General Electric Company

Ge Precision Healthcare LLC

Prismatic Sensors Ab

Brian Joseph Graves

Gregory Scott Zeman

Douglas J Snyder

Mahesh Raman Narayanaswamy

Takashi Yasunaga

Gerhardt Edwin Schweinert

Baiju Zacharia Babu

David Michael Hoffman

Peter Michael Edic

Joseph James Lacey

Carey Shawn Rogers

Brian David Yanoff

Abdelaziz Ikhlef

Habib Vafi

Biju Jacob

Nicholas Ryan Konkle

Charles B Kendall

Mayank Gupta

Torbjörn Hjärn

Paul Michael Ratzmann

Thomas Gerard Ebben

Cheng Xu

Brian Joseph Breuer

Hinhsomchay Gnao Phouybanhdyt

Ross Hoggatt

There is provided an x-ray detector having a number of x-ray detector sub-modules. Each detector sub-module is an edge-on detector sub-module having an array of detector elements extending in at least two directions, wherein one of the directions has a component in the direction of incoming x-rays. The detector sub-modules are stacked one after the other and/or arranged side-by-side. For at least part of the detector sub-modules, the detector sub-modules are arranged for providing a gap between adjacent detector sub-modules, where at least part of the gap is not directed linearly towards the x-ray focal point of an x-ray source.

X-ray detector system design

A detector assembly positionable to receive X-rays from an X-ray source within an imaging system is provided. The detector assembly includes multiple detector elements. The detector assembly also includes a temperature regulation system including multiple temperature regulation devices, wherein each temperature regulation device of the multiple temperature regulation devices is associated with a respective detector element of the multiple detector elements, and each temperature regulation device is configured to independently maintain a consistent temperature across a portion of a respective detector element.

System and method for regulating temperature of imaging detector sensors

A CT system is disclosed that includes detector modules positioned on a rotatable gantry configured to receive x-rays attenuated by an object. Each detector module includes a module frame, a plurality of tileable sub-modules on the module frame aligned along a Z-axis thereof to receive the x-rays attenuated by the object and convert the x-rays to digital signals, and an electronics board connected to the plurality of sub-modules to receive the digital signals. Each sub-module further includes an array of detector elements to receive x-rays attenuated through the object and convert the x-rays into analog electrical signals, an ASIC electronics package coupled to the array of detector elements to receive the analog electrical signals and convert the analog electrical signals to digital signals, and a flex circuit connected to the ASIC electronics package to receive the digital signals and transfer the digital signals to the electronics board.

Multi-slice CT detector with tileable packaging structure

A CT detector includes a scintillator module including at least one scintillator configured to be impinged with radiographic energy from a radiographic energy source, at least one indexing pin connected to the scintillator module, and a collimator assembly having at least one comb, wherein the collimator assembly defines a relative position of the at least one comb, and wherein the at least one comb has a plurality of teeth configured to engage the at least one indexing pin.

Self-aligning scintillator-collimator assembly

A computerized tomography imaging scanner module includes a plurality of scintillators, a plurality of back-illuminated photodiodes optically coupled with the scintillators, a multi-layer substrate having a plurality of substrate electrical conductors to which the photodiodes are electrically coupled, wherein each of the plurality of substrate conductors is connected to a different one of the back-illuminated photodiodes, and a flexible cable having a plurality of flex electrical conductors to which the substrate is electrically coupled, wherein each of the plurality of flex electrical conductors is connected to a different output of the multi-layer substrate.

Module assembly for multiple die back-illuminated diode

The present invention is directed to scintillator module for a CT detector as well as an apparatus and method of manufacturing the same. The scintillator module is comprised of a scintillator array having a plurality of scintillators aligned in parallel with respect to one another. A collimator assembly includes a comb having a number of teeth and a plurality of collimator plates positioned proximate to the scintillator array. The scintillator array includes at least one indexing pin extending therefrom. The indexing pin engages the comb and is constructed to improve alignment of the scintillator array relative to the collimator plates.

X-ray detector apparatus is provided for use in a CT imaging system having a rotatable gantry. The apparatus comprises a selected number of X-ray detector cells and two curved rails, which hold the detector cells in an array comprising an arcuate configuration and mount them onto the gantry for rotation therewith. Conduit segments are distributed along the rails, each conduit segment being proximate to a corresponding group of X-ray detector cells, and a quantity of selected working fluid and a porous wick structure is sealably enclosed in each conduit segment. The fluid is disposed to move along a conduit segment in gaseous form by means of convection, and to move in the opposing direction through the wick structure, in liquid form, by means of capillary action Heat is thereby transferred along a conduit segment to maintain a substantially isothermal condition among the detector cells proximate thereto.

X-ray detector array maintained in isothermal condition

In a radiographic apparatus having an x-ray tube, a method is provided for continuously conditioning the dielectric fluid in the x-ray tube during operation, thereby extending the service life of the x-ray tube. This is achieved by mounting a filter inside a filter housing, and mounting a replaceable gas reduction cartridge around the filter. The replaceable gas cartridge is filled with a material having a high affinity for the dielectric fluid. When the dielectric fluid enters at the filter outside diameter, the fluid moves radially inward so that the dielectric fluid flows over the high affinity material surfaces. The dielectric fluid then alloys with the high affinity material, thereby continuously conditioning the fluid.

Continuous conditioning of dielectric fluid in an x-ray tube

A method of balancing X-ray anodes wherein the anode rotor is dynamically balanced separately from the anode target, the anode target is then attached to the anode rotor to provide the assembled anode, and the assembled anode is then dynamically balanced. This sequential balancing method has the advantage that it results in an anode which remains balanced during operation at speeds up to and exceeding the anode's critical speeds, even though the dynamic balancing steps may be performed at speeds substantially below the anode's critical speeds. This is also convenient because at such low balancing speeds, the dynamic balancing steps can be performed in air rather than vacuum without concern for oxidation and spalling of the rotor bearings, excessive vibration, and potential safety concerns.

Method for balancing rotatable anodes for X-ray tubes

Growing community of inventors

Waukesha, WI, United States of America

Brian Joseph Graves