Scintillator panel

Abstract

A scintillator panel 1A includes: a fiber optic plate 2A having a first surface 21a, a second surface 21b, a side surface 22 and an edge part 23 connecting the first surface 21a and the side surface 22; and a scintillator film 3 formed from the first surface 21a to at least a part of the edge part 23. In a cross section along a facing direction of the first surface 21a and the second surface 21b, at least a part of a contour of the edge part 23 is located closer to the fiber optic plate 2A side than a first virtual straight line L1 passing through a first contact 24c between the edge part 23 and the first surface 21a, and the first virtual straight line L1 extends obliquely from the first contact 24c to the side surface 22 side so that an angle θ between the first virtual straight line L1 and the first surface 21a is 45 degrees.

Description

Scintillator Panel

[0001] This application claims priority to Japanese Patent Application No. 2024-146281, filed on August 28, 2024, and incorporates by reference the entire contents of said Japanese application.

[0002] Conventionally, scintillator panels that combine a scintillator film with a fiber optic plate have been known (see Patent Documents 1 and 2). Patent Document 1 discloses a technology that achieves both high brightness and high resolution while maintaining moisture-proof performance by further providing a moisture-proof protective layer on the scintillator panel. Patent Document 2 discloses a technology that prevents the scintillator film from peeling off from the fiber optic plate by providing a sheet made of an X-ray transparent material on the scintillator film.

[0003] JP 2016-136094 A British Patent No. 2477346

[0004] The scintillator panel as described above has a problem in that an impact acting on the side surface of the scintillator panel can cause the scintillator film to peel off from the fiber optic plate.

[0005] The present disclosure has been made to solve the above-mentioned problems, and aims to provide a scintillator panel that has increased strength against impacts acting on the sides of the scintillator panel and can prevent the scintillator film from peeling off from the fiber optic plate.

[0006] The gist of the present disclosure is as follows.

[0007] [1] A scintillator panel includes a fiber optic plate and a scintillator film. The fiber optic plate has a first surface, a second surface opposite the first surface, a side surface, and an edge portion connecting the first surface and the side surface. The scintillator film is formed from the first surface to at least a portion of the edge portion. In a cross section along the opposing direction between the first surface and the second surface, at least a portion of the outline of the edge portion is located closer to the fiber optic plate than a first imaginary line passing through a first tangent point between the edge portion and the first surface. The first imaginary line extends from the first tangent point toward the tangent point so that the angle between the first imaginary line and the first surface is 45 degrees.

[0008] In this scintillator panel, at least a portion of the contour of the edge portion connecting the first surface and the side surface of the fiber optic plate is located closer to the fiber optic plate than a first imaginary line passing through a first tangent point between the edge portion and the first surface in a cross section along the opposing direction of the first surface and the second surface, i.e., a cross section along the thickness direction of the fiber optic plate. Additionally, the first imaginary line extends from the first tangent point toward the side surface at an angle of 45 degrees between the first imaginary line and the first surface. This increases the bonding strength between the fiber optic plate and the scintillator film near the side surface and enhances the strength of the scintillator panel against impacts acting on the side surface. Therefore, peeling of the scintillator film formed from the first surface to at least a portion of the edge portion from the fiber optic plate can be suppressed.

[0009] [2] In the scintillator panel of [1] above, the scintillator film may be formed from the first surface to at least a portion of the side surface. This increases the contact area between the fiber optic plate and the scintillator film near the side surface, thereby further increasing the bonding strength. This increases the strength of the scintillator panel against impacts acting on the side surface. Therefore, peeling of the scintillator film from the fiber optic plate can be further suppressed.

[0010] [3] In the scintillator panel of [1] or [2] above, the contour shape may be convex toward the fiber optic plate in the cross section. This increases the contact area between the fiber optic plate and the scintillator film near the side, particularly the edge, thereby further increasing the bonding strength. This further increases the strength against impacts acting on the side of the scintillator panel. Therefore, peeling of the scintillator film from the fiber optic plate can be further suppressed.

[0011] [4] In the scintillator panel of [3] above, at least a portion of the contour shape may have at least one corner in the cross section. This increases the contact area between the fiber optic plate and the scintillator film near the side surface, particularly the edge portion, while further increasing the bonding strength by allowing the scintillator layer to bite into the corner. This further increases the strength against impacts acting on the side surface of the scintillator panel. Therefore, peeling of the scintillator film from the fiber optic plate can be further suppressed.

[0012] [5] In the scintillator panel of [3] or [4] above, at least a portion of the contour shape may be curved in the cross section. This increases the contact area between the fiber optic plate and the scintillator film near the side surface, particularly the edge portion, while achieving a uniform bond across the entire edge portion, thereby further increasing the bonding strength. This further increases the strength against impacts acting on the side surface of the scintillator panel. Therefore, peeling of the scintillator film from the fiber optic plate can be further suppressed.

[0013] [6] In any of the scintillator panels described above in [1] to [5], the first surface may be parallel to the second surface. Furthermore, in the cross section, a second contact point between the edge portion and the side surface may be located equidistant from both the first surface and the second surface and on a second imaginary line parallel to both the first surface and the second surface, or on the first surface side of the second imaginary line. This prevents fluorescence emitted from the scintillator film formed on the side surface from affecting the emitted fluorescent image of the scintillator panel, while increasing the contact area between the fiber optic plate and the scintillator film near the side surface, thereby further increasing bonding strength. This further increases the strength of the scintillator panel against impacts acting on the side surface. Therefore, peeling of the scintillator film from the fiber optic plate can be further suppressed.

[0014] [7] In any of the scintillator panels described above in [1] to [6], the edge portion may have either or both of a first chamfer adjacent to the first surface and a second chamfer adjacent to the side surface. Even in this case, the region connecting the edge portion to the first surface and / or the region connecting the edge portion to the side surface smoothly changes, thereby increasing the bonding strength between the fiber optic plate and the scintillator film near the side surface. This increases the strength of the scintillator panel against impacts acting on the side surface. Therefore, peeling of the scintillator film from the fiber optic plate can be suppressed.

[0015] [8] In any of the scintillator panels [1] to [5] above, the scintillator film may be formed in an area excluding at least one of the corners of the first surface. In this case, the scintillator film is not formed in at least one of the corners that are susceptible to external impact, thereby reducing the possibility that the scintillator film will be impacted by an impact acting on the corner of the fiber optic plate. This further reduces the likelihood of the scintillator film peeling off from the fiber optic plate.

[0016] According to the present disclosure, it is possible to provide a scintillator panel that can increase the strength against impacts acting on the sides of the scintillator panel and prevent the scintillator film from peeling off from the fiber optic plate.

[0017] FIG. 1 is a perspective view showing a scintillator panel of the first embodiment. FIG. 2 is a view showing a portion of a cross section taken along line II-II in FIG. 1. FIG. 3 is a schematic view showing an example of a method for manufacturing the scintillator panel of FIG. 1. FIG. 4 is a cross-sectional view showing a modified scintillator panel. FIG. 5 is a cross-sectional view showing a modified scintillator panel. FIG. 6 is a cross-sectional view showing a modified scintillator panel. FIG. 7 is a graph showing the pressure at which lifting of the scintillator film occurs. FIG. 8 is a perspective view showing a modified scintillator panel. FIG. 9 is a cross-sectional view showing an imaging device of the second embodiment.

[0018] Hereinafter, a preferred embodiment of a scintillator panel according to one aspect of the present disclosure will be described in detail with reference to the drawings. In each drawing, identical or corresponding elements are denoted by the same reference numerals, and redundant explanations may be omitted.

