, a cone beam, or the like.

[0098]

[0101] In some example embodiments, the x-rays 102 may be emitted as a left or right cone at any angle between 20° and 90°, such as 20°, 30°, 40°, 50°, 60°, 70°, 80°, or 90°. As an example, the x-rays 102 emitted as a right cone may include x-rays selected from soft x-rays and hard x-rays. The x-rays 102 may be in the range of 20 kV to 230 kV (e.g., 20 kV, 30 kV, 40 kV, 50 kV, 60 kV, 70 kV, 80 kV, 90 kV, 100 kV, 110 kV, 120 kV, 130 kV, 140 kV, 150 kV, 160 kV, 170 kV, 180 kV, 190 kV, 200 kV, 210 kV, 220 kV, 230 kV) and / or may be in the range of 5 to 60 picometers (pm) (e.g., 5 pm, 10 pm, 15 pm, 20 pm, 25 pm, 30 pm, 35 pm, 40 pm, 45 pm, 50 pm, 55 pm, 60 pm). As used herein, 20 kV to 225 kV may be the voltage applied to an electrode that generates the x-rays 102. X-rays 102 having large photon energies, greater than 5-10 keV (e.g., less than 0.2-0.1 nm wavelength), may be referred to as "hard x-rays," while smaller photon energies (and longer wavelengths) may be referred to as "soft x-rays."

[0099]

[0102] In various exemplary embodiments, the scintillator 103 can include a luminescent material that emits light when exposed to ionizing radiation, such as X-rays. Such luminescent material can convert ionizing radiation, such as X-rays 102, into visible light 108. The scintillator 103 can include an organic scintillator, an inorganic scintillator, an organic-inorganic scintillator, or any combination thereof. For example, the inorganic scintillator can be selected from an alkali metal halide, optionally with a dopant, a phosphor, a quantum dot, and a combination thereof. Additionally or alternatively, the scintillator 103 can include at least one of gadolinium sulfate (Gadox), a terbium (Tb)-activated Gadox scintillator, and cesium iodide (CsI). The scintillator 103 can also include a thin flexible film.

[0100]

[0103] In certain illustrative embodiments, scintillator 103 may include one or more panels of any dimension, such as 300 millimeters by 300 millimeters, or between 300 millimeters and 350 millimeters, etc. Additionally or alternatively, scintillator 103 may include a number of mounting tabs positioned, for example, within 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, or 25 millimeters of any or each edge of scintillator 103, although the mounting tabs may be located at any distance or location from the edges of scintillator 103 for mounting and / or suspension.

[0101]

[0104] In some example embodiments, the mirror 104 may be a folding mirror (i.e., folded optics configured to reflect the visible light 108 at a particular angle), which may be configured to reflect the visible light 108 in a manner that makes the optical path longer than the size of the system (e.g., the x-ray device 100). For example, the one or more folding mirrors 104 may be configured to reflect an image of the visible light 108 from the scintillator 103 to the detector 105, such as at an angle of 15°, 30°, 45°, 60°, 75°, 90°, or 180° between the scintillator 103 and the detector 105. Further, a first mirror of the plurality of fold mirrors can be mounted at an angle of 15°, 30°, 45°, 60°, 75°, 90°, or 180° with respect to the scintillator 103, and a second mirror of the plurality of fold mirrors can be mounted at an angle of 15°, 30°, 45°, 60°, 75°, 90°, or 180° with respect to the first mirror. In some examples, the first fold mirror can be positioned about 150-350 millimeters from the scintillator 103, the second fold mirror can be positioned about 250-350 millimeters from the first fold mirror, and the detector 105 can be positioned about 250-350 millimeters from the second fold mirror. Alternatively, the x-ray device 100 may not have any mirrors 104, but rather the detector 105 may be positioned to detect visible light 108 emitted directly from the scintillator 103 (not shown in FIG. 1).

[0102]

[0105] In some illustrative embodiments, the detector 105 may include an optical camera, a charge-coupled device (CCD) detector, a photodiode, or any combination thereof. For example, the optical camera may include a complementary metal-oxide semiconductor (CMOS) digital camera sensor. Alternatively or additionally, the optical camera may include a red-green-green-blue (RGGB) Bayer filter and / or a monochrome optical camera. In other examples, the optical camera may include a back-illuminated sensor and / or a front-illuminated sensor. By way of example, the detector 105 may be configured to detect infrared light, ultraviolet light, and / or visible light 108.

