IP Library › Granted Patent US 9,513,236
Granted Patent B2
US 9,513,236 · App. 14/554,117 · Granted Dec 6, 2016

Radiation detecting apparatus and radiation tomographic imaging apparatus

Inventors: Kotatsu Kawaguchi (Tokyo, JP); Joseph James Lacey (Waukesha, WI); Richard Paul Vandeweghe (Waukesha, WI)
Assignee: GENERAL ELECTRIC COMPANY
G01N23/046A61B6/032A61B6/4488
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Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 9,513,236
App. No.
14/554,117
Granted
Dec 6, 2016
Kind
B2
Abstract

A radiation detecting apparatus is provided. The radiation detecting apparatus includes a plurality of detector modules arranged in a channel direction, each detector module including a plurality of detecting elements arranged in matrix form in the channel direction and a slice direction, and a heat radiating unit thermally coupled to the detecting elements and provided on an X-ray outgoing side of the detecting elements, a wind blowing unit configured to send wind to the heat radiating units of the detector modules in the slice direction, first wind shielding portions provided on a radiation outgoing side of the heat radiating units and configured to shield the wind in a radiation irradiating direction, and second wind shielding portions provided on a radiation incoming side of the heat radiating units and configured to shield the wind in the radiation irradiating direction.

Claims (41)

1. A radiation detecting apparatus for a radiation tomographic imaging apparatus, comprising:

a plurality of detector modules arranged in a channel direction, each detector module including a plurality of detecting elements arranged in matrix form in the channel direction and a slice direction, and a heat radiating unit thermally coupled to the detecting elements and provided on an X-ray outgoing side of the detecting elements;

a wind blowing unit configured to send wind to the heat radiating units of the detector modules in the slice direction;

first wind shielding portions provided on a radiation outgoing side of the heat radiating units and extending between the heat radiating units adjacent to each other in the channel direction, the first wind shielding portions configured to shield the wind in a radiation irradiating direction;

second wind shielding portions provided on a radiation incoming side of the heat radiating units and extending between the heat radiating units adjacent to each other in the channel direction, the second wind shielding portions configured to shield the wind in the radiation irradiating direction;

wherein each of the first wind shielding portions includes a first plate member which has a plate thickness extending substantially in the radiation irradiating direction and has engagement parts directly or indirectly engaged with the adjacent heat radiating units at both ends of the first wind shielding portion in the channel direction, and

wherein the first plate member is fixed to the adjacent heat radiating units by the friction of the engagement parts.

2. The radiation detecting apparatus according to claim 1 ,

wherein each of the second wind shielding portions includes a second plate member which has a plate thickness extending substantially in the radiation irradiating direction and has engagement parts directly or indirectly engaged with adjacent heat radiating units at both ends of the second wind shielding portion in the channel direction, and

wherein the second plate member is fixed to the adjacent heat radiating units by the friction of the engagement parts.

3. The radiation detecting apparatus according to claim 1 , wherein the first and second wind shielding portions are comprised of plastic.

4. The radiation detecting apparatus according to claim 3 , wherein the plastic that constitutes the first and second wind shielding portions has conductivity.

5. The radiation detecting apparatus according to claim 1 , further including third wind shielding portions configured to shield wind in the slice direction between the adjacent heat radiating units.

6. The radiation detecting apparatus according to claim 5 , wherein each of the third wind shielding portions has a width of approximately 60% to 90% of the width between the adjacent heat radiating units in the channel direction.

7. The radiation detecting apparatus according to claim 5 , wherein the third wind shielding portion is comprised of plastic.

8. The radiation detecting apparatus according to claim 7 , wherein the plastic that constitutes the third wind shielding portion has conductivity.

9. The radiation detecting apparatus according to claim 1 ,

wherein each of the detector modules have an electronic circuit unit configured to process a detection signal, and

wherein the electronic circuit unit is thermally coupled to the heat radiating unit.

10. The radiation detecting apparatus according to claim 1 , wherein each of the detecting elements include a first element configured to convert radiation into light, and a second element configured to convert the light into an electrical signal.

11. The radiation detecting apparatus according to claim 1 , wherein the heat radiating unit includes a plurality of heat radiating plates provided at intervals in the radiation irradiating direction.

12. The radiation detecting apparatus according to claim 1 , wherein the wind blowing unit includes cooling fans configured to generate wind, and a guide path configured to guide the wind to the heat radiating units.

13. A radiation tomographic imaging apparatus comprising:

a radiation source; and

a radiation detecting apparatus,

wherein said radiation tomographic imaging apparatus is configured to radiate radiation while rotating the radiation source and the radiation detecting apparatus around an object to be imaged and perform tomography of the object, and

wherein said radiation detecting apparatus comprises:

a plurality of detector modules arranged in a channel direction, each detector module including a plurality of detecting elements arranged in matrix form in the channel direction and a slice direction, and a heat radiating unit thermally coupled to the detecting elements and provided on an X-ray outgoing side of the detecting elements;

a wind blowing unit configured to send wind to the heat radiating units of the detector modules in the slice direction;

first wind shielding portions provided on a radiation outgoing side of the heat radiating units and extending between the heat radiating units adjacent to each other in the channel direction, the first wind shielding portions configured to shield the wind in a radiation irradiating direction; and

second wind shielding portions provided on a radiation incoming side of the heat radiating units and extending between the heat radiating units adjacent to each other in the channel direction, the second wind shielding portions configured to shield the wind in the radiation irradiating direction;

wherein each of the first wind shielding portions includes a first plate member which has a plate thickness extending substantially in the radiation irradiating direction and has engagement parts directly or indirectly engaged with the adjacent heat radiating units at both ends of the first wind shielding portion in the channel direction, and wherein the first plate member is fixed to the adjacent heat radiating units by the friction of the engagement parts.

14. The radiation tomographic imaging apparatus according to claim 13 ,

wherein each of the second wind shielding portions includes a second plate member which has a plate thickness extending substantially in the radiation irradiating direction and has engagement parts directly or indirectly engaged with adjacent heat radiating units at both ends of the second wind shielding portion in the channel direction, and

wherein the second plate member is fixed to the adjacent heat radiating units by the friction of the engagement parts.

15. The radiation tomographic imaging apparatus according to claim 13 , wherein the radiation detecting apparatus further includes third wind shielding portions configured to shield wind in the slice direction between the adjacent heat radiating units.

16. The radiation tomographic imaging apparatus according to claim 13 ,

wherein each of the detector modules have an electronic circuit unit configured to process a detection signal, and

wherein the electronic circuit unit is thermally coupled to the heat radiating unit.

17. The radiation tomographic imaging apparatus according to claim 13 , wherein the heat radiating unit includes a plurality of heat radiating plates provided at intervals in the radiation irradiating direction.

18. The radiation tomographic imaging apparatus according to claim 13 , wherein the wind blowing unit includes cooling fans configured to generate wind, and a guide path configured to guide the wind to the heat radiating units.

Assignments (3)
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Jul 9, 2015
From: KAWAGUCHI, KOTATSU
To: GE HEALTHCARE JAPAN CORPORATION
Reel/Frame 036041/0097 →
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Jul 7, 2015
From: LACEY, JOSEPH JAMES; VANDEWEGHE, RICHARD PAUL
To: GENERAL ELECTRIC COMPANY
Reel/Frame 036005/0761 →
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Jul 7, 2015
From: GE HEALTHCARE JAPAN CORPORATION
To: GENERAL ELECTRIC COMPANY
Reel/Frame 036005/0885 →
Continuity (2)
Provisional Application 61910184 · Nov 29, 2013
Related Publication 20150156920A1 · Jun 4, 2015