[0019] As shown in FIG. 1 and part (a) of FIG. 2 , the scintillator panel 1A of the first embodiment includes a fiber optic plate (FOP) 2A, a scintillator film 3, and a film 4. The fiber optic plate 2A is an optical device formed by bundling a plurality of optical fibers and has a first surface 21a and a second surface 21b opposite the first surface 21a. In this embodiment, the first surface 21a and the second surface 21b are flat surfaces perpendicular to the thickness direction of the fiber optic plate 2A. The first surface 21a is formed by one end surface of a plurality of optical fibers, and the second surface 21b is formed by the other end surfaces of the plurality of optical fibers. In the fiber optic plate 2A, light incident on the first surface 21a propagates through the optical fibers and exits from the second surface 21b. The planar shape of the fiber optic plate 2A is, for example, a substantially hexagonal shape. The fiber optic plate 2A is made of, for example, SiO ２ , PbO, Na２ O ３ , or K ２ It is composed of CaO.

[0020] As shown in parts (a) and (b) of Figure 2, the scintillator panel 1A further includes a side surface 22, an edge portion 23 connecting the first surface 21a and the side surface 22, a first contact point 24c between the first surface 21a and the edge portion 23, and a second contact point 24d between the side surface 22 and the edge portion 23. The edge portion 23 extends circumferentially at the outer edge of the first surface 21a. In a cross section along the opposing direction of the first surface 21a and the second surface 21b, i.e., a cross section along the thickness direction of the fiber optic plate 2A (hereinafter referred to as a "predetermined cross section"), a first imaginary line L1 passes through the first contact point 24c and extends from the first contact point 24c toward the side surface 22 at an angle such that the angle θ between the first imaginary line L1 and the first surface 21a is 45 degrees. In the predetermined cross section, at least a portion of the contour of the edge portion 23 is located closer to the fiber optic plate 2A than the first imaginary line L1. The predetermined cross section is also a cross section perpendicular to the direction in which the edge portion 23 extends, i.e., the direction along the outer edge of the first surface 21a.

[0021] The contour shape of the edge portion 23 may be convex toward the fiber optic plate 2A in a predetermined cross section. At least a portion of the contour shape of the edge portion 23 may have at least one corner 25 in a predetermined cross section. In this embodiment, the contour shape of the edge portion 23 includes one corner 25 located closer to the fiber optic plate 2A than the first imaginary line L1, a portion extending linearly from the corner 25 toward the first surface 21a, and a portion extending linearly from the corner 25 toward the side surface 22, forming a so-called stepped shape. In this embodiment, the angle of the corner 25 is a right angle, but this is not limited to this. The angle of the corner 25 may be an acute angle or an obtuse angle. Alternatively, the corner 25 may be rounded.

[0022] The edge portion 23 may be formed on at least a part of the outer edge of the first surface 21a when viewed from the thickness direction of the fiber optic plate 2A, i.e., when viewed from above from the first surface 21a side. The edge portion 23 may be formed along at least one side of the first surface 21a. Alternatively, the edge portion 23 may be formed along the entire outer edge of the first surface 21a.

[0023] In the specified cross section, the second imaginary line L2 is equidistant from both the first surface 21 a and the second surface 21 b and extends in a direction parallel to both the first surface 21 a and the second surface 21 b. In the specified cross section, the second contact point 24 d may be located on the second imaginary line L2 or closer to the first surface 21 a than the second imaginary line L2. In the present embodiment, the second contact point 24 d is located closer to the first surface 21 a than the second imaginary line L2. In the present embodiment, the second contact point 24 d is located on the first imaginary line L1, but this is not limited to this. The second contact point 24 d may be located on the fiber optic plate 2A side of the first imaginary line L1, or on the opposite side of the first imaginary line L1 from the fiber optic plate 2A.

