US-12618986-B2 - Detector module for an X-ray detector

US12618986B2US 12618986 B2US12618986 B2US 12618986B2US-12618986-B2

Abstract

A detector module for an X-ray detector includes at least one sensor unit for detecting X-rays, and at least one anti-scatter grid in a stacking arrangement with the at least one sensor unit. The at least one sensor unit is fixed in place on the at least one anti-scatter grid. The at least one anti-scatter grid includes a fastener for securely mounting the detector module on a carrier unit of the X-ray detector.

Inventors

Michael Grasruck
Stefan Wirth
Hannes Monius
Gottfried Tschöpa
Stefan WÖLFEL
Michael Teuber

Assignees

Michael Grasruck
Stefan Wirth
Hannes Monius
Gottfried Tschöpa
Stefan WÖLFEL
Michael Teuber

Dates

Publication Date: 20260505
Application Date: 20240130
Priority Date: 20230131

Claims (19)

1 . A detector module for an X-ray detector, the detector module comprising: at least one sensor unit operable to detect X-rays; and at least one anti-scatter grid in a stacking arrangement with the at least one sensor unit, wherein the at least one sensor unit is fixed in place on the at least one anti-scatter grid, and wherein the at least one anti-scatter grid comprises a fastener operable to securely mount the at least one anti-scatter grid of the detector module onto a carrier unit of the X-ray detector such that the at least one anti-scatter grid is positioned between the at least one sensor unit and the carrier unit.
2 . The detector module of claim 1 , wherein the at least one anti-scatter grid further comprises a collimator module, and wherein the collimator module comprises a plurality of collimator walls and, on each external side of two opposite external sides of the collimator module, a retaining element on which the fastener is configured.
3 . The detector module of claim 2 , wherein the collimator module is produced in a single piece with the retaining elements.
4 . The detector module of claim 1 , wherein the fastener is configured as a drilled hole, a pin, or the drilled hole and the pin.
5 . The detector module of claim 1 , wherein the fastener is positioned on a side of the one anti-scatter grid opposite the at least one sensor unit, and wherein the fastener extends in a direction parallel to the X-rays configured to be detected by the at least one sensor unit.
6 . The detector module of claim 1 , wherein the at least one anti-scatter grid further comprises an adjustment device to allow positioning of the at least one anti-scatter grid relative to the carrier unit along at least one direction.
7 . The detector module of claim 1 , wherein the at least one sensor unit is adhesively bonded to the at least one anti-scatter grid.
8 . The detector module of claim 1 , wherein the at least one anti-scatter grid further comprises at least one stop element for the at least one sensor unit to allow positioning of the at least one sensor unit relative to the at least one anti-scatter grid, and wherein the at least one sensor unit is present in the stacking arrangement engaged fully home against the at least one stop element.
9 . The detector module of claim 1 , wherein the fastener is positioned on a lateral surface of the at least one anti-scatter grid, a planar dimension of which extends parallel to a stacking direction of the stacking arrangement.
10 . A detector module comprising: at least one sensor unit operable to detect X-rays; and an anti-scatter grid in a stacking arrangement with the at least one sensor unit, wherein the at least one sensor unit is fixed in place on the anti-scatter grid, wherein the anti-scatter grid comprises a fastener operable to securely mount the detector module on a carrier unit of an X-ray detector such that the anti-scatter grid is positioned between the at least one sensor unit and the carrier unit.
11 . An X-ray detector comprising: a carrier unit; and at least one detector module, wherein a detector module of the at least one detector module comprises: at least one sensor unit operable to detect X-rays; and at least one anti-scatter grid in a stacking arrangement with the at least one sensor unit, wherein the at least one sensor unit is fixed in place on the at least one anti-scatter grid, and wherein the at least one anti-scatter grid comprises a fastener operable to securely mount the at least one anti-scatter grid of the detector module onto the carrier unit of the X-ray detector such that the at least one anti-scatter grid is positioned between the at least one sensor unit and the carrier unit.
12 . The X-ray detector of claim 11 , wherein the at least one anti-scatter grid further comprises a collimator module, the collimator module comprising at least a plurality of collimator walls and, on each of two opposite external sides of the collimator module, a retaining element on which the fastener is configured.
13 . The X-ray detector of claim 12 , wherein the collimator module is produced in a single piece with the retaining elements.
14 . The X-ray detector of claim 11 , wherein the fastener is configured as a drilled hole, a pin, or the drilled hole and the pin.
15 . The X-ray detector of claim 11 , wherein the fastener is configured on a side of the at least one sensor unit opposite the at least one anti-scatter grid or on a lateral surface of the at least one anti-scatter grid, a planar dimension of which extends parallel to a stacking direction of the stacking arrangement.
16 . The X-ray detector of claim 11 , wherein the at least one anti-scatter grid further comprises an adjustment device to allow positioning of the at least one anti-scatter grid relative to the carrier unit along at least one direction.
17 . The X-ray detector of claim 11 , wherein the at least one sensor unit is adhesively bonded to the at least one anti-scatter grid.
18 . The X-ray detector of claim 11 , wherein the at least one anti-scatter grid further comprises at least one stop element for the at least one sensor unit to allow positioning of the at least one sensor unit relative to the at least one anti-scatter grid, and wherein the at least one sensor unit is present in the stacking arrangement engaged fully home against the at least one stop element.
19 . A computed tomography device comprising: an X-ray detector comprising: a carrier unit; and at least one detector module, wherein a detector module of the at least one detector module comprises: at least one sensor unit operable to detect X-rays; and at least one anti-scatter grid in a stacking arrangement with the at least one sensor unit, wherein the at least one sensor unit is fixed in place on the at least one anti-scatter grid, and wherein the at least one anti-scatter grid comprises a fastener operable to securely mount the at least one anti-scatter grid of the detector module onto the carrier unit of the X-ray detector such that the at least one anti-scatter grid is positioned between the at least one sensor unit and the carrier unit; and an X-ray source disposed opposite the X-ray detector.