[0103]

[0106] In some illustrative embodiments, images from detector 105 may undergo a series of preparation and processing steps, including adjustments and corrections, to convert the detected images into usable data.

[0104]

[0107] In some example embodiments, light collection efficiency can be improved by orienting the focal plane of detector 105 (or the reflected focal plane of mirror 104, if mirror 104 is used) so that the surface normal of detector 105 is parallel to the surface normal of scintillator 103, thereby minimizing the required depth of field distance of x-ray device 100. As a result, the camera lens of detector 105 uses the largest aperture possible, thereby improving the signal-to-noise ratio of the collected light and images.

[0105]

[0108] FIG. 2 shows an example of an X-ray device according to various illustrative embodiments. Similar to the X-ray device 100 shown in FIG. 1, the X-ray device 200 may include an X-ray source 201 configured to emit X-rays 202 toward a scintillator 203. As the X-rays 202 collide with the scintillator 203, the scintillator 203 may emit visible light 210 and project a visible image. One or more folding mirrors may reflect the visible light 210 toward a detector 205. Similar to FIG. 1, the detector 205 may be positioned on the opposite side of the scintillator 203 and shroud 206 from the X-ray source 201, such that the shroud 206 blocks and protects the detector 205 from stray light, visible light, and / or X-rays 202 emitted from the X-ray source 201. Additionally, a case 207 may also be positioned to completely surround the elements 201-206 and 208-210. In various illustrative embodiments, the x-ray source 201 may emit an x-ray cone, which may be a pencil beam, a fan beam, a cone beam, or the like.

[0106]

[0109] In various illustrative embodiments, the X-ray device 200 may include a motion system 208 configured to move, reposition, manipulate, or otherwise steer the X-ray source 201, the detector 205, and / or the scan target 209. Additionally, the X-ray device 200 may be an X-ray CT device.

[0107]

[0110] In some example embodiments, the x-rays 202 may be emitted as a right cone having an angle between 20° and 90°. By way of example, the x-rays 202 emitted as a left or right cone may include x-rays selected from soft x-rays and hard x-rays. The x-rays 202 may be generated from electrodes energized with 20 kV to 225 kV and / or may be in the range of 5 picometers to 60 picometers in wavelength.

[0108]

[0111] In certain example embodiments, the length of the scintillator 203 may be equal to the length of the shroud 206, the height of the scintillator 203 may be equal to the height of the shroud 206, and / or the width of the scintillator 203 may be equal to the width of the shroud 206. Additionally, the scintillator 203 and the shroud 206 may be parallel to one another (as shown) or may be at a 90° (or any other) angle to one another.

[0109]

[0112] In various exemplary embodiments, the scintillator 203 can include an organic scintillator, an inorganic scintillator, an organic-inorganic scintillator, or any combination thereof. For example, the inorganic scintillator can be selected from an alkali metal halide, optionally with a dopant, a phosphor, a quantum dot, and combinations thereof. Additionally or alternatively, the scintillator 203 can include at least one of Gadox, a Tb-activated Gadox scintillator, and CsI. The scintillator 203 can also include a thin film.

[0110]

[0113] In certain illustrative embodiments, scintillator 203 may include a panel of any size, such as 320 millimeters by 320 millimeters. Additionally or alternatively, scintillator 203 may include a number of mounting tabs positioned, for example, within 20 millimeters of each edge of the panel of scintillator 203, although the mounting tabs may be attached at any distance or location from the edge of scintillator 203, for example, for attachment to shroud 206 and / or for hanging from case 207 (from above, not shown).

[0111]

[0114] In some example embodiments, the mirror 204 may be a folding mirror, as described above. For example, the one or more folding mirrors 204 may be configured to reflect visible light 210 from the scintillator 203 to the detector 205, such as at 45°, 90°, or 180° between the scintillator 203 and the detector 205. Furthermore, a first mirror of the plurality of folding mirrors may be mounted at 45° with respect to the scintillator 203, and a second mirror of the plurality of folding mirrors may be mounted at 90° with respect to the first mirror. In some examples, the first folding mirror may be positioned at about 200 millimeters from the scintillator 203, the second folding mirror may be positioned at about 300 millimeters from the first folding mirror, and the detector 205 may be positioned at about 300 millimeters from the second folding mirror. Alternatively, the x-ray device 200 may not include any mirrors 204 , but rather the detector 205 may be positioned to detect the visible light 210 directly from the scintillator 203 .