[0024] The scintillator film 3 is formed from the first surface 21 a of the fiber optic plate 2A to at least a part of the edge portion 23. In this embodiment, the scintillator film 3 is formed so as to extend from the first surface 21 a to the side surface 22 while covering the entire surface of the edge portion 23. The scintillator film 3 converts radiation, such as X-rays, incident on the scintillator film 3 into fluorescence. The scintillator film 3 is formed, for example, in a sheet shape. The scintillator film 3 is composed of fine columnar crystals formed of, for example, cesium iodide (CsI) or cesium iodide containing an activating material such as thallium, sodium, cerium, or europium.

[0025] The film 4 is formed over the scintillator film 3. The film 4 may extend to at least a part of the side surface 22. In this embodiment, the film 4 extends from the scintillator film 3 to the side surface 22. The film 4 is basically a moisture-resistant protective film, and may be a laminate of multiple types of moisture-resistant protective films, or may include a film having a different function, for example, an optically functional film. The moisture-resistant protective film is made of a resin material, for example, polyparaxylene. Alternatively, the moisture-resistant protective film may be made of an inorganic material such as aluminum. The optically functional film 42 is a film that has optical properties such as reflection, absorption, or transmission of the fluorescence emitted from the scintillator film 3, and may be, for example, a metal vapor deposition film of aluminum, silver, or the like, or a metal material such as aluminum, titanium dioxide (TiO ２ ), and carbon.

[0026] The side surface 22 and the edge portion 23 may be matte-finished, which can improve the adhesion between the fiber optic plate 2A and the scintillator film 3 or between the fiber optic plate 2A and the film 4.

[0027] In this embodiment, the fiber optic plate 2A has a chamfered portion 26 in a predetermined cross section, where the corner where the second surface 21b and the side surface 22 connect is chamfered. The chamfered portion 26 may be formed around at least a portion of the outer edge of the second surface 21b or the entire circumference when viewed in the thickness direction of the fiber optic plate 2A. The chamfered shape is, for example, a C-chamfer or an R-chamfer. The second surface 21b does not necessarily have to have the chamfered portion 26.

[0028] As described above, at least a portion of the outline of the edge portion 23 of the scintillator panel 1A is located, in a predetermined cross section, closer to the fiber optic plate 2A than the first imaginary line L1, which passes through the first contact point 24c and extends from the first contact point 24c at an angle toward the side surface 22 so that the angle θ between the first contact point 24c and the first surface 21a is 45 degrees. This increases the contact area between the fiber optic plate 2A and the scintillator film 3, thereby increasing the bonding strength between the fiber optic plate 2A and the scintillator film 3 near the side surface 22 and increasing the strength against impacts acting on the side surface 22 of the scintillator panel 1A. This therefore makes it possible to prevent the scintillator film 3 formed on the first surface 21a of the fiber optic plate 2A from peeling off from the fiber optic plate 2A.

[0029] In this embodiment, the contour shape of the edge portion 23 is convex toward the fiber optic plate 2A in a predetermined cross section and includes one corner 25 located closer to the fiber optic plate 2A than the first imaginary line L1. This configuration increases the contact area between the fiber optic plate 2A and the scintillator film 3 near the side surface 22, while further enhancing bonding strength by allowing the scintillator film 3 to bite into the corner 25. This further enhances strength against impacts acting on the side surface 22 of the scintillator panel 1A. Therefore, peeling of the scintillator film 3 from the fiber optic plate 2A can be further suppressed. Furthermore, since the edge portion 23 includes the corner 25, the volume of the scintillator film 3 formed on the edge portion 23 is increased, thereby enhancing the impact absorption ability of the scintillator film 3 and further suppressing peeling of the scintillator film 3 from the fiber optic plate 2A. Of the shortest distances from the surface of the scintillator film 3 to the first surface 21 a, the side surface 22, and the edge portion 23 of the fiber optic plate 2A, the distance from the surface of the scintillator film 3 to a corner 25 included in the edge portion 23 may be the longest. When the edge portion 23 includes the corner 25, the edge portion 23 can be easily formed by a general processing technique such as excavation.

