Vertical Radiation Detector with Shielded Electronics
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional CT scanners face challenges in reducing patient dose while maintaining image quality, as lower doses increase image noise and artifacts, and increasing spatial resolution with reduced detector dimensions increases costs due to the need for more detectors and radiation-hardened circuitry.
Innovation Solution
A vertical radiation sensitive detector array with a scintillator array optically coupled to a photo-sensor circuit board, featuring processing electronics below the scintillator and a flexible circuit board electrically coupling the photo-sensitive region to the processing electronics, with a radiation shield between the scintillator and processing electronics to mitigate residual radiation exposure.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Object-affected harmful factors
If patient dose is reduced, then radiation safety is improved, but image noise increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent changes the geometric parameter of the detector by increasing the vertical height of the photo-detector. This parameter change allows for increased optical path length without increasing x-ray absorption, thereby improving signal generation efficiency and reducing image noise even at lower patient doses
2Measurement precision
If spatial resolution is increased by reducing detector dimensions, then image quality is improved, but the number of detectors required increases, leading to increased system cost
Solution Approach 1:
The patent transitions from a conventional horizontal detector arrangement to a vertical detector configuration. By utilizing the vertical dimension for the photo-detector height, the system achieves improved spatial resolution without proportionally increasing the number of detectors, thereby controlling system complexity and cost
3Reliability
If electrical circuitry is placed close to the photo-detector to reduce electronic noise, then signal-to-noise ratio is improved, but radiation shielding requirements increase area and cost
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces a flexible circuit board as an intermediary element that electrically couples the photo-sensitive region to the processing electronics. This flexible circuit board serves as both an electrical connection medium and a radiation shielding barrier, allowing close placement of electronics while protecting them from residual radiation without requiring additional shield area
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 configuration reduces the need for radiation-hardened components, decreases detector costs, and maintains signal-to-noise levels by shielding processing electronics from residual radiation, thereby enhancing image quality and reducing costs.
Implementation Method 1
The x-ray radiation illuminates the scintillator array, which absorbs the x-ray photons and, in response, emits optical photons indicative of the absorbed x-ray photons
Implementation Method 2
The photo-sensor array detects the optical photons and generates an electrical (current or voltage) signal indicative of the detected optical photons
Implementation Method 3
a radiation shield disposed below the bottom of the scintillator array, between the scintillator and the processing electronics, thereby shielding the processing electronics from residual radiation passing through the scintillator array
Data Source
AI summary
A vertical radiation sensitive detector array (114) includes at least one detector leaf (118). The detector leaf includes a scintillator array (210, 502, 807, 907), including, at least, a top side (212) which receives radiation, a bottom side (218) and a rear side (214) and a photo-sensor circuit board (200, 803, 903), including a photo-sensitive region (202, 508, 803, 903), optically coupled to the rear side of the scintillator array. The detector leaf further includes processing electronics (406) disposed below the scintillator array, a flexible circuit board (220) electrically coupling the photo-sensitive region and the processing electronics, and a radiation shield (236) disposed below the bottom of the scintillator array, between the scintillator and the processing electronics, thereby shielding the processing electronics from residual radiation passing through the scintillator array. Some embodiments incorporate rare earth iodides such as SrI 2 (Eu).