Shared Scintillator Detector Array Cross-Talk

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Solution Overview

Problem

Conventional radiation imaging systems with indirect conversion detector arrays suffer from optical cross-talk due to separate scintillators and photodetectors, which reduces efficiency and increases manufacturing costs.

Innovation Solution

A radiation imaging system with a detector array where the scintillator is shared between detector elements, eliminating reflective material between them, and using a filter to correct for optical cross-talk by subtracting a percentage of measurements from adjacent photodetectors.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If separate scintillators are used for each detector element, then optical cross-talk is reduced, but device complexity and manufacturing costs increase

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveoptical cross-talk mitigationVSAvoiddetector array structure

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The scintillator is segmented into discrete elements with reflective barriers between them, allowing each scintillator element to be associated with a specific photodetector while preventing optical cross-talk to adjacent photodetectors

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

Reflective barriers are introduced as intermediary structures between adjacent scintillator elements to redirect optical photons back into their originating scintillator, preventing cross-talk without requiring complete physical separation

Inventive Principle:

Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

2Reliability

If reflective material is placed between scintillators, then optical cross-talk is mitigated, but manufacturing precision requirements increase

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveoptical isolationVSAvoidalignment tolerance

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSManufacturing precision

Solution Approach 1:

The reflective barriers are pre-formed as integral structures during scintillator fabrication, ensuring proper positioning and orientation before assembly, which reduces the precision required during final assembly operations

Inventive Principle:

Principle #10Preliminary action

Solution Approach 2:

The reflective barriers are positioned only at specific locations where optical cross-talk occurs (between adjacent scintillator elements), rather than requiring comprehensive coverage, thereby reducing overall manufacturing precision requirements

Inventive Principle:

Principle #3Local quality

3Reliability

If separate scintillators are used for each detector element, then detector performance is optimized, but manufacturing costs increase

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvedetector element performanceVSAvoidmanufacturing cost

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSEase of manufacture

Solution Approach 1:

Multiple scintillator elements are arranged in a continuous or closely-packed configuration sharing common support structures and readout electronics, reducing the total number of discrete components and assembly operations required compared to fully separate scintillators

Inventive Principle:

Principle #5Merging (Combining)

4Productivity

If the scintillator is shared between photodetectors, then geometric efficiency is improved, but optical cross-talk increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvegeometric efficiencyVSAvoidoptical cross-talk

Core Design Contradiction:

ProductivityVSObject-generated harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The harmful optical cross-talk is extracted and isolated by introducing reflective barriers that redirect stray photons back to their source, allowing the scintillator to be shared among multiple photodetectors without suffering from cross-talk degradation

Inventive Principle:

Principle #2Taking out (Extraction)

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 design improves geometric efficiency, reduces image aliasing artifacts, and lowers manufacturing costs by minimizing the need for separate scintillators and reflective material, while effectively mitigating optical cross-talk.

Implementation Method 1

a scintillator configured to generate luminescent photons responsive to a detection event

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectScintillation: Scintillation

Implementation Method 2

a plurality of photodetectors situated proximate an underside of the scintillator and configured to detect at least some of the luminescent photons

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectPhotoelectric effect: Photoelectric Effect

Data Source

PatentEP3207407B1Indirect conversion detector array

Publication Date: 2021.02.24 ANALOGIC CORP

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AI summary

Among other things, a detector array (300) for a radiation imaging system is provided. The detector array comprises a plurality of detector elements. Respective detector elements comprise, among other things, a scintillator (304) and a photodetector (306). In some embodiments, a scintillator is shared amongst two or more of the detector elements. In some embodiments, little to no reflective material, configured to mitigate cross-talk between detector elements, is situated between two or more detector elements.