[0112]

[0115] In some illustrative embodiments, the detector 205 may include an optical camera, a CCD detector, a photodiode, or any combination thereof. For example, the optical camera may include a CMOS digital camera sensor. Alternatively or additionally, the optical camera may include an RGGB Bayer filter and / or a monochrome optical camera. In other examples, the optical camera may include a back-illuminated sensor and / or a front-illuminated sensor. As an example, the detector 205 may be configured to detect infrared and / or visible light 210.

[0113]

[0116] In some example embodiments, the stray light may come from the x-ray source 201, the x-ray source controller (not shown), the limit switch (not shown), the detector 205, reflected light, a light source on the exterior of the case 207, and / or any other stray light not including scintillation light emitted by the scintillator 203. Rather, stray light, visible light, generated by elements within the x-ray device 100 may be blocked by the shroud 206 and / or the case 207, thereby protecting the detector 205 from being affected. As used herein, a detector is affected when the stray light creates noise that exceeds the detector's read noise.

[0114]

[0117] The case 207 can further shield the detector from stray light in addition to the blocking provided by the shroud 206. For example, if the detector 205 detects stray light, visible light, the detector 205 may generate a signal that includes a combination of erroneous signals from the stray light, visible light, as well as the true signal from the scintillator 203. As a result, the erroneous portions of the signal can cause errors and distortions when the signal is used in a subsequent operation (e.g., reconstruction of the scanned solid part).

[0115]

[0118] The shroud 206 and / or the case 207 may have at least a minimum threshold opacity, for example, the shroud 206 and / or the case 207 may block and / or absorb 80%-90% or 80%-99% of the stray light from reaching the detector 205. As used herein, percentage may be a percentage of the total luminous flux of visible light photons to the detector 205. In certain example embodiments, the shroud 206 and / or the case 207 may block and / or absorb stray light down to 1 ppm. In other example embodiments, the shroud 206 and / or the case 207 may block and / or absorb at least 80%, 90%, 95%, or 99% of the stray light from reaching the detector 205. Alternatively, the shroud 206 and / or the case 207 may block and / or absorb stray light to less than 1% of a signal, such as a saturated signal (65535 for a 16 bit imager). In some illustrative embodiments, the signal may refer to an image pixel intensity value. For example, when a 16-bit image pixel is completely white, the image pixel intensity value may be 65535. Similarly, when a 16-bit image pixel is completely black, the image pixel intensity value may be 0. Alternatively or additionally, the shroud 206 and / or the case 207 may block and / or absorb stray light at or near the detector 205 read noise and / or block and / or absorb incident light on the detector 205 other than the scintillation light 210 from the scintillator 203 to improve the quality of the image. For example, due to the inherent physical characteristics of electronic imaging sensors, each pixel may contain some noise. This noise may be reduced in various ways, such as by cooling the sensor and / or adjusting the sensor design to isolate interfering elements. There may be a threshold amount of noise ("noise floor") that cannot be eliminated. Thus, a detector 205 operating in a zero light environment may still generate a non-zero signal (i.e., pixel value). It is desirable to keep other noise sources below the noise floor so as to minimize their effect on the image.

[0116]

[0119] In various illustrative embodiments, the shroud 206 and / or the case 207 may be at least 50% opaque to the wavelengths of light detectable by the detector 205, or may be 100% opaque to the wavelengths of light detectable by the detector 205. The shroud 206 and / or the case 207 may comprise fabric, foam, sheet metal, paper, cardboard, or any combination thereof depending on their opacity to the wavelengths of visible light detectable by the detector 205.

[0117]

[0120] In certain example embodiments, the shroud 206 and / or the case 207 may be flat and / or have an opening that allows at least 90% of the x-ray cone to pass through the shroud 206 and / or the case 207. As used herein, the percentage of light that passes through the shroud 206 may be based on brightness. Also, the shroud 206 and / or the case 207 may include a tapered and / or truncated tip that matches the optical entrance of the detector 205. For example, the tip may match the optical entrance of the detector 205 according to size, shape, material type, or other characteristics.

