Laminated Scintillator Panel for High Luminance X-ray Imaging
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional phase contrast imaging techniques in X-ray diagnostics face challenges due to the need for large, thick lattice structures that are difficult to fabricate using silicon wafers, leading to limited area and reduced X-ray shielding effectiveness, especially under high-voltage conditions, and result in attenuated light emission and low luminance.
Innovation Solution
A laminated scintillator panel is developed with alternating scintillator and non-scintillator layers, where the scintillator layers convert X-rays into visible light and the non-scintillator layers transmit this light, allowing for increased thickness and area without the limitations of silicon wafers, with specific compositions and layer configurations optimizing light transmission and emission.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Manufacturing precision
If a silicon wafer is used to fabricate a lattice structure, then the manufacturing precision and X-ray shielding properties are improved, but the area is restricted and the thickness cannot be increased
Solution Approach 1:
The lattice structure is segmented into multiple thin silicon wafer layers stacked together, allowing each layer to be manufactured with high precision while the stacked configuration achieves large overall area and increased effective thickness
Solution Approach 2:
The invention uses composite construction by stacking multiple silicon wafer layers with lattice patterns, combining the advantages of high manufacturing precision of individual wafers with the benefits of large area and increased thickness of the stacked assembly
2Reliability
If the lattice thickness is increased to improve X-ray shielding, then the X-ray shielding properties are improved, but the manufacturing difficulty increases and even filling metal to the bottom becomes difficult
Solution Approach 1:
Instead of manufacturing one thick lattice structure that is difficult to fabricate, the invention segments the thickness into multiple thinner wafer layers that are easier to manufacture and assemble, achieving the same effective shielding thickness through stacking
Solution Approach 2:
The lattice patterns are pre-formed on individual thin silicon wafers where manufacturing is easier, then these pre-fabricated layers are stacked to achieve the desired total thickness and shielding effectiveness
3Illumination intensity
If CsI is used as the phosphor material, then the scintillation properties are improved, but the emission is attenuated due to repeated collision on the silicon lattice wall surface
Solution Approach 1:
The invention extracts the light-emitting CsI phosphor material from the constrained silicon lattice structure and places it in an open configuration where light emission is not blocked by silicon walls, eliminating the attenuation problem while preserving scintillation properties
4Measurement precision
If a conventional phase contrast imaging technique is used, then the sensitivity to soft tissues is improved, but the need for synchrotron X-ray source or minute focus X-ray tube makes it difficult for practical use
Solution Approach 1:
The invention creates a simplified version of synchrotron-based phase contrast imaging using conventional X-ray sources combined with the laminated scintillator panel, copying the essential functionality while removing the need for complex synchrotron facilities or minute focus tubes
Solution Approach 2:
The invention changes the key parameter from requiring extreme X-ray source conditions (synchrotron or minute focus) to using conventional X-ray sources, achieving the same soft tissue sensitivity through the specialized laminated scintillator detector design
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 laminated scintillator panel achieves high luminance and large area imaging capabilities, enabling effective phase contrast imaging without the need for expensive or large-scale facilities, and allows for high-pressure X-ray imaging of larger subjects.
Implementation Method 1
a scintillator layer for converting radiation into visible light
Data Source
AI summary
A laminated scintillator panel having a structure in which a scintillator layer for converting radiation into visible light and a non-scintillator layer are repeatedly laminated in a direction parallel to an incident direction of radiation, wherein the non-scintillator layer transmits the visible light.Provided is a lattice-shaped laminated scintillator panel with high luminance, a large area, and a thick layer by means completely different from a conventional technique using a silicon wafer.