EP0147561A2
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EP
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Scintillation crystal for a radiation detector and method for producing the same
Assignee: Siemens AG
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Filing: 1984-10-24
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Granted: —
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Expires: 2004-10-24
Abstract
Abstract A scintillation crystal and a method for producing same are provided for a radiation detector. According to a first embodiment the crystal comprises a first layer (22; 22') of a crystal material having relatively poor mechanical properties and a high energy resolution, and a second layer (24; 24') of a crystal material having relatively good mechanical and optical properties. Both layers are arranged on top of each other. Preferably a third layer (26) is provided, and the first layer (22. 22') is arranged in sandwich form between the second and third layer. In a second embodiment, a scintillation layer (22) is evaporated on an elastic intermediate layer (18: 29b) which is provided on a substrate (18; 29b). In a third embodiment, a substrate (29c) having an uneven or grooved surface (60) is provided, and a scintillation layer (22c) is evaporated on said surface (60). In a fourth embodiment, a freely supported scintillation layer (22d) is applied. This layer (22d) is sandwiched between two protective layers (24, 26) one of which is coupled to a glass plate (18) via an elastic light coupling medium (27).
Inventors
- 👤 Dennis E. Persyk
- 👤 Everett W. Stoub
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
EP
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-29 14:49
CPC Classifications
G; G01; G01T; G01T1/00; G01T1/16; G01T1/20; G01T1/202; G01T1/2002
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 39
Claim 1
Independent Claim
110 words
A scintillatin crystal for a gamma radiation detector, comprising a) a first layer (22; 22') of a crystal material having relatively poor mechanical properties and having high energy resolution, said first layer (22; 22') emitting light in response to impinging-gamma radiation; and b) a second layer (24; 24') of a crystal material havina relatively good mechanical and optical properties; wherein said second layer (24; 24') is placed on top of said first layer (22; 22') to protect said first layer (22; 22') against breaking and is thin with respect to said first layer (22; 22') and makes a negligible contribution to the scintillation properties of said first layer (22; 22').
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
110 words
A scintillatin crystal for a gamma radiation detector, comprising a) a first layer (22; 22') of a crystal material having relatively poor mechanical properties and having high energy resolution, said first layer (22; 22') emitting light in response to impinging-gamma radiation; and b) a second layer (24; 24') of a crystal material havina relatively good mechanical and optical properties; wherein said second layer (24; 24') is placed on top of said first layer (22; 22') to protect said first layer (22; 22') against breaking and is thin with respect to said first layer (22; 22') and makes a negligible contribution to the scintillation properties of said first layer (22; 22').
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
44 words
The scintillation crystal according to claim 1, further comprising a third layer (26) of a crystal material having relatively good mechanical and optical properties, wherein said first layer (22; 22') is arranged in sandwich form between said second and third layer (24, 24'; 26).
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
24 words
The scintillation crystal according to claim 1 or 2, wherein said first layer (22; 22') is made of thallium-activated sodium iodide (NaI Tl ).
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
40 words
The scintillation crystal according to claim 1, 2 or 3, wherein said second layer (24; 24') is made of a crystal material selected from the group consisting of cesium iodide (CsI), sodium-activated cesium iodide (CsILNa1) and thallium-activated cesium iodide (CsI[Tl]).
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
39 words
The scintillation crystal according to claim 2, 3 or 4, wherein said third layer (26) is made of a crystal material selected from the group consisting of cesium iodide (CsI), sodium-activated cesium iodide (CsI[Na]) and thallium-activated cesium iodide (CsI[Tll).
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
56 words
The scintillation crystal according to claim 2, wherein said first layer (22; 22') is made of thallium-activated sodium iodide (NaI[TI]), and wherein said second and third layers (24; 26; 24 ' ) are made of a crystal material selected from the group consisting of cesium iodide (CsI), sodium-activated cesium iodide (CsI[Na]) and thallium-activated cesium iodide (CsI[Tl]).
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
42 words
The scintillation crystal according to claim 1, wherein the frist layer (22; 22') has a thickness in the range of 1/4 inch to 1 inch; and wherein the second layer (24; 24') has a thickness in the range of 0.1mm to lmm.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
22 words
The scintillation crystal according to claim 2, wherein the third layer (26) has a thickness in the range of 0.1mm to lmm.
Claim 10
Independent Claim
123 words
A method for producing a scintillation crystal, comprising the steps of: a) placing a substrate (18) having a surface in an evaporation container (40); b) placing a certain amount of a first crystal material yielding relatively good mechanical and optical properties in the evaporation container (40); c) evaporating the first crystal material such that it deposits upon the surface of the substrate (18), thereby forming a second crystal layer (24; 24'); d) placing a certain amount of a second crystal material having relatively poor mechanical properties and yielding high energy resolution in the evaporation container (40); and e) evaporating the second crystal material such that it deposits as a first crystal layer (22; 22') on the second crystal layer (24; 24 1 ).
Claim 11
Independent Claim
123 words
A method for producing a scintillation crystal, comprising the steps of: a) placing a substrate (18) having a surface in an evaporation container (40); b) placing a certain amount of a first crystal material yielding relatively good mechanical and optical properties in the evaporation container (40); c) evaporating the first crystal material such that it deposits upon the surface of the substrate (18), thereby forming a second crystal layer (24; 24'); d) placing a certain amount of a second crystal material having relatively poor mechanical properties and yielding high energy resolution in the evaporation container (40); and e) evaporating the second crystal material such that it deposits as a first crystal layer (22; 22') on the second crystal layer (24; 24 1 ).