[0118]

[0121] In various exemplary embodiments, the shroud 206 may be fabricated from multiple segments, where a first segment may be longer or shorter than a second segment (as shown in FIG. 2). Additionally, the first and second segments of the shroud 206 may be parallel (as shown in FIG. 2) or may form an angle of less than 180°, an angle of about 40°-60°, or an angle of about 45°. Additionally, the shroud 206 and / or the case 207 may be partially or completely opaque to X-ray radiation or may be partially transparent to the X-ray light cone, by way of example, at least 80%, 90%, or 99% of the X-ray light cone may pass through the shroud 206. Additionally or alternatively, the scintillator 203 and one or more components of the shroud 206 may be parallel (as shown in FIG. 2) or not.

[0119]

[0122] Figure 3 shows an example of another X-ray device 300 according to various illustrative embodiments similar to the X-ray devices 100 and 200 shown in Figures 1 and 2, respectively. A detector 304 (similar to detector 205) and a shroud 305 (similar to shroud 206) can be positioned on the same side of a scintillator 303 (similar to scintillator 203) as an X-ray source 301 (similar to X-ray source 201). As a result, X-rays 302 (similar to X-rays 202) may pass through the shroud 305 before contacting the scintillator 303, which then propagates visible light 309 towards the detector 304. In some illustrative embodiments, the shroud 305 and / or case 306 (similar to case 207) may be opaque to the wavelengths of light detectable by the detector 304 (i.e., infrared, visible, and ultraviolet wavelengths), but transparent to the wavelengths of light emitted by the X-ray source 301. As with the illustrative embodiment of FIG. 2, the wavelengths of light emitted by the X-ray source 301 may be used for scanning and / or two-dimensional radiography (i.e., soft and hard X-rays). Without a folding mirror, the X-ray device 300 may reduce losses generated by mirror reflections and / or may have a relatively compact size. In addition, images from the initial surface of X-ray impingement may be improved, thereby avoiding blurring of images that may be emitted by the scintillator 303 as the X-rays travel through the scintillation medium of the scintillator 303.

[0120]

[0123] In various illustrative embodiments, the X-ray device 300 may include a motion system 307 configured to move, reposition, manipulate, or otherwise steer the X-ray source 301, the detector 304, and / or the scan target 308. Additionally, the X-ray device 300 may be an X-ray CT device.

[0121]

[0124] 4 illustrates an example flow diagram of a method that may be performed by an x-ray device, such as the x-ray devices described above, according to various illustrative embodiments. At 401, an x-ray source may propagate x-rays, possibly in the presence of stray light, toward a scintillator, and at 403, the x-rays may pass through an object to be imaged. At 405, the scintillator may emit visible light in response to absorption of the x-rays from the x-ray source. At 407, the stray light, or a portion thereof, may be blocked from the detector, such as by a shroud. At 409, the detector may detect the visible light from the scintillator. At 411, a motion system may move at least one of the x-ray source, the detector, and the scan target.

[0122]

[0125] Certain illustrative embodiments may be implemented within an apparatus that may include a processor for processing information and for executing instructions or operations. The processor may be any type of general-purpose or special-purpose processor. Indeed, the processor may include, by way of example, one or more of a general-purpose computer, a special-purpose computer, a microprocessor, a digital signal processor (DSP), a field programmable gate array (FPGA), an application-specific integrated circuit (ASIC), and a processor based on a multi-core processor architecture. It should be understood that in certain illustrative embodiments, the apparatus may include two or more processors that may form a multiprocessor that may support multiprocessing. In certain illustrative embodiments, the multiprocessor system may be tightly or loosely coupled (e.g., to form a computer cluster). The processor may perform functions associated with the operation of the apparatus.

[0123]

[0126] The device may further include or be coupled to a memory (internal or external) that may be coupled to the processor for storing information and instructions that may be executed by the processor. The memory may be one or more memories and may be of any type suitable for the local application environment and may be implemented using any suitable volatile or non-volatile data storage technology, such as semiconductor-based memory devices, magnetic memory devices and systems, optical memory devices and systems, fixed memory, and / or removable memory. For example, the memory may be comprised of any combination of random access memory (RAM), read-only memory (ROM), static storage such as magnetic or optical disks, hard disk drives (HDD), or any other type of non-transitory machine or computer readable media. The instructions stored in the memory may include program instructions or computer program code that, when executed by the processor, enable the device to perform the tasks described herein.

