IP Library Granted Patent US 9,176,078
Granted Patent B2
US 9,176,078 · App. 14/031,117 · Granted Nov 3, 2015

X-ray detector system for a computed tomography scanner and computed tomography device

Inventors: Thomas Flohr (Uehlfeld, DE); Michael Grasruck (Nuremberg, DE); Karl Stierstorfer (Erlangen, DE)
Assignee: SIEMENS AKTIENGESELLSCHAFT
G01N23/046A61B6/584G01T1/2985G01N2223/419G01N2223/501
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Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 9,176,078
App. No.
14/031,117
Granted
Nov 3, 2015
Kind
B2
Abstract

For improved sampling, an x-ray detector system for a computed tomography scanner is provided. In an embodiment, the x-ray detector system includes at least one detector row which includes a plurality of detector modules each having a plurality of detector elements. Along the at least one detector row, a first portion of the detector elements is arranged in a grid at a first grid spacing in relation to its respective neighboring detector elements, and a second portion of the detector elements is arranged in a grid at a second grid spacing in relation to its respective neighboring detector elements.

Claims (39)

1. An x-ray detector system for a computed tomography scanner, said x-ray detector system comprising:

at least one detector row including a plurality of detector modules, each of the plurality of detector modules including a plurality of detector elements, wherein

in the direction of a fan beam angle along the at least one detector row, a first portion of the detector elements is arranged in a grid having a first grid spacing in relation to respective neighboring detector elements and a second portion of the detector elements is arranged in a grid having a second grid spacing in relation to respective neighboring detector elements.

2. The x-ray detector system of claim 1 , wherein a group of at least two first detector elements at the first grid spacing and a group of at least two second detector elements at the second grid spacing are arranged alternately along the at least one detector row in a continuous sequence in relation to respective neighboring detector elements.

3. The x-ray detector system of claim 1 , wherein the plurality of detector modules include detector elements at the same grid spacing in relation to respective neighboring detector elements.

4. The x-ray detector system of claim 1 , wherein the plurality of detector modules include detector elements at two different grid spacings in relation to respective neighboring detector elements.

5. The x-ray detector system of claim 1 , further comprising:

additional detector elements at at least one further grid spacing, the at least one further grid spacing being different from the first and the second grid spacing in relation to respective neighboring detector elements.

6. The x-ray detector system of claim 1 , wherein

all first detector elements having the first grid spacing are arranged adjacent to one another; and

all second detector elements having the second grid spacing are arranged adjacent to one another.

7. The x-ray detector system of claim 1 , wherein

a 1 is the first grid spacing;

a 2 is the second grid spacing; and

0.5·a 1 ≦a 2 ≦0.99·a 1 applies to the first and second grid spacings.

8. The x-ray detector system of claim 1 , wherein the detector elements along the at least one detector row have at least two different lengths.

9. The x-ray detector system of claim 1 , wherein sensor surfaces of the detector elements are embodied such that coverage by the sensor surfaces of the surface area that is to be irradiated is substantially uniform.

10. A computed tomography device comprising:

the x-ray detector system of claim 1 ; and

a rotatable gantry, wherein

the x-ray detector system is arranged in the rotatable gantry, and

an x-ray source is arranged opposite the x-ray detector system.

11. The x-ray detector system of claim 7 , wherein

a 2 =0.9·a 1 applies to the first and second grid spacings.

12. The x-ray detector system of claim 8 , wherein the detector elements along the at least one detector row have at least two different lengths as a function of respective grid spacing.

13. The computed tomography device of claim 10 , wherein a group of at least two first detector elements at the first grid spacing and a group of at least two second detector elements at the second grid spacing are arranged alternately along the at least one detector row in a continuous sequence in relation to respective neighboring detector elements.

14. The computed tomography device of claim 10 , wherein the plurality of detector modules include detector elements at the same grid spacing in relation to respective neighboring detector elements.

15. The computed tomography device of claim 10 , wherein the plurality of detector modules include detector elements at two different grid spacings in relation to respective neighboring detector elements.

16. The computed tomography device of claim 10 , wherein the x-ray detector system further comprises:

additional detector elements at at least one further grid spacing, the at least one further grid spacing being different from the first and the second grid spacing in relation to respective neighboring detector elements.

17. The computed tomography device of claim 10 , wherein

all first detector elements having the first grid spacing are arranged adjacent to one another; and

all second detector elements having the second grid spacing are arranged adjacent to one another.

18. The computed tomography device of claim 10 , wherein

a 1 is the first grid spacing;

a 2 is the second grid spacing; and

0.5·a 1 ≦a 2 ≦0.99·a 1 applies to the first and second grid spacings.

19. The computed tomography device of claim 10 , wherein the detector elements along the at least one detector row have at least two different lengths.

20. The computed tomography device of claim 19 , wherein the detector elements along the at least one detector row have at least two different lengths as a function of respective grid spacing.

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 Dec 6, 2013
From: FLOHR, THOMAS; GRASRUCK, MICHAEL; STIERSTORFER, KARL
To: SIEMENS AKTIENGESELLSCHAFT
Reel/Frame 031729/0780 →
Priority Claims (1)
DE 10 2012 217 759 · Sep 28, 2012 · national
Continuity (1)
Related Publication 20140126688A1 · May 8, 2014