PET detector modules utilizing overlapped light guides
US8822931B2 · kind B2 · utility
Assignee
Inventors
Key dates
| Filing date | Nov 18, 2011 |
| Grant date | Sep 2, 2014 |
| Priority date | — |
| Expiry date | Nov 20, 2031 |
Classification
- Technology area (CPC Y)Emerging Cross-Sectional Technologies
- CPC primaryY10T29/49826
- WIPO fieldEnvironmental technology
- WIPO sectorChemistry
Abstract
When constructing a nuclear detector module in a gantry, a plurality of overlapping light guide modules (10) are mounted to the gantry in a spaced-apart fashion, and a plurality of underlapping light guide modules (12) are mounted in between each pair of overlapping light guide modules (10). Each of the underlapping modules and the overlapping modules includes a scintillation crystal array (16) on an interior surface thereof, and a plurality of PMTs on an exterior surface thereof. Overlapping modules (10) have overlapping structures (22) that interface with underlapping structures (18) on the underlapping modules (12) and thereby eliminate a seam directly beneath PMTs that overlap the crystal arrays of both an overlapping module and an underlapping module. Optical grease is used to form a resilient grease coupling and reduce light scatter between the underlapping and overlapping modules.
Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.