Impact protection for wireless digital detector glass panel

1. A method for forming a digital receiver detector, the method comprising:

treating a glass sheet by applying a liquid filler to one or more edges of the glass sheet, wherein the liquid filler includes a material different than a material in the glass sheet;

allowing the liquid filler to penetrate microcracks in the edges of the glass sheet over a period of time;

curing the liquid filler;

forming circuitry on the treated sheet of glass;

assembling the sheet of glass with a scintillator in order to form a digital detector;

applying a cover sheet onto the digital detector; and

fitting the digital detector into a housing.

2. The method of claim 1 wherein applying the cover sheet comprises using an adhesive.

3. The method of claim 1 wherein applying the cover sheet comprises compressing the cover sheet against the digital detector.

4. The method of claim 1 , further comprising rolling, compressing, dipping, spraying, applying a bead of, or using a blade to apply, the filler material to the one or more edges of the glass sheet.

5. A digital radiography detector comprising:

a glass panel that is encased within a housing and that has, formed on a first surface, circuitry that provides image data of a subject in response to ionizing radiation passed through the subject, wherein at least a second glass panel surface on the exterior of the detector has a multilayer cover sheet that is configured to absorb impact force against the detector, the multilayer cover sheet comprising polymer material having a top layer sufficiently rigid to spread the impact force, a middle layer having an impact absorbing polymer, and a bottom layer in contact with the glass panel having a soft polymer to absorb impact energy; and

wherein at least one edge of the glass panel comprises microcracks that have absorbed a filler material in liquid form, wherein the filler material comprises a material different than a material in the glass panel.

6. The detector of claim 5 wherein the filler material is an epoxy resin.

7. The detector of claim 5 wherein the filler material is a self-healing material.

8. The detector of claim 5 , wherein the cover sheet is adhesively coupled to the second glass panel surface on the exterior of the detector.

9. The detector of claim 5 , wherein the cover sheet is mechanically compressed against the second glass panel surface on the exterior of the detector.

10. The detector of claim 5 , wherein the cover sheet is transparent.

11. The detector of claim 5 , wherein the cover sheet is opaque to visible light.

12. The detector of claim 5 , wherein the cover sheet is applied as a coating and cured.

13. The detector of claim 5 , wherein the cover sheet is in contact against more than one exterior surface of the detector.