Radiation Detector Cooling via Multi-Directional Airflow
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Solution Overview
Problem
Radiation image capturing apparatuses face challenges in achieving uniform cooling of radiation detectors due to restricted arrangements, leading to non-uniform cooling and reduced imaging accuracy, especially in mammography applications where the detector is positioned close to the chest wall, resulting in inadequate heat release.
Innovation Solution
The apparatus incorporates a housing with inlet and outlet ports on both sides and the underside, allowing a cooling medium to flow along the detection surface from the front end to the rear end, assisted by fans, ensuring efficient heat release and uniform cooling of the radiation detector.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If the radiation detector is positioned close to the chest wall to enable image capturing up to the base of the breast, then the image capturing capability is improved, but the heat release from the radiation detector becomes insufficient
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces cooling medium flow paths in multiple directions (front-to-rear, side-to-side, top-to-bottom) to cool the radiation detector from multiple dimensions. This allows effective cooling even when the detector is positioned in a constrained space close to the chest wall, resolving the contradiction between image capturing capability and heat release.
2Adaptability or versatility
If the image capturing unit housing is made compact to allow movement around the breast, then the adaptability is improved, but the space for cooling the radiation detector is reduced
Solution Approach 1:
The patent divides the cooling function into multiple independent cooling channels with separate inlet and outlet ports distributed throughout the housing. This segmentation allows efficient cooling of the radiation detector within a compact housing volume, enabling both small size for movability and adequate cooling space.
3Measurement precision
If the radiation detector is located on the chest-wall side of the housing to reduce distance to the patient, then the image capturing accuracy is improved, but the cooling uniformity deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The patent provides different cooling configurations for different regions of the radiation detector. Multiple inlet ports are positioned at different locations (front, rear, sides) to deliver cooling medium to specific hot spots or regions that require enhanced cooling, ensuring uniform temperature distribution across the detector surface despite its constrained position.
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
This configuration enables effective heat dissipation even in constrained spaces, maintaining uniform cooling of the radiation detector and enhancing imaging accuracy by ensuring consistent temperature management.
Implementation Method 1
The cooling medium is introduced into the housing through the inlet port, flows through the housing from the front end side toward the rear end side along the detection surface of the radiation detector
Implementation Method 2
the cooling medium flows through the housing from the front end side toward the rear end side along the detection surface of the radiation detector, and is discharged through the outlet port
Implementation Method 3
The apparatus incorporates a housing with inlet and outlet ports on both sides and the underside, allowing a cooling medium to flow along the detection surface from the front end to the rear end, assisted by fans
Data Source
AI summary
An image capturing base that contains a radiation detector includes a housing having a slit serving as an air inlet port formed in the front end side of the housing, which is to be located adjacent to the chest wall of a subject, and a slit serving as an air outlet port formed in the rear end side of the housing adjacent to a pivot shaft. A fan forces air to flow into the housing through the slit, along a detection surface of the radiation detector in a direction from the front end side toward the rear end side, and out of the housing through the slit.