The University of Tennessee Research Foundation

Siemens Medical Solutions Usa, Inc.

Siemens Molecular Imaging, Inc.

Merry A Koschan

Charles L Melcher

Mark S Andreaco

Peter Carl Cohen

Mohit Tyagi

Matthias J Schmand

Lars Aldon Eriksson

Yuntao Wu

James Luke Corbeil

A Andrew Carey

Mariya Zhuravleva

Piotr Szupryczynski

Robert A Mintzer

Troy Marlar

Brant Quinton

Alexander Andrew Carey

Luis Stand

Harold E Rothfuss

Camera Janelle Foster

Daniel Joseph Rutstrom

Lars A Erikkson

Samuel Bradley Donnald

A method of tailoring the properties of garnet-type scintillators to meet the particular needs of different applications is described. More particularly, codoping scintillators, such as GdGaAlO, GdGaAlO, or other rare earth gallium aluminum garnets, with different ions can modify the scintillation light yield, decay time, rise time, energy resolution, proportionality, and/or sensitivity to light exposure. Also provided are the codoped garnet-type scintillators themselves, radiation detectors and related devices comprising the codoped garnet-type scintillators, and methods of using the radiation detectors to detect gamma rays, X-rays, cosmic rays, and particles having an energy of 1 keV or greater.

Codoping method for modifying the scintillation and optical properties of garnet-type scintillators

Codoped lutetium-based oxyorthosilicate scintillators (e.g., lutetium oxyorthosilicase (LSO) and lutetium-ytrrium oxyorthosilicate (LYSO) scintillators) codoped with transition metal ions (e.g., Cu) are described. The codoping can alter one or more optical and/or scintillation property of the scintillator material. For example, the codoping can increase scintillation light yield and/or decrease scintillation decay time. Radiation detectors comprising the scintillators, methods of detecting high energy radiation using the radiation detectors, and methods of altering one or more scintillation and/or optical properties of a lutetium-based oxyorthosilicate scintillator are also described.

Lutetium based oxyorthosilicate scintillators codoped with transition metals

Inorganic halides (e.g., inorganic halide scintillators) of the general formula ABX, including inorganic halides comprising thallium monovalent cations and/or combinations of different halides, are described. Radiation detectors including the inorganic halide scintillators and methods of using the detectors to detect high energy radiation are also described. In some cases, the scintillators can include a gadolinium cation, a boron cation, a lithium cation, a chloride ion, or combinations thereof and the scintillator can be used to detect neutrons.

Tl+-based and mixed halide A3B2X9-type scintillators

Codoped rare earth garnet-type oxide scintillators are described. More particularly, the scintillators include lutetium yttrium aluminum garnet (LuYAG)-type materials that are doped with an activator, such as praseodymium, and codoped with a monovalent cation, such as lithium. Radiation detectors comprising the scintillators, methods of detecting higher energy radiation using the scintillators, and methods of preparing the scintillators and altering scintillator properties are also described.

Garnet scintillator co-doped with monovalent ion

Example embodiments of a radiation detection system including a detector is described. The detector can include a scintillator, a sensor, and a light source. The radiation detection system can further include a controller programmed to control the light source to expose the scintillator to a light to saturate traps in the scintillator. In some embodiments, the detector can further include a second light source, and the controller is programmed to control the second light source to expose the scintillator to a second light to detrap afterglow traps in the scintillator.

Radiation detector for imaging applications with stabilized light output

A scintillator element is disclosed where the scintillator element includes a scintillator formed of a scintillation material capable of converting non-visible radiation into scintillation light, wherein the scintillator has a plurality of laser-etched micro-voids within the scintillator, each micro-void having an interior surface, and an intrinsic reflective layer is formed on the interior surface of at least some of the micro-voids, wherein the intrinsic reflective layer is formed from the scintillation material.

Laser etched scintillation detector blocks with internally created reflectors

A radiation detector may include a scintillator, a light source, and a sensor. The scintillator may include various scintillation materials capable of converting non-visible radiation (incoming radiation) into visible light. The sensor may be placed in adjacent or in close proximity to the scintillator, such that any converted visible light may be detected or measured by the sensor. The light source may be placed in adjacent or in close proximity to the scintillator, such that light from the light source may interact with defects in the scintillator to minimize interference on the conversion of non-visible radiation into visible light caused by the defects.

The use of the effect of crystallographic axis orientation on the effectiveness in annealing in multiple atmospheres and chemical compositions of lutetium oxyorthosilicate crystals and other scintillator crystals is disclosed. By controlling axis orientation an favorable annealing condition can be selected to repair both internal interstitial and vacancy defects through the crystal lattice. Axis orientation can be further utilized to control the uniformity of surface finish of chemically etched crystal.

Rare earth oxyorthosilicate scintillation crystals

A radiation sensor may include a scintillator, a reflector, and a sensor. The scintillator may be capable of converting non-visible radiation into scintillation light. The reflector may be formed from material of outside surfaces of the scintillator, to reflect the scintillation light. The sensor may be positioned in proximity to the scintillator, to detect the scintillation light from the scintillator. A method of manufacturing a scintillator with an intrinsic reflector may include heating the scintillator in an oxygen-deficient environment at a first temperature for a first predetermined time period, and optionally annealing the scintillator in an oxygenated environment at a second temperature for a second predetermined time period.

Intrinsic reflectors of scintillation detector elements and formation process of intrinsic reflectors

Crystals with improved scintillation and optical properties are achieved by codoping with a trivalent dopant and a divalent and/or a monovalent dopant. Embodiments include codoping LSO, YSO, GSO crystals and LYSO, LGSO, and LYGSO crystals. Embodiments also include codoped crystals with a controlled monovalent or divalent:trivalent dopant ratio of from about 1:1 for increased light yield to about 4:1 for faster decay time.

Use of codoping to modify the scintillation properties of inorganic scintillators doped with trivalent activators

LSO scintillation crystals with improved scintillation and optical properties are achieved by controlled co-doping a LSO crystal melt with amounts of cerium and an additional codopant such as calcium or other divalent cations. Crystal growth atmosphere is optimized by controlling the amount of oxygen in the atmosphere. Zinc is added as an additional material to restabilize crystal growth where calcium co-dopant is added. The decay time of the scintillation crystal can be controlled by controlling the concentration of co-dopant added.

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Knoxville, TN, United States of America

Merry A Koschan