[0030] In this embodiment, the second contact 24d is located equidistant from both the first surface 21a and the second surface 21b and closer to the first surface 21a than a second imaginary line L2, which is parallel to both the first surface 21a and the second surface 21b, in a predetermined cross section. This increases the contact area between the fiber optic plate 2A and the scintillator film 3 near the side surface 22, thereby further enhancing bonding strength. This further enhances the strength of the scintillator film 3 against impacts acting on the scintillator panel 1A. This further reduces peeling of the scintillator film 3 from the fiber optic plate 2A. The scintillator film 3 may be located closer to the first surface 21a than the second imaginary line L2. This configuration reduces the influence of fluorescence emitted from the scintillator film 3 formed on the side surface 22 on the emitted fluorescent image of the scintillator panel 1A, compared to when the scintillator film 3 formed on the side surface 22 extends to the vicinity of the second surface 21b. In addition, because the scintillator film 3 does not extend beyond the second imaginary straight line L2 to the second surface 21b side, the film 4 extending beyond the second imaginary straight line L2 to the second surface 21b side completely covers the scintillator film 3 and can increase the contact area between the film 4 and the side surface 22 that is closer to the second surface 21b than the second imaginary straight line L2. Therefore, the scintillator film 3 can be completely isolated from the external atmosphere and the distance between the scintillator film 3 and the external atmosphere can be increased, thereby improving the moisture resistance of the scintillator panel 1A.

[0031] In this embodiment, the scintillator film 3 extends from the first surface 21 a to the side surface 22 of the scintillator panel 1A. The scintillator film 3 may extend only from the first surface 21 a to the edge portion 23, without extending from the first surface 21 a to the side surface 22 of the scintillator panel 1A. When the scintillator film 3 extends only to the edge portion 23, i.e., when the scintillator film 3 does not extend to the side surface of the scintillator panel 1A, the effect of an impact acting on the side surface 22 of the scintillator panel 1A on the scintillator film 3 can be mitigated. Therefore, peeling of the scintillator film 3 from the fiber optic plate 2A can be further suppressed. When the scintillator film 3 extends to the side surface 22 or to at least a portion of the side surface 22, the contact area between the fiber optic plate 2A and the scintillator film 3 near the side surface 22 can be increased, thereby further increasing the bonding strength. This increases the strength against an impact acting on the side surface 22 of the scintillator panel 1A. Therefore, the scintillator film 3 can be further prevented from peeling off from the fiber optic plate 2A.

[0032] In this embodiment, the side surfaces 22 and edge portions 23 of the scintillator panel 1A may be matte-finished. In this case, it is possible to improve the adhesion between the fiber optic plate 2A and the scintillator film 3 or between the fiber optic plate 2A and the film 4. This increases the bonding strength between the fiber optic plate 2A and the scintillator film 3 or between the fiber optic plate 2A and the film 4, and prevents the scintillator film 3 and the film 4 from peeling off from the fiber optic plate 2A.

[0033] Next, a method for manufacturing the scintillator panel 1A will be described.

[0034] Fig. 3 is a schematic diagram showing an example of a method for manufacturing the scintillator panel 1A. As shown in Fig. 3, the method for manufacturing the scintillator panel 1A includes a preparation step, a vapor deposition step, a masking step, a first film formation step, a second film formation step, a third film formation step, and a masking removal step.

[0035] The preparation step shown in part (a) of Fig. 3 is a step of preparing a fiber optic plate 2A that will serve as a substrate for the scintillator panel 1A. The shape of the prepared fiber optic plate 2A in a predetermined cross section is not limited to the shape shown in Fig. 2, and may be any of the shapes shown in Figs. 6 to 8.

