IP Library › Granted Patent US 7,233,641
Granted Patent B2
US 7,233,641 · App. 10/985,010 · Granted Jun 19, 2007

Method and control device for controlling the temperature of a detector system inside a computed tomography unit

Assignee: Siemens Aktiengesellschaft
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Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 7,233,641
App. No.
10/985,010
Granted
Jun 19, 2007
Kind
B2
Abstract

A method and a control device are for controlling the temperature of a detector system inside a computed tomography unit. The CT unit includes a rotatable gantry with a gantry housing in which both an X-ray tube and the detector system are located. The detector system is arranged, in turn, inside a detector housing. The air temperature is set in the gantry housing via a temperature-controlled air circulation. The temperature of the ambient air of the detector housing is set by a control system that uses the temperature of the detector system as controlled variable.

Claims (21)

1. A method for controlling the temperature of a detector system inside a computed tomography unit, the CT unit including a rotatable gantry with a gantry housing in which both an X-ray tube and the detector system are located, the detector system being arranged inside a detector housing and the air temperature being set in the gantry housing via a temperature-controlled air circulation, the method comprising:

setting the temperature of the ambient air external of the detector housing using a control system that uses the temperature of the detector system as a controlled variable.

2. The method as claimed in claim 1 , wherein the control system sets the temperature-controlled air circulation in the gantry housing.

3. The method as claimed in claim 2 , wherein the temperature of the detector system is measured directly at a wall of the detector housing, the temperature sensor being connected to the wall in a thermally conducting fashion.

4. The method as claimed in claim 3 , wherein the temperature of the detector system is measured directly at the inside of the detector housing.

5. The method as claimed in claim 1 , wherein the temperature of the detector system is measured directly at a wall of the detector housing, a temperature sensor being connected to the wall in a thermally conducting fashion.

6. The method as claimed in claim 5 , wherein the temperature of the detector system is measured directly at the inside of the detector housing.

7. The method as claimed in claim 1 , wherein the detector system includes a collimator, and wherein the temperature is measured directly at the collimator.

8. The method as claimed in claim 1 , wherein the temperature of the detector system is measured in the detector housing.

9. The method as claimed in claim 1 , wherein the temperature of the detector system is measured at at least one site.

10. The method as claimed in claim 1 , wherein the thermal conductivity at the connection between the detector housing and gantry housing is improved.

11. The method as claimed in claim 1 , wherein the temperature of further temperature-sensitive modules is measured at at least one site and, in the event of overshooting of a maximum permissible temperature, at least one of the cooling power is raised independently of the temperature sensor and the CT unit including the X-ray tube is switched off.

12. The method as claimed in claim 1 , wherein the temperature of the X-ray tube of the detector system is measured at at least one site and, in the event of overshooting of a maximum permissible temperature, at least one of the cooling power is raised independently of the temperature sensor and the CT unit including the X-ray tube is switched off.

13. A control device for controlling the temperature of a detector system inside a computed tomography unit, the CT unit having a rotatable gantry with a gantry housing in which both an X-ray tube and the detector system are located, the detector system being arranged inside a detector housing, and the air temperature being set in the gantry housing via a temperature-controlled air circulation, the control device comprising:

a circuit for controlling the temperature of inflowing and outflowing air in the gantry housing, the circuit being connected to the detector system by a temperature sensor, and the circuit using sensor data from the temperature sensor as a control variable to set the temperature of the ambient air of the detector housing.

14. A method for controlling the temperature of a detector system inside a computed tomography unit, the detector system being arranged inside a detector housing and the air temperature being set in the housing via a temperature-controlled air circulation, the method comprising:

using the temperature of the detector system as a controlled variable to set the temperature of the ambient air external of the detector housing.

15. The method as claimed in claim 14 , wherein the temperature of the detector system is measured directly at a wall of the detector housing, with a temperature sensor being connected to the wall in a thermally conducting fashion.

16. The method as claimed in claim 15 , wherein the temperature of the detector system is measured directly at the inside of the detector housing.

17. The method as claimed in claim 14 , wherein the detector system includes a collimator, and wherein the temperature is measured directly at the collimator.

18. The method as claimed in claim 14 , wherein the temperature of the detector system is measured in the detector housing.

Assignments (2)
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Jun 28, 2016
From: SIEMENS AKTIENGESELLSCHAFT
To: SIEMENS HEALTHCARE GMBH
Reel/Frame 039271/0561 →
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Jan 12, 2005
From: HILDERSCHEID, THOMAS; WINKELMANN, HELMUT
To: SIEMENS AKTIENGESELLSCHAFT
Reel/Frame 016148/0884 →
Priority Claims (1)
DE 103 52 382 · Nov 10, 2003 · national
Continuity (1)
Related Publication 20050100128A1 · May 12, 2005