[0124]

[0127] In one illustrative embodiment, the device may further include or be coupled to a drive or port (internal or external) configured to accept and read an external computer-readable storage medium, such as an optical disk, a USB drive, a flash drive, or any other storage medium. For example, the external computer-readable storage medium may store computer programs or software for execution by the processor and / or the device.

[0125]

[0128] Also, in some example embodiments, the device may include or be coupled to one or more antennas for transmitting and receiving signals and / or data. The device may further include or be coupled to a transceiver configured to transmit and receive information. Additionally or alternatively, in some example embodiments, the device may include input and / or output devices (I / O devices).

[0126]

[0129] In one illustrative embodiment, the memory can store software modules that provide functionality when executed by the processor. The modules can include, for example, an operating system that provides operating system functionality for the device. The memory can also store one or more functional modules, such as applications or programs, to provide additional functionality for the device. The components of the device can be implemented in hardware or as any suitable combination of hardware and software.

[0127]

[0130] According to some example embodiments, the processor and memory may be included in or form part of processing or control circuitry. Additionally, in some example embodiments, the transceiver may be included in or form part of transceiver circuitry.

[0128]

[0131] The term "circuitry" as used herein may refer to hardware-only circuit implementations (e.g., analog and / or digital circuitry), combinations of hardware circuits and software, combinations of analog and / or digital hardware circuits with software / firmware, any portion of one or more hardware processors with software (including digital signal processors) that cooperate to cause a device to perform various functions, and / or one or more hardware circuits and / or one or more processors or portions thereof that use software for operation but may not be present when the software is not needed for operation. As a further example, the term "circuitry" as used herein may cover implementations of only a hardware circuit or processor (or processors), or a portion of a hardware circuit or processor and its associated software and / or firmware. The term circuitry may also cover, for example, a baseband integrated circuit in a server, a cellular network node or device, or other computing or network device.

[0129]

[0132] According to certain illustrative embodiments, the apparatus can be controlled by a memory and a processor to carry out the functions associated with any of the illustrative embodiments described within this specification and the accompanying materials.

[0130]

[0133] Although some example embodiments are described using specific examples, such as WINDOWS® products and / or services, the specific example embodiments described herein are not limited to these specific examples. For example, the specific example embodiments described herein are applicable to any computing device and / or operating system, regardless of manufacturer, supplier, etc.

[0131]

[0134] The features, structures, or characteristics of the example embodiments described throughout this specification may be combined in any suitable manner in one or more example embodiments. For example, the use of phrases such as "various embodiments," "particular embodiments," "some embodiments," or other similar language throughout this specification refers to the fact that a particular feature, structure, or characteristic described in the context of one example embodiment may be included in at least one example embodiment. Thus, the appearance of the phrases "various embodiments," "particular embodiments," "some embodiments," or other similar language throughout this specification does not necessarily refer to the same group of example embodiments, but rather that the described features, structures, or characteristics may be combined in any suitable manner in one or more example embodiments.

[0132]

[0135] In addition, if desired, different functions or procedures described above can be performed in different orders and / or concurrently with one another. Further, if desired, one or more of the functions or procedures described can be optional or combined. Thus, the foregoing description should be considered as illustrative, and not limiting, of the principles and teachings of particular illustrative embodiments.

[0133]

[0136] Those skilled in the art will readily appreciate that the illustrative embodiments described above may be implemented with steps in different orders and / or with hardware elements in configurations different from those disclosed. Thus, while certain illustrative embodiments have been described based on these illustrative embodiments, it will be apparent to those skilled in the art that certain modifications, variations, and alternative constructions will become apparent while remaining within the spirit and scope of the illustrative embodiments.

Claims

1. 1. An X-ray device comprising: at least one x-ray source configured to emit an x-ray cone; A scintillator; A detector; at least one shroud positioned to block stray light from reaching said detector; a case containing at least one of the X-ray sources, the scintillator, the detector, and at least one of the shrouds; A device having:

2. 10. The x-ray device of claim 1, wherein the shroud blocks between 90% and 99.999% of stray light from reaching the detector.