[0036] 3(b) is a step of forming the scintillator film 3 on the first surface 21a of the fiber optic plate 2A. The scintillator film 3 is obtained by evaporating a scintillator material onto the first surface 21a of the fiber optic plate 2A. At this time, the scintillator material may be evaporated up to at least a portion of the side surface 22 or up to the edge portion 23 of the fiber optic plate 2A. Therefore, the scintillator film 3 may be formed from the first surface 21a to at least a portion of the side surface 22 or from the first surface 21a to the edge portion 23.

[0037] 3(c) is a process of applying a mask 5 to the second surface 21b of the fiber optic plate 2A, which prevents the films formed in the first to third film-forming processes described below from adhering to the second surface 21b.

[0038] The first film formation process shown in part (d) of FIG. 3 is a process of forming a moisture-resistant protective film 41a on the fiber optic plate 2A. The moisture-resistant protective film 41a is formed, for example, by chemical vapor deposition (CVD). The thickness of the moisture-resistant protective film 41a is, for example, approximately 10 μm. The second film formation process shown in part (e) of FIG. 3 is a process of forming an optical function film 42 on the moisture-resistant protective film 41a. The optical function film 42 is formed, for example, by vapor deposition. The thickness of the optical function film 42 is, for example, approximately 250 nm. The third film formation process shown in part (f) of FIG. 3 is a process of forming a moisture-resistant protective film 41b on the optical function film 42. The moisture-resistant protective film 41b is formed, for example, by chemical vapor deposition (CVD). The thickness of the moisture-resistant protective film 41b is, for example, approximately 10 μm. Through these processes, the film 4 is obtained.

[0039] 3(g) is a step of removing the masking 5 applied to the second surface 21b of the fiber optic plate 2A in the masking step, thereby obtaining the scintillator panel 1A of this embodiment.

[0040] [Modifications] The present invention is not limited to the above-described embodiment. As shown in FIG. 4 , the scintillator panel 1B may include a fiber optic plate 2B instead of the fiber optic plate 2A. At least a portion of the contour of the edge portion 23 of the fiber optic plate 2B may be curved in a predetermined cross section. In the example shown in FIG. 4 , the contour of the edge portion 23 is arc-shaped from the first contact point 24c on the first imaginary line L1 to the second contact point 24d on the first imaginary line L1. Even in this case, the bonding strength can be further increased by increasing the contact area between the fiber optic plate 2B and the scintillator film 3 near the side surface 22 and achieving a uniform bonding state throughout the edge portion 23. This further increases the strength against impacts acting on the side surface 22 of the scintillator panel 1B. This further prevents the scintillator film 3 from peeling off from the fiber optic plate 2B.

[0041] As shown in FIG. 5 , the scintillator panel 1C may include a fiber optic plate 2C instead of the fiber optic plate 2A. In the example of FIG. 5 , the contour of the edge portion 23 of the fiber optic plate 2C extends in a straight line in a predetermined cross section from the first contact point 24c on the first imaginary line L1 to the second contact point 24d located closer to the fiber optic plate 2C than the first imaginary line L1. Even in this case, the bonding strength can be further increased by increasing the contact area between the fiber optic plate 2C and the scintillator film 3 near the side surface 22. This further increases the strength against impacts acting on the side surface 22 of the scintillator panel 1C. This further prevents the scintillator film 3 from peeling off from the fiber optic plate 2C.

