Self contained CT scintillators within a 3-D printed collimator field
Post-patient collimators and methods of manufacturing post-patient collimators are provided. An example method includes additively manufacturing a collimator array having a plurality of tapered cavities, positioning a plurality of scintillator pixels within the tapered cavities of the collimator array, and hardening the pixels within the tapered cavities. An example post-patient collimator includes a collimator array including a plurality of cavities, wherein each of the plurality of cavities includes tapered walls, a scintillator including a plurality of pixels, each of the plurality of pixels positioned with one of the plurality of cavities of the collimator, and a reflector positioned on a top of each of the plurality of pixels.
1 . A method of manufacturing a post-patient collimator comprising:
additively manufacturing a collimator array having a plurality of tapered cavities;
positioning a plurality of scintillator pixels within the collimator array, wherein each of the plurality of scintillator pixels is positioned in one of the cavities of tapered cavities; and
hardening the plurality of scintillator pixels within the tapered cavities.
2 . The method of claim 1 , further comprising producing a compact pixel using additive manufacturing.
3 . The method of claim 1 , wherein positioning a plurality of pixels within the collimator array includes additively manufacturing each of the scintillator pixels within each of the plurality of tapered cavities.
4 . The method of claim 1 , further comprising grinding down a bottom layer of the collimator array to expose a bottom surface of the scintillator pixels.
5 . The method of claim 1 , further comprising applying a reflective coating to a top layer of each of the scintillator pixels.
6 . The method of claim 5 , wherein the reflective coating is a reflective or pigment filled epoxy.
7 . The method of claim 5 , wherein the reflective coating is adhered to the top layer of each of the scintillator pixels.
8 . The method of claim 1 , wherein the collimator array is additively manufactured using tungsten.
9 . The method of claim 1 , wherein each scintillator pixel is a compact powdered ceramic material.
10 . The method of claim 1 , wherein each scintillator pixel is additively manufactured using ceramic material.
11 . The method of claim 1 , wherein positioning the plurality of scintillator pixels includes pouring a liquid ceramic material into the plurality of tapered cavities.
12 . The method of claim 1 , wherein hardening the plurality of scintillator pixels includes sintering.
13 . The method of claim 1 , wherein hardening the plurality of scintillator pixels includes hot isostatic pressing.
14 . A post-patient collimator for x-ray radiation, the post-patient collimator comprising:
a collimator array including a plurality of cavities, wherein each of the plurality of cavities includes tapered walls, and wherein the collimator array is additively manufactured;
a scintillator including a plurality of pixels, each of the plurality of pixels positioned with one of the plurality of cavities of the collimator array; and
a reflector positioned on a top of each of the plurality of pixels.
15 . The post-patient collimator of claim 14 , wherein the collimator array is additively manufactured using tungsten.
16 . The post-patient collimator of claim 14 , wherein the plurality of pixels are additively manufactured using ceramic.
17 . The post-patient collimator of claim 14 , wherein the tapered walls of each of the plurality of cavities form a truncated conical cavity in which each pixel is positioned.
18 . The post-patient collimator of claim 14 , wherein the tapered walls of the plurality of cavities are focally aligned.
19 . The post-patient collimator of claim 14 , wherein the reflector is a reflective or pigment filled epoxy.