3. 3. The x-ray device of claim 1, wherein the shroud blocks at least 80% of stray light from reaching the detector.

4. 4. An X-ray device according to claim 1, wherein the shroud blocks at least 90% of stray light from reaching the detector.

5. An X-ray device according to any preceding claim, wherein the shroud blocks at least 95% of stray light from reaching the detector.

6. An X-ray device according to any preceding claim, wherein the shroud blocks at least 99% of stray light from reaching the detector.

7. An X-ray device according to any preceding claim, wherein the shroud blocks stray light to less than 0.1% of the signal.

8. An X-ray device according to any one of claims 1 to 7, wherein the shroud blocks stray light at or near the detector readout.

9. 9. The X-ray device according to claim 1, wherein the shroud blocks only scintillation light from the scintillator from incident on the detector.

10. The X-ray device of any one of claims 1 to 9, wherein the scintillator comprises an organic scintillator material, an inorganic scintillator material, an organic-inorganic scintillator material, or any combination thereof.

11. 11. The X-ray device of any one of claims 1 to 10, wherein the scintillator is an inorganic scintillator material selected from alkali metal halides optionally with dopants, phosphors, quantum dots, and combinations thereof.

12. 12. The x-ray device of any one of claims 1 to 11, wherein the scintillator comprises gadolinium sulfate (Gadox), terbium activated Gadox, cesium iodide, or a combination thereof.

13. The X-ray device according to any one of claims 1 to 12, wherein the scintillator has a form factor of a thin film.

14. The X-ray device of any one of claims 1 to 13, wherein the detector comprises an optical camera, a charge coupled device detector, a photodiode, or any combination thereof.

15. 15. The x-ray device of claim 14, wherein the optical camera comprises a complementary metal oxide semiconductor digital camera sensor.

16. 16. An X-ray device according to claim 14 or 15, wherein the optical camera has a red-green-green-blue Bayer filter.

17. 16. An X-ray device according to claim 14 or 15, wherein the optical camera comprises a monochrome optical camera.

18. 18. The X-ray device according to any one of claims 14 to 17, wherein the optical camera has a backside illuminated sensor.

19. 18. An X-ray device according to any one of claims 14 to 17, wherein the optical camera comprises a front-illuminated sensor.

20. An X-ray device according to any preceding claim, wherein the shroud is positioned between the at least one X-ray source and the detector.

21. An x-ray device according to any preceding claim, wherein the shroud is flat and has an opening that allows at least 90% of the x-ray light cone to propagate through the shroud.

22. An x-ray device according to any preceding claim, wherein the shroud has a tapered truncated tip that matches the optical entrance of the detector.

23. An X-ray device according to any preceding claim, wherein the X-ray light cone comprises a right cone with an angle between 20° and 90°.

24. 24. The X-ray device according to claim 1, wherein the major axis of the scintillator and the major axis of the shroud are parallel to each other.

25. 25. The X-ray device of claim 1, wherein the scintillator has a length and a width, the shroud has a length and a width, the length of the scintillator is parallel to the length of the shroud, and the width of the scintillator is parallel to the width of the shroud.

26. An X-ray device according to any preceding claim, further comprising one or more mirrors configured to reflect light from the scintillator to the detector.

27. 27. The x-ray device of claim 26, wherein the one or more mirrors are configured to reflect light from the scintillator 90 degrees to the detector.

28. 27. The x-ray device of claim 26, wherein the one or more mirrors are configured to reflect light from the scintillator at a 45° angle to the detector.

29. 27. The x-ray device of claim 26, wherein a first mirror of the one or more mirrors is mounted at 45 degrees relative to the scintillator and a second mirror of the plurality of mirrors is mounted at 90 degrees relative to the first mirror.

30. 27. The x-ray device of claim 26, wherein one or more of the mirrors are configured to reflect light 180 degrees.

31. 31. The x-ray device of claim 29 or 30, wherein the first mirror is positioned about 200 millimeters from the scintillator, the second mirror is positioned about 300 millimeters from the first mirror, and the detector is positioned about 300 millimeters from the second mirror.