[0042] As shown in part (a) of Figure 6, the scintillator panel 1D may include a fiber optic plate 2D instead of the fiber optic plate 2A. The edge portion 23 of the fiber optic plate 2D may have either or both a first chamfered portion 27e adjacent to the first surface 21a and a second chamfered portion 27f adjacent to the side surface 22. In the example shown in part (a) of Figure 6, the first chamfered portion 27e and the second chamfered portion 27f are C-chamfered along a first imaginary straight line L1. The edge portion 23 has one corner 25 located closer to the fiber optic plate 2D than the first imaginary straight line L1, a portion extending linearly from the corner 25 toward the first chamfered portion 27e and connecting with the first chamfered portion 27e, and a portion extending linearly from the corner 25 toward the second chamfered portion 27f and connecting with the second chamfered portion 27f. This allows the region connecting the edge portion 23 and the first surface 21 a and the region connecting the edge portion 23 and the side surface 22 to change gradually, thereby increasing the bonding strength between the fiber optic plate 2D and the scintillator film 3 near the side surface 22 and increasing the strength against impacts acting on the side surface of the scintillator panel 1D. This prevents the scintillator film 3 from peeling off from the fiber optic plate 2D. The chamfered shapes of the first chamfered portion 27 e and the second chamfered portion 27 f may be linearly chamfered at an angle different from a C-chamfer. Alternatively, the chamfered shapes of the first chamfered portion 27 e and the second chamfered portion 27 f may be R-chamfered.

[0043] As shown in part (b) of Figure 6, the scintillator panel 1E may include a fiber optic plate 2E instead of the fiber optic plate 2A. The edge portion 23 of the fiber optic plate 2E may have either or both a first chamfered portion 27e adjacent to the first surface 21a and a second chamfered portion 27f adjacent to the side surface 22. In the example shown in part (b) of Figure 6, the edge portion 23 includes the first chamfered portion 27e extending linearly and inclined toward the side surface 22 on the side opposite the fiber optic plate 2E with respect to the first imaginary line L1, and the second chamfered portion 27f extending linearly and inclined toward the first surface 21a on the side closer to the fiber optic plate 2E than the first imaginary line L1. The shape of the portion of the contour of the edge portion 23 connecting the first chamfered portion 27e and the second chamfered portion 27f extends linearly so as to intersect with the first imaginary line L1. Even in this case, the region connecting the edge portion 23 and the first surface 21 a and the region connecting the edge portion 23 and the side surface 22 change gradually, thereby increasing the bonding strength between the fiber optic plate 2E and the scintillator film 3 near the side surface 22 and increasing the strength against impacts acting on the side surface of the scintillator panel 1E. Therefore, it is possible to prevent the scintillator film 3 from peeling off from the fiber optic plate 2E. The chamfered shapes of the first chamfered portion 27 e and the second chamfered portion 27 f may be, for example, C-chamfered or R-chamfered.

[0044] FIG. 7 is a graph showing the pressure at which the scintillator film 3 peels from the first surface 21a, i.e., the lifting pressure. In FIG. 7, data point P1 represents the lifting pressure when the contour of the edge portion 23 has the shape shown in FIG. 2. Data point P2 represents the lifting pressure when the contour of the edge portion 23 has the shape shown in FIG. 3. Data point P3 represents the lifting pressure when the first surface 21a and the side surface 22 are in contact without the edge portion 23. Data point P4 represents the lifting pressure when the edge portion 23 has a chamfered shape of approximately 0.3 mm. Data point P5 represents the lifting pressure when the contour of the edge portion 23 is a straight line at an angle of 60 degrees to the first surface 21a. At data points P1 and P2, peeling of the scintillator film 3 from the first surface 21a was not observed even at a lifting pressure (approximately 30 N) higher than for the other shapes, so for convenience, the pressure is plotted as approximately 30 N. Therefore, the configuration of the scintillator panel of the present disclosure can further increase the bonding strength between fiber optic plates 2A, 2C and scintillator film 3 near side surface 22. This can further increase the strength of scintillator film 3 against impacts acting on scintillator panels 1A, 1B, and it can be determined that peeling of scintillator film 3 from fiber optic plates 2A, 2C can be suppressed.

