IP Library Granted Patent US 12,449,555
Granted Patent B2
US 12,449,555 · App. 18/180,683 · Granted Oct 21, 2025

CsI(T1) scintillator crystal including co-dopants antiomy and bismuth to reduce afterglow, and a radiation detection apparatus including the scintillation crystal

Inventors: Fang Meng (Aurora, OH); Peter R. Menge (Novelty, OH)
Assignee: Luxium Solutions, LLC
G01T1/202C09K11/756G01N23/046G01N23/083
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Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 12,449,555
App. No.
18/180,683
Granted
Oct 21, 2025
Kind
B2
Abstract

A scintillation crystal can include a cesium halide that is co-doped with thallium and another element. In an embodiment, the scintillation crystal can include CsI:Tl, Me, where Me represents co-doped Sb and Bi. In a particular embodiment, the scintillation crystal may have a cesium iodide host material, a first dopant including a thallium, a second dopant including an antimony, and a third dopant including a bismuth.

Claims (34)

1. A scintillator crystal comprising:

a cesium iodide host material;

a first dopant comprising a thallium, a molar concentration of said first dopant being less than 10%;

a second dopant comprising an antimony, wherein a concentration of the second dopant in the scintillator crystal is greater than 0.02 ppm and no greater than 1.3 ppm; and

a third dopant comprising bismuth, wherein a concentration of the third dopant in the scintillator crystal is greater than 0.027 ppm and no greater than 5.2 ppm, wherein the scintillator crystal has a reduced afterglow below 0.1% at 100 ms, and wherein an absolute light output is greater than 55000 ph/MeV.

2. The scintillator crystal of claim 1 , wherein the absolute light output of the scintillator crystal is greater than 55300 ph/MeV.

3. The scintillator crystal of claim 1 , wherein the absolute light output of the scintillator crystal is greater than 55400 ph/MeV.

4. The scintillator crystal of claim 1 , wherein the absolute light output of the scintillator crystal is greater than 55500 ph/MeV.

5. The scintillator crystal of claim 1 , wherein the reduced afterglow of the scintillator crystal is below 0.09% at 100 ms.

6. The scintillator crystal of claim 1 , wherein the reduced afterglow of the scintillator crystal is below 0.08% at 100 ms.

7. A scintillator crystal comprising:

a cesium iodide host material;

a first dopant comprising a thallium, a molar concentration of said first dopant being less than 10%;

a second dopant comprising an antimony, wherein a concentration of the second dopant in the scintillator crystal is greater than 0.02 ppm and no greater than 1.3 ppm; and

a third dopant comprising bismuth, wherein a concentration of the third dopant in the scintillator crystal is greater than 0.027 ppm and no greater than 5.2 ppm, wherein the scintillator crystal has a reduced afterglow below 0.2% at 500 ms, and wherein a absolute light output is greater than 55000 ph/MeV.

8. The scintillator crystal of claim 7 , wherein the reduced afterglow of the scintillator crystal is below 0.05% at 500 ms.

9. The scintillator crystal of claim 7 , wherein the reduced afterglow of the scintillator crystal is below 0.07% at 500 ms.

10. The scintillator crystal of claim 7 , wherein the reduced afterglow of the scintillator crystal is below 0.09% at 500 ms.

11. The scintillator crystal of claim 7 , wherein the reduced afterglow of the scintillator crystal is below 0.1% at 500 ms.

12. The scintillator crystal of claim 7 , wherein the second dopant comprises trivalent antimony and the third dopant comprises trivalent bismuth.

13. The scintillator crystal of claim 7 , wherein the second dopant comprises pentavalent antimony and the third dopant comprises pentavalent bismuth.

14. A radiation detection apparatus comprising:

a housing; and

a scintillator within the housing, the scintillator comprising:

a cesium iodide host material;

a first dopant comprising a thallium, a molar concentration of said first dopant being less than 10%; and

a second dopant comprising an antimony, wherein a concentration of the second dopant in the scintillator crystal is greater than 0.02 ppm and no greater than 1.3 ppm; and

a third dopant comprising bismuth, wherein a concentration of the third dopant in the scintillator crystal is greater than 0.027 ppm and no greater than 5.2 ppm, wherein the scintillator crystal has a reduced afterglow below 0.1% at 100 ms, and wherein h absolute light output is greater than 55000 ph/MeV.

15. The radiation detection apparatus of claim 14 , wherein the radiation detection apparatus is capable of inspecting more than 300 bags per hour during an X-ray irradiation.

16. The radiation detection apparatus of claim 14 , wherein the radiation detection apparatus is capable of inspecting more than I 000 bags per hour during a Computed tomography irradiation.

17. The radiation detection apparatus of claim 14 , wherein the afterglow in the scintillator crystal is reduced by at least 83% as compared to an un-doped scintillator crystal.

18. The radiation detection apparatus of claim 14 , wherein the afterglow in the scintillator crystal is reduced by at least 90% as compared to an un-doped scintillator crystal.

19. The radiation detection apparatus of claim 14 , wherein the afterglow in the scintillator crystal is reduced by at least 92% as compared to an un-doped scintillator crystal.

20. The radiation detection apparatus of claim 14 , wherein the radiation detection apparatus is one of a Single Photon Emission Computer Tomography (SPECT) apparatus, a Positron Emission Tomography (PET) apparatus, an x-ray imaging apparatus, and an oil well-logging detector.

Assignments (2)
INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY SECURITY AGREEMENT SUPPLEMENT Recorded May 8, 2026
From: LUXIUM SOLUTIONS, LLC
To: GOLUB CAPITAL MARKETS LLC, AS COLLATERAL AGENT
Reel/Frame 075574/0443 →
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Jun 20, 2023
From: MENG, FANG; MENGE, PETER R.
To: LUXIUM SOLUTIONS, LLC
Reel/Frame 063999/0844 →
Continuity (2)
Provisional Application 63269031 · Mar 8, 2022
Related Publication 20230305174A1 · Sep 28, 2023
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