Mammography detector with small chest distance
An X-ray detector is manufactured bonding detector layers onto a main frame leaving a protruding edge portion extending beyond edge of the detector layers. The protruding edge portion of the main frame is then detached from the main frame along a detachment line adjacent the edge of the detector layers before a cover with a thin edge wall is applied to the detector stack.
1. A method of making an X-ray detector, comprising:
providing a main frame for supporting a detector stack, wherein the main frame comprises a detachable protruding edge portion;
bonding detector layers onto the main frame leaving the protruding edge portion extending beyond an edge of the detector layers;
detaching the protruding edge portion of the main frame along a detachment line adjacent the edge of the detector layers; and
applying a cover with a thin edge wall to the detector stack;
wherein a trench to collect excess adhesive is located in the protruding edge portion of the main frame.
2. The method of claim 1 , wherein the detachment line is aligned with the edge of the detector layers.
3. The method of claim 1 , wherein the detachment line is located slightly inwardly of the edge of the detector layers.
4. The method of claim 1 , wherein the detachment line is defined by a scribe line that is pre-scribed into the main frame, and the protruding edge portion is snapped off along the scribe line after assembly of the detector stack.
5. The method of claim 1 , wherein the protruding edge portion is removably attached to the main frame by fasteners.
6. The method of claim 5 , wherein the fasteners are screws.
7. The method of claim 1 , wherein the detector layers comprise a glass carrier plate bonded onto a frame base portion of the main frame, one or more silicon tile layers, and a fiber-optic plate coated with a scintillator material.
8. The method of claim 1 , wherein the main frame is made of aluminum.
9. The method of claim 1 , wherein the main frame further comprises a frame base portion, and wherein the detector layers are bonded to the frame base portion.
10. The method of claim 9 , wherein the cover is applied to the edge of the detector layers and an edge of the frame base portion.
11. The method of claim 10 , wherein the cover is less than 1 mm thick.
12. An X-ray detector, comprising:
a detector stack bonded onto a frame base portion, an edge of the frame base portion being located such that it is aligned with, or under hangs an edge of the detector stack; and
a protective cover with a thin edge wall applied to the edge of the detector stack,
wherein the edge of the frame base portion further comprises a trench to collect excess adhesive flowing from the detector stack and
wherein the trench is configured to be removed along a detachment line formed in the frame base portion.
13. The X-ray detector of claim 12 , wherein the detector stack comprises a glass carrier plate bonded onto the frame base portion, one or more silicon tile layers, and a fiber-optic plate coated with a scintillator material.
14. The X-ray detector of claim 12 , wherein the frame base portion is made of aluminum.
15. The X-ray detector of claim 12 , wherein the protective cover is applied to the edge of the detector stack and the edge of the frame base portion.
16. A precursor assembly for making an X-ray detector, comprising:
a detector stack bonded onto a main frame;
a protruding edge portion comprising an edge of the main frame protruding beyond an edge of the detector stack;
wherein the protruding edge portion is detachable along a line that is aligned with, or underhangs the edge of the detector stack; and
wherein the protruding edge portion comprises a trench to collect any adhesive flowing from the detector stack.
17. The precursor assembly of claim 16 , wherein the line is in the form of a scribe line pre-scribed into the main frame.
18. The precursor assembly of claim 16 , wherein the protruding edge portion is detachably attached to the main frame with fasteners.