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
54 words
The method according to claim 9, further comprising the steps of: a) placing a certain amount of a third crystal material yielding relatively good mechanical properties in the evaporation container (40); and b) evaporating the third crystal material such that it deposits on the first crystal layer (22) as a third crystal layer (26).
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
24 words
The method according to claim 9 or 10, further comprising the step of sealing the crystal sandwich (20; 20') with a metal cover (28).
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
33 words
The method according to claim 9, 10 or 11, wherein said first crystal material is selected from the group consisting of cesium iodide (Csl), sodium-activated cesium iodide (CsI[Na]) and thallium-activated cesium iodide (CsI[Tl]).
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
23 words
The method according to claim 9, 10, 11 or 12, wherein said second crystal material is thallium-activated sodium iodide ( N aI [T1]).
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
40 words
1 4 . The method according to any of the claims 10 through 1 3 , wherein said third crystal material is selected from the group consisting of cesium iodide (CsI), sodium-activated cesium iodide (CsI[Na]) and thalliumactivated cesium iodide (CsI[T1]).
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
43 words
The method according to claim 10, wherein said second crystal material is thallium-activated sodium iodide (NaI[Tl]), and wherein said first and third crystal materials are selected from the group consisting of cesium iodide (CsI), sodium-activated cesium iodide (CsI[Na]) and thallium-activated cesium iodide (CsI[Tl]).
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
22 words
The method according to claim 15, further comprising the step of sealing the crystal sandwich (20, 20') with an aluminum cover (28).
Claim 19
Independent Claim
24 words
The method according to any of the claims 9 through 16, further comprising the step of annealing the crystal sandwich (20; 20 1 ).
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
20 words
A radiation detector having a scintillation crystal (20; 20 1 ) according to any one of claims 1 through 8.
Claim 21
Dependent Claim
21 words
The radiation detector according to claim 18, having a scintillation gamma camera head (10) which comprises said scintillation crystal (20; 20').
Claim 22
Dependent Claim
55 words
A scintillation crystal arrangement for a scintillation camera, said arrangement comprising: a) a substrate (18; 29b); b) a elastic intermediate layer (25a; 25b) provided on said substrate (18; 29b); and c) a scintillation layer (22) evaporated on said intermediate layer (18; 29b), said scintillation layer (22) emitting light in response to impinging gamma radiation (11).
Claim 23
Dependent Claim
55 words
A scintillation crystal arrangement for a scintillation camera, said arrangement comprising: a) a substrate (18; 29b); b) a elastic intermediate layer (25a; 25b) provided on said substrate (18; 29b); and c) a scintillation layer (22) evaporated on said intermediate layer (18; 29b), said scintillation layer (22) emitting light in response to impinging gamma radiation (11).
Claim 24
Dependent Claim
27 words
The arrangement of claim 20, wherein said substrate (18) is a glass plate, and wherein said intermediate layer (25a) is transparent with respect to light and colorless.
Claim 25
Dependent Claim
35 words
The arrangement of claim 20, wherein said substrate (29b) is a metal layer, said layer having an equal thickness across its longitudinal dimensions and displaying a comparetively low absorption with respect to gamma radiation (11).
Claim 26
Dependent Claim
15 words
The arrangement of claim 22, wherein said substrate (18) comprises a metal layer of aluminum.
Claim 27
Dependent Claim
18 words
The arrangement of claim 20, 22 or 23, wherein said intermediate layer (25b) is a light reflecting layer.
Claim 28
Dependent Claim
44 words
A scintillation crystal arrangement for a scintillation camera, said arrangement comprising:. a) a substrate (29c) having an uneven surface (60); and b) a scintillation layer (22c) evaporated on said substrate (29c), said scintillation layer (22c) emitting light in response to impinging gamma radiation (11).
Claim 29
Dependent Claim
44 words
A scintillation crystal arrangement for a scintillation camera, said arrangement comprising:. a) a substrate (29c) having an uneven surface (60); and b) a scintillation layer (22c) evaporated on said substrate (29c), said scintillation layer (22c) emitting light in response to impinging gamma radiation (11).
Claim 30
Dependent Claim
33 words
The arrangement of any of the claims 20 through 25, comprising a housing (28) for enclosing said scintillation layer (22), wherein said substrate (18; 29b; 29c) is a portion of said housing (28).
Claim 31
Dependent Claim
41 words
The arrangement of claim 25 or 26, wherein said surface (60) of said substrate (29c) is provided with a plurality of elevations (64), each of said elevations (64) having evaporated on its surface a column (66) of a scintillation layer material.
Claim 32
Dependent Claim
14 words
The arrangement of claim 25, 26 or 27, wherein-said substrate (29c) is a metal.
Claim 33
Dependent Claim
11 words
The arrangement of claim 28, wherein said substrate (29c) is aluminum.
Claim 34
Dependent Claim
40 words
The arrangement of any of the claims 25 throu q h 29, wherein said surface (60) contains a first and second plurality of grooves (62), said first plurality of grooves (62) -being arranqed perpendicularly to said second plurality of grooves.
Claim 35
Dependent Claim
68 words
A scintillