Collimator module, medical apparatus, and method of making collimator module

1. A collimator module ( 1 ) for collimation of X-rays comprising a plurality of collimator plate sets ( 2 ) lined up side by side in a channel direction (CH), wherein

each collimator plate set ( 2 ) comprises:

a first collimator plate ( 3 );

a second collimator plate ( 4 ); and

a joint layer ( 5 ) disposed between said first collimator plate ( 3 ) and said second collimator plate ( 4 ) for joining said first collimator plate ( 3 ) and said second collimator plate ( 4 ) together, and

said plurality of collimator plate sets ( 2 ) are lined up side by side in said channel direction (CH) with an air layer ( 20 ) intervening between any adjacent two of said plurality of collimator plate sets ( 2 ).

2. The collimator module ( 1 ) as recited in claim 1 , wherein:

said collimator module ( 1 ) is disposed on a side of radiation entrance of a detector ( 542 ) having a plurality of detector elements ( 24 ) lined up side by side in said channel direction (CH) at first intervals (P 3 ) for detecting the radiation, and

said plurality of collimator plate sets ( 2 ) are aligned to line up side by side in said channel direction (CH) at second intervals (P 4 ), said second interval (P 4 ) being double said first interval (P 3 ).

3. The collimator module ( 1 ) as recited in claim 2 , wherein: as viewed in a direction (XR) of X-ray radiation emission, said plurality of collimator plate sets ( 2 ) are aligned to said detector ( 542 ) so that each detector element ( 24 ) in said detector ( 542 ) has a first region (r 1 ) underlying said joint layer ( 5 ) and a second region (r 2 ) underlying said air layer ( 20 ).

4. The collimator module ( 1 ) as recited in claim 1 , wherein: as viewed in a direction (XR) of X-ray emission, the first collimator plate ( 3 ) in said collimator plate set ( 2 ) is aligned to intersect one ( 24 c ) of two adjoining detector elements ( 24 c , 24 d ), and as viewed in the direction (XR) of X-ray emission, the second collimator plate ( 4 ) in said collimator plate set ( 2 ) is aligned to intersect the other ( 24 d ) of said two detector elements ( 24 c , 24 d ).

5. The collimator module ( 1 ) as recited in claim 4 , wherein: as viewed in the direction (XR) of X-ray emission, said first collimator plate ( 3 ) is aligned to intersect a center position (ml) of said one detector element ( 24 c ) in said channel direction (CH), and as viewed in the direction (XR) of X-ray emission, said second collimator plate ( 4 ) is aligned to intersect a center position (m 2 ) of said other detector element ( 24 d ) in said channel direction (CH).

6. The collimator module ( 1 ) as recited in claim 1 , comprising: a pair of brackets ( 6 , 7 ) for holding said plurality of collimator plate sets ( 2 ).

7. The collimator module ( 1 ) as recited in claim 5 , comprising:

a first rod ( 8 A to 8 D) adhesively bonded to upper end portions ( 2 c ) of said collimator plate sets ( 2 ); and

a second rod ( 8 E to 8 H) adhesively bonded to lower end portions ( 2 d ) of said collimator plate sets ( 2 ).

8. The collimator module ( 1 ) as recited in claim 7 , wherein:

an upper edge and a lower edge of said first collimator plate ( 3 ), and an upper edge and a lower edge of said second collimator plate ( 4 ) are formed with notches (Na to Nh),

said first rod ( 8 A to 8 D) is received in the notches (Na to Nd) formed on said upper edges, and

said second rod ( 8 E to 8 H) is received in the notches (Ne to Nh) formed on said lower edges.

9. The collimator module ( 1 ) as recited in claim 1 , comprising:

a first reinforcing plate ( 9 ) covering the upper end portions ( 2 c ) of said plurality of collimator plate sets ( 2 ); and

a second reinforcing plate ( 10 ) covering the lower end portions ( 2 d ) of said plurality of collimator plate sets ( 2 ).

10. The collimator module ( 1 ) as recited in claim 1 , wherein: said joint layer ( 5 ) comprises a foam layer.

11. A radiation detection apparatus comprising a plurality of collimator modules ( 1 ) disposed on a side of radiation entrance of a detector ( 542 ),

each collimator module ( 1 ) comprising a plurality of collimator plate sets ( 2 ) lined up side by side in a channel direction (CH), wherein

each collimator plate set ( 2 ) comprises:

a first collimator plate ( 3 );

a second collimator plate ( 4 ); and

a joint layer ( 5 ) disposed between said first collimator plate ( 3 ) and said second collimator plate ( 4 ) for joining said first collimator plate ( 3 ) and said second collimator plate ( 4 ) together, and

said plurality of collimator plate sets ( 2 ) are lined up side by side in said channel direction (CH) with an air layer ( 20 ) intervening between any adjacent two of said plurality of collimator plate sets ( 2 ).

12. A method of making a collimator module ( 1 ) for collimation of X-rays comprising a plurality of collimator plate sets ( 2 ), comprising:

making said plurality of collimator plate sets ( 2 ), each collimator plate set ( 2 ) comprising: a first collimator plate ( 3 ); a second collimator plate ( 4 ); and a joint layer ( 5 ) disposed between said first collimator plate ( 3 ) and said second collimator plate ( 4 ) for joining said first collimator plate ( 3 ) and said second collimator plate ( 4 ) together, and

inserting said plurality of collimator plate sets ( 2 ) into slots ( 6 b , 7 b ) in brackets ( 6 , 7 ) with an air layer ( 20 ) intervening between any adjacent two of said plurality of collimator plate sets ( 2 ).

13. The method of making the collimator module ( 1 ) as recited in claim 12 , wherein: the making said plurality of collimator plate sets ( 2 ) comprises:

preparing said first collimator plate ( 3 ) and said second collimator plate ( 4 );

adhesively bonding a heat-expansive bonding sheet ( 500 ) to a first surface (S 1 ) of said first collimator plate ( 3 );

aligning said second collimator plate ( 4 ) to said first collimator plate ( 3 ) adhesively bonded with said bonding sheet ( 500 ) so that a predetermined gap (G) is kept between a first surface of said second collimator plate ( 4 ) and said bonding sheet ( 500 ); and

heating said bonding sheet ( 500 ).