Staggered CT Collimator Surfaces for Compact X-Ray Projection

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Solution Overview

Problem

Current CT machines face limited space due to the arc-shaped collimator configuration, which occupies excessive space in the Y-axis direction, affecting the internal layout and efficiency.

Innovation Solution

A collimator with a staggered arrangement of collimating surfaces, where the first collimating surface has a greater curvature than the second, allowing a compact structure that reduces space occupation while maintaining effective X-ray projection and imaging quality.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Manufacturing precision

If the collimator is configured with an arc-shaped structure to enable a rectangular projection shape of X-rays onto the detector, then the imaging quality is improved, but the collimator occupies excessive space in the Y-axis direction

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveprojection shape precisionVSAvoidspace occupation in Y-axis direction
Core Design Contradiction:
Manufacturing precisionVSArea of stationary object

Solution Approach 1:

The collimator is divided into multiple collimating sections (first collimating section, second collimating section, etc.) with different curvatures. Each section handles a specific angular range of X-rays, allowing the overall collimator to achieve rectangular projection without requiring a single large arc-shaped structure, thus reducing Y-axis space occupation.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

Different collimating sections are assigned different curvature values tailored to their specific functional requirements. The first collimating section has a first curvature value optimized for its angular range, while the second collimating section has a second curvature value optimized for its range. This local optimization allows each section to be more compact while collectively achieving the desired rectangular projection shape.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #3Local quality

Data Source

PatentEP4666954A1Collimator and CT machine
Publication Date: 2025.12.24 MIDEA GRP (SHANGHAI) CO LTD
  • EP4666954A1 patent drawingFigure 1~2
  • EP4666954A1 patent drawingFigure 3
  • EP4666954A1 patent drawing

AI summary

Provided are a collimator and a CT machine. The collimator comprises a collimator main body (100), wherein the collimator main body (100) has a first collimating surface (131) facing or facing away from an X-ray tube, and a second collimating surface (141) facing or facing away from the X-ray tube; the curvature of the first collimating surface (131) is greater than that of the second collimating surface (141); the first collimating surface (131) and the second collimating surface (141) are arranged in a staggered manner; and a ray channel (150) penetrating the collimator is formed in the collimator main body (100), and the ray channel (150) is distributed in the first collimating surface (131) and the second collimating surface (141).