Flexible Radiation Detector with Segmented Scintillation Units
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current radiation detectors are often large, rigid, and costly, limiting their portability, flexibility, and ability to adapt to different applications, particularly in medical and space environments where compact, multi-functional, and cost-efficient solutions are needed.
Innovation Solution
A multifunctional radiation detector design featuring a flexible substrate foil with multiple detector units that can be folded and unfolded, each equipped with photosensitive pixels and scintillation devices, allowing for arbitrary geometric arrangements and independent operation, enabling detection of various radiation energies and flexible positioning.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If radiation detectors are made large to detect various radiation energies, then detection capability is improved, but portability and flexibility deteriorate
Solution Approach 1:
The radiation detector is divided into multiple independently operable detector units that can be arranged in different geometric configurations. Each detector unit can detect radiation independently, allowing the system to maintain detection capability while being segmented into smaller, more portable components that can be flexibly arranged.
Solution Approach 2:
The detector units are designed to be movable and reconfigurable relative to each other, allowing the detector array to dynamically change its geometric arrangement. This enables the system to adapt to different detection requirements while maintaining portability, as the units can be stored compactly and deployed in various configurations as needed.
2Adaptability or versatility
If multiple detector units are used to detect various radiation energies, then adaptability is improved, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
Each detector unit is designed with universal functionality to detect different types and energies of radiation. The detector units share common structural and operational characteristics, allowing a single design to perform multiple detection functions. This reduces overall system complexity compared to having specialized detectors for each radiation type.
Solution Approach 2:
Multiple detector units are combined on a single substrate foil, sharing common support structures, wiring, and control systems. This merging approach allows the system to achieve multi-functionality through the combination of identical or similar units rather than through complex specialized designs, thereby reducing overall structural complexity.
3Manufacturing precision
If detector units are arranged in fixed configurations, then manufacturing precision is improved, but flexibility and adaptability deteriorate
Solution Approach 1:
The detector units are designed with movable connections that allow reconfiguration from fixed manufacturing arrangements to dynamic operational configurations. The substrate foil and supporting structures enable the detector units to be positioned in various geometric arrangements while maintaining precise alignment through the inherent flexibility of the support system.
Solution Approach 2:
A flexible substrate foil is used to support the detector units, allowing the array to be bent, folded, or arranged in various three-dimensional configurations. The thin film structure maintains detector unit positions during manufacturing with high precision, while simultaneously enabling flexible reconfiguration during deployment and storage.
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 detector provides a compact, robust, and cost-effective solution with increased mobility and adaptability, allowing for flexible geometric configurations and simultaneous detection of different radiation energies, enhancing imaging capabilities and reducing patient access limitations during medical procedures.
Implementation Method 1
Each of the detector units comprises a plurality of photosensitive pixels and at least one scintillation device optically coupled to the plurality of photosensitive pixels
Data Source
Figure 1A~1B
Figure 2A~3
Figure 4~6
AI summary
A multi-functional and multi-modality radiation detector (10) is provided. The radiation detector (10) comprises at least two detector units (12a, 12b) having photosensitive pixels (14) and at least one scintillation device (20) optically coupled to the photosensitive pixels (14). The detector units (12a, 12b) are arranged next to each other on a substrate foil (24). Therein, the scintillation devices (20) of the detector units (12a, 12b) are spaced apart from each other, such that the radiation detector (10) is bendable. This allows the radiation detector (10) to be used in many different geometrical configurations.