Anti-scatter Collimator Filler Material Stability
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Solution Overview
Problem
Changes in the position or structure of anti-scatter collimators during medical imaging device operation lead to reduced image quality due to unwanted effects on their positioning relative to the X-ray detector.
Innovation Solution
An anti-scatter collimator is designed with collimator walls arranged in a stacked construction, featuring through-channels filled with a filler material to enhance mechanical stability and maintain optimal positioning, reducing deformation caused by operational forces.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Object-affected harmful factors
If the anti-scatter collimator is constructed with spaced collimator walls forming through-channels, then the scattered radiation suppression is effective, but the mechanical stability deteriorates due to deformation under operational forces
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies composite materials by filling the through-channels with filler material that has different properties than the collimator walls. The filler material (epoxy resin, polyurethane, or polyacrylonitrile) combines with the collimator wall material to create a composite structure that maintains both the radiation suppression function and improved mechanical stability, resolving the contradiction between effective scattered radiation suppression and mechanical stability.
2Object-affected harmful factors
If the collimator walls are mutually spaced to provide through-channels, then the scattered radiation can be suppressed, but the structural rigidity deteriorates causing position changes during operation
Solution Approach 1:
The filler material creates a composite structure that reinforces the collimator walls while maintaining the through-channel geometry needed for radiation suppression. This composite construction provides the structural rigidity necessary to prevent position changes during operation while preserving the scattered radiation suppression capability.
Solution Approach 2:
The filler material is selectively placed only in the through-channels between collimator walls, providing local reinforcement where needed for structural rigidity while maintaining the open channel structure for radiation suppression. This localized application of filler material optimizes both structural and functional properties.
3Stability of the object's composition
If the through-channels are filled with filler material, then the mechanical stability is improved, but the device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent merges the structural support function with the existing through-channel geometry by filling them with filler material. This combining of functions achieves improved mechanical stability without adding separate support structures, thereby limiting the increase in device complexity while still resolving the stability issue.
Data Source
AI summary
An anti-scatter collimator is for arrangement in a stacked construction with an X-ray detector. In an embodiment, the anti-scatter collimator includes collimator walls arranged adjacently at least along a first direction. The collimator walls are mutually spaced to provide a through-channel between each pair of adjacent collimator walls. The through-channels provided by the arrangement of the multiplicity of collimator walls are at least partially filled with a filler material.