Rotating Scatter Mask for Directional Radiation Source Imaging
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current radiation imaging systems face limitations in accurately imaging distributed radiation sources from unknown directions due to directional degeneracies, phantom sources, and image artifacts, while also being bulky and costly, especially in portable applications.
Innovation Solution
A radiation imaging system utilizing an Eigenvector-based rotating scatter mask with a pixelated outer surface and a regenerative neural network (ReGeNN) algorithm to generate a unique detector response curve based on the scatter mask's rotation, enabling accurate reconstruction of radiation source distribution.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Measurement precision
If coded-aperture imaging or Compton cameras are used, then radiation imaging capability is achieved, but device complexity and cost increase significantly
Solution Approach 1:
The scatter mask is divided into multiple discrete segments or zones with different attenuation properties, allowing the system to encode directional information through spatial segmentation rather than requiring complex detector arrays
Solution Approach 2:
A rotating scatter mask is introduced as an intermediary component between the radiation source and the detector, modulating the radiation signal to encode directional information that simplifies the detector requirements while maintaining imaging capability
2Measurement precision
If coded-aperture imaging systems are used, then radiation imaging is possible, but field-of-view is limited and portability is reduced
Solution Approach 1:
The scatter mask is made rotatable, transforming a static imaging system into a dynamic one that can sweep through multiple angles, thereby expanding the effective field-of-view and enabling portable deployment without sacrificing localization accuracy
Solution Approach 2:
The rotating scatter mask performs periodic angular sweeps, allowing the system to accumulate directional information from multiple angles over time, which expands the field-of-view while maintaining accurate source localization through temporal integration
3Measurement precision
If traditional scatter mask designs are used, then radiation detection occurs, but directional degeneracies and image artifacts are produced
Solution Approach 1:
The scatter mask employs asymmetric attenuation patterns and non-uniform segment designs that break the symmetry causing directional degeneracies, allowing unique mapping between detector responses and source directions while reducing phantom sources and artifacts
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 system effectively resolves complex, noisy source shapes and avoids phantom sources and image artifacts, providing accurate imaging of radiation sources with improved portability and reduced complexity and cost.
Implementation Method 1
a rotating mask around a single detector to attenuate and scatter, not collimate, radiation and determine the direction of a gamma-ray source
Implementation Method 2
detecting correlated events... may not be used for imaging neutron sources
Data Source
AI summary
A radiation imaging system images a distributed source of radiation from an unknown direction by rotating a scatter mask around a central axis. The scatter mask has a pixelated outer surface of tangentially oriented, flat geometric surfaces that are spherically varying in radial dimension that corresponds to a discrete amount of attenuation. Rotation position of the scatter mask is tracked as a function of time. Radiation counts from gamma and/or neutron radiation are received from at least one radiation detector that is positioned at or near the central axis. A rotation-angle dependent detector response curve (DRC) is generated based on the received radiation counts. A reconstruction algorithm for distributed radiation source(s) and/or localized source(s) are applied based on the tracked rotation position and prior characterization of the detector response for a given scatter mask. A two-dimensional image with relative orientation and source distribution is generated from the measured DRC.