Edge-On X-Ray Detector Gap Filling to Reduce Image Artifacts
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Solution Overview
Problem
Edge-on x-ray detectors are sensitive to dynamic misalignments, leading to clinically unacceptable image artefacts and other image quality problems.
Innovation Solution
The use of a gap filling material comprising a mixture or compound of resin and metal disulfide, such as tungsten disulfide, between adjacent x-ray sensors to reduce sensitivity to dynamic misalignments.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If edge-on x-ray sensors with high aspect ratio are used to increase absorption efficiency, then x-ray absorption efficiency is improved, but sensitivity to dynamic misalignments worsens
Solution Approach 1:
A gap filling material with x-ray attenuating properties is introduced as an intermediary substance between adjacent x-ray sensors. This material fills the interspacing and acts as a mediator that reduces the sensitivity to dynamic misalignments by providing consistent x-ray attenuation in the gap regions, thereby resolving the contradiction between maintaining high absorption efficiency and reducing misalignment sensitivity.
Solution Approach 2:
The x-ray attenuating properties of the gap filling material are optimized by selecting materials with specific atomic numbers and densities that match or exceed the x-ray absorption characteristics of the sensor material. This parameter matching ensures that the gap regions do not create significant x-ray transmission variations during dynamic misalignment, thus maintaining measurement precision while preserving absorption efficiency.
2Reliability
If gap filling material is introduced between x-ray sensors to reduce misalignment sensitivity, then robustness to dynamic misalignments is improved, but device complexity worsens
Solution Approach 1:
The gap filling material is designed to have homogeneous x-ray attenuating properties that match the surrounding sensor material. This homogeneity ensures consistent x-ray interaction across the entire detector array, including gap regions, thereby reducing the need for complex correction algorithms and simplifying the overall system while improving robustness to dynamic misalignments.
3Productivity
If interspacing between x-ray sensors is reduced to improve detection coverage, then detection efficiency is improved, but sensitivity to dynamic misalignments worsens
Solution Approach 1:
The gap filling material serves as an intermediary that enables closer spacing between sensors while maintaining alignment tolerance. By providing consistent x-ray attenuation in the reduced interspacing regions, the material allows the sensors to be positioned closer together for improved detection coverage without sacrificing alignment precision, thus resolving the contradiction between detection efficiency and alignment tolerance.
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
The edge-on x-ray detector becomes more robust to dynamic misalignments, improving image quality by reducing or eliminating certain image artefacts, particularly in clinical CT applications.
Implementation Method 1
a gap filling material comprising a mixture or compound of resin and metal disulfide
Data Source
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AI summary
There is provided an edge-on x-ray detector (20) configured for detecting incoming x- rays. The edge-on x-ray detector (20) comprises a plurality of adjacent x-ray sensors (21), and each x-ray sensor (21) is oriented edge-on to incoming x-rays. The x-ray sensors (21) are arranged side-by-side and/or lined up one after the other, and the interspacing between the x-ray sensors (21) is at least partly filled with a gap filling material (26) comprising a mixture or compound of resin and metal disulfide