Description

This application claims the benefit of German Patent Application No. DE 10 2023 200 767.3, filed on Jan. 31, 2023, which is hereby incorporated by reference in its entirety. BACKGROUND The present embodiments relate to a detector module for an X-ray detector, to an X-ray detector, and to a computed tomography device including such an X-ray detector. Independent of the grammatical term usage, individuals with male, female or other gender identities are included within the term. X-ray detectors are often used for medical imaging examinations of patients. In a computed tomography device (CT device), for example, the X-ray detector and the X-ray source are mounted diametrically opposite each other on a rotor. During the scanning of an object that is to be imaged, the object is positioned in an examination region of the CT device, and the X-ray source and the X-ray detector rotate around the object while the X-ray source emits X-rays. The X-rays traversing the object are detected by one or more detector elements, also referred to as detector pixels or pixel elements, of the X-ray detector, and a measurement signal is generated based on the locally captured X-rays. Because the X-rays interact according to local properties of the object when passing through the object, and, for example, are attenuated, it is possible in this way to make inferences about properties of the object. In order to suppress the scattered radiation resulting during a scan and potentially leading to a reduction in image quality, X-ray detectors are equipped with anti-scatter collimators, referred to in the following as anti-scatter grids (ASGs). In this case, current-generation CT devices are often equipped with what are referred to as three-dimensional (3D) anti-scatter grids that have an essentially three-dimensional grid structure. These 3D anti-scatter grids enable the scattered radiation to be suppressed in the radial (e.g., φ direction, direction of rotation) and in the axial direction (e.g., feedforward direction, perpendicular to the direction of rotation). Further, in addition to such three-dimensional grid structures, in simpler implementations of anti-scatter grids, it is also possible to use grids of a type that provide collimator walls along one direction only and consequently suppress scattered radiation along the one direction. An X-ray detector for a CT device typically consists of individual modules that are fixed in place in a carrier unit of the X-ray detector. In this case, the individual module consists of at least one anti-scatter grid and a sensor unit for detecting X-rays. Typically, these functional units are mounted on a carrier (e.g., module carrier) that is included in the detector module and in turn includes means for fixing the module in place in the X-ray detector. First, it is known in this case to join the anti-scatter grid to the sensor unit by adhesive bonding and to fix the unit in place on the module carrier, which is in turn configured to be securely mounted in the X-ray detector. Second, structures are also known in which both the sensor unit and the anti-scatter grid are connected separately to a module carrier. In this case, the anti-scatter grid then spans the sensor unit in the manner of a bridge. For example, but not just in the case of a CT device, for achieving optimal image quality, the imaging components are to be aligned and mounted very precisely relative to one another. This consequently applies also to the arrangement of an anti-scatter grid relative to the sensor unit of the X-ray detector or the arrangement of the anti-scatter grid in the X-ray detector itself. SUMMARY AND DESCRIPTION The scope of the present invention is defined solely by the appended claims and is not affected to any degree by the statements within this summary. The present embodiments may obviate one or more of the drawbacks or limitations in the related art. For example, an improved detector module for an X-ray detector that reduces tolerances occurring between an anti-scatter grid and a sensor unit or a position of the module in the X-ray detector is provided. As another example, an improved X-ray detector and an improved computed tomography device are provided. The present embodiments relate to a detector module for an X-ray detector including at least one sensor unit for detecting X-rays and at least one anti-scatter grid disposed in a stacking arrangement with the sensor unit. The sensor unit is fixed in place on the anti-scatter grid, and the anti-scatter grid has fastening means (e.g., fasteners) for securely mounting the detector module on a carrier unit of the X-ray detector. The sensor unit may include a converter unit that is configured to convert incident X-rays into an electrical signal, and a readout unit that is configured to process the electrical signals from the converter unit. The converter unit may in this case include a direct-converting or an indirect-converting converter material. In direct-conv