SHROUDED X-RAY DEVICE
Systems, methods, apparatuses, and computer program products for the detection of X-ray electromagnetic radiation using a scintillator are provided. In one example embodiment, at least one X-ray device may comprise an X-ray source configured to emit an X-ray cone, a scintillator, a detector, and at least one shroud positioned to block stray light from reaching the detector.
1 . An X-ray device, comprising:
at least one X-ray source configured to emit an X-ray cone;
a scintillator;
a detector; and
at least one shroud positioned to block stray light from reaching the detector.
2 . The X-ray device claim 1 , wherein the shroud blocks at least 80% of stray light from reaching the detector.
3 . The X-ray device of claim 1 , wherein the shroud blocks stray light at or near a read-noise of the detector.
4 . The X-ray device of claim 1 , wherein the shroud blocks incident light on the detector to only scintillated light from the scintillator.
5 . The X-ray device of claim 1 , wherein the scintillator comprises an organic scintillator material, an inorganic scintillator material, an organic-inorganic scintillator material, or any combination thereof.
6 . The X-ray device of claim 1 , wherein the detector comprises an optical camera, a charge-coupled device detector, a photodiode, or any combination thereof.
7 . The X-ray device of claim 6 , wherein the optical camera comprises a complementary metal―oxide―semiconductor digital camera sensor.
8 . The X-ray device of claim 1 , wherein the shroud is positioned between the at least one X-ray source and the detector.
9 . The X-ray device of claim 1 , wherein the shroud is flat and has an opening allowing at least 90% of the X-ray light cone to transmit through the shroud.
10 . The X-ray device of claim 1 , wherein the X-ray light cone comprises a right-circular cone comprising an angle between 20°-90°.
11 . The X-ray device of claim 1 , further comprising one or more mirrors configured to reflect light from the scintillator to the detector.
12 . The X-ray device of claim 1 , wherein the detector is positioned between the shroud and the at least one X-ray source.
13 . The X-ray device of claim 1 , wherein the shroud is transparent to X-ray light.
14 . The X-ray device of claim 1 , wherein light detectable by the detector comprises infrared and visible light.
15 . The X-ray device of claim 1 , wherein the X-ray light cone comprises X-rays selected from soft X-rays and hard X-rays.
16 . The X-ray device of claim 1 , wherein the stray light is selected from light from the at least one X-ray source, light from at least one X-ray source controller, light from limit switches, light from the detector, and reflected light.
17 . The X-ray device of claim 1 , wherein the X-ray device is an X-ray computed tomography device.
18 . The X-ray device of claim 17 , further comprising:
a motion system configured to reposition the X-ray device during a scan.
19 . A method, comprising:
transmitting, by at least one X-ray source and in the presence of stray light, X-rays toward a scintillator, wherein the X-rays pass through an object to be imaged;
emitting, by a scintillator, visible light in response to receiving the X-rays;
blocking the stray light, or a portion thereof, from the detector by a shroud; and
detecting, by a detector, the visible light from the scintillator.
20 . The method of claim 19 , further comprising:
moving, by a motion system, at least one of the at least one X-ray source, the detector, and a scan target.