[0045] As shown in Fig. 8 , the scintillator film 3 may be formed in an area excluding at least one of the plurality of corners 28 of the fiber optic plate 2A. This means that the scintillator film 3 is not formed in at least one of the corners 28 that are susceptible to external impact, thereby reducing the possibility that the scintillator film 3 will be impacted by an impact acting on the corner 28 of the fiber optic plate 2A. This further reduces the likelihood that the scintillator film 3 will be peeled off from the fiber optic plate 2A. In the example of Fig. 8 , the scintillator film 3 is not formed in four of the six corners 28 of the fiber optic plate 2A, as indicated by the reference numerals.

[0046] As shown in FIG. 9 , the imaging device 10 of the second embodiment includes a scintillator panel 1A and a semiconductor substrate 11 arranged to contact the second surface 21b of the scintillator panel 1A. The semiconductor substrate 11 includes a detection unit 12. The detection unit 12 detects fluorescence generated in the scintillator film 3, incident on the first surface 21a of the fiber optic plate 2A, and emitted from the second surface 21b. The detection unit 12 is adhered to the second surface 21b with an adhesive applied to the entire surface or near the outer edge of the second surface 21b. The detection unit 12 may be fixed by being pressed against the fiber optic plate 2A with, for example, a sponge or the like. The detection unit 12 may be provided in any size.

[0047] The imaging device 10 is used, for example, by placing the entire device inside the oral cavity of a patient. However, the use of the imaging device is not limited to this, and the device may also be used, for example, for mammography. The size of the scintillator panel 1A is optimized depending on the use.

[0048] While the principles of the present invention have been illustrated and described in preferred embodiments, it will be recognized by those skilled in the art that the present invention can be modified in arrangement and detail without departing from such principles. The present invention is not limited to the particular constructions disclosed herein. We therefore claim all modifications and variations that come within the scope and spirit of the following claims.

[0049] 1A to 1E...Scintillator panel, 2A to 2E...Fiber optic plate, 3...Scintillator film, 4...Film, 5...Masking, 10...Imaging device, 11...Semiconductor substrate, 12...Detection unit, 21a...First surface, 21b...Second surface, 22...Side, 23...Edge portion, 24c...First contact point, 24d...Second contact point, 25...Corner portion, 26...Chamfered portion, 27e...First chamfered portion, 27f...Second chamfered portion, 28...Corner portion, 41a, 41b...Moisture-resistant protective film, 42...Optical function film, L1...First virtual straight line, L2...Second virtual straight line, P1 to P5...Data points.

Claims

1. A scintillator panel comprising: a fiber optic plate having a first surface, a second surface opposite the first surface, a side surface, and an edge portion connecting the first surface and the side surface; and a scintillator film formed from the first surface to at least a portion of the edge portion, wherein in a cross section along the opposing direction between the first surface and the second surface, at least a portion of the outline of the edge portion is located on the fiber optic plate side of a first imaginary line passing through a first contact point between the edge portion and the first surface, and the first imaginary line extends from the first contact point at an angle toward the side surface so that the angle between the first imaginary line and the first surface is 45 degrees.

2. The scintillator panel according to claim 1, wherein the scintillator film is formed from the first surface to at least a portion of the side surface.

3. A scintillator panel according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the contour shape in the cross section is convex toward the fiber optic plate.

4. The scintillator panel according to claim 3, wherein at least a portion of the contour shape has at least one corner in the cross section.

5. The scintillator panel according to claim 3 or 4, wherein at least a part of the contour shape is curved in the cross section.

6. A scintillator panel according to any one of claims 1 to 5, wherein the first surface is parallel to the second surface, and in the cross section, a second point of contact between the edge portion and the side surface is equidistant from both the first surface and the second surface and is located on a second imaginary line parallel to both the first surface and the second surface, or on the first surface side of the second imaginary line.

7. A scintillator panel according to any one of claims 1 to 6, wherein the edge portion has either or both of a first chamfered portion adjacent to the first surface and a second chamfered portion adjacent to the side surface.

8. A scintillator panel according to any one of claims 1 to 5, wherein the scintillator film is formed in an area excluding at least one corner of the first surface.

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