32. An x-ray device according to any one of claims 1 to 18 and 20 to 31, wherein the detector is positioned between the shroud and the at least one x-ray source.

33. An X-ray device according to any preceding claim, wherein the scintillator comprises a panel having a length of 320 mm and a width of 320 mm.

34. 34. An x-ray device according to any preceding claim, wherein the scintillator has a plurality of mounting tabs positioned within 20 millimeters of an edge of the panel.

35. An x-ray device according to any preceding claim, wherein the shroud comprises a first component and a second component, the first component being longer than the second component.

36. 36. The x-ray device of claim 35, wherein the first component and the second component form an angle of less than 180 degrees.

37. 36. The x-ray device of claim 35, wherein the first and second components form an angle of approximately 40 to 60 degrees.

38. An x-ray device according to any one of claims 35 to 37, wherein the first component and the second component form an angle of about 45°.

39. An X-ray device according to any preceding claim, wherein the shroud is transparent to X-ray light.

40. 40. The X-ray CT apparatus according to any one of claims 1 to 39, wherein at least 80% of the X-ray light cone propagates through the shroud.

41. An x-ray device according to any preceding claim, wherein at least 90% of the x-ray light cone propagates through the shroud.

42. 42. The x-ray device of any one of claims 1 to 24 and 26 to 41, wherein the scintillator and the shroud are non-parallel.

43. An x-ray device according to any preceding claim, wherein the shroud is at least 50% opaque to wavelengths of light that are detectable by the detector.

44. An x-ray device according to any preceding claim, wherein the shroud is 100% opaque to wavelengths of light that are detectable by the detector.

45. An X-ray device according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the light detectable by the detector comprises infrared and visible light.

46. An X-ray device according to any preceding claim, wherein the X-ray light cone comprises X-rays selected from soft X-rays and hard X-rays.

47. An X-ray device according to any preceding claim, wherein the X-ray light is generated by electrodes having a voltage in the range of 20 kV to 225 kV.

48. An X-ray device according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the X-ray light is in the range of 5 pm to 60 pm.

49. 49. An X-ray device according to any one of claims 1 to 48, wherein the stray light is selected from light from the at least one X-ray source, light from at least one X-ray source controller, light from a limit switch, light from the detector, and reflected light.

50. 50. The X-ray device according to claim 1, wherein the stray light is non-scintillation light.

51. An x-ray device according to any preceding claim, wherein the shroud comprises fabric, foam, sheet metal, paper, cardboard, or any combination thereof.

52. 26. An X-ray device according to any one of claims 1 to 25, wherein the X-ray device does not have one or more mirrors for reflecting light from the scintillator to the detector.

53. The X-ray device according to any one of claims 1 to 52, wherein the X-ray device is an X-ray computed tomography device.

54. 54. The x-ray device of claim 53, further comprising a motion system configured to reposition the x-ray device during a scan.

55. 55. An x-ray device according to claim 53 or 54, wherein at least one of the at least one x-ray source, the detector, and a scan target are configured to be moved by the motion system during a scan.

56. X-ray device according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the at least one X-ray source is configured to emit an X-ray cone as a pencil beam, a fan beam or a cone beam.

57. 57. An X-ray device according to any preceding claim, wherein the stray light comprises at least one of visible light, infrared light, or ultraviolet light.

58. A method of providing a radiograph, comprising detecting optical or infrared scintillation light using the X-ray device of any one of claims 1 to 57.

59. propagating, with at least one x-ray source, x-rays in the presence of stray light toward a scintillator, the x-rays passing through an object to be imaged; emitting visible light with a scintillator in response to receiving said x-rays; blocking said stray light or a portion thereof from said detector with a shroud; detecting the visible light from the scintillator with a detector; a case containing at least one of the X-ray sources, the scintillator, the detector, and at least one of the shrouds; A method having the following.

60. 60. The method of claim 59, further comprising moving at least one of the at least one x-ray source, the detector, and a scan target with a motion system.

61. 61. An x-ray device according to claim 59 or 60, wherein the stray light comprises at least one of visible light, infrared light, or ultraviolet light.

62. An X-ray device as described in claim 1, wherein at least one of the shrouds blocks stray light generated by components within the X-ray device.

63. An X-ray device as described in claim 59, wherein the stray light is generated by a component within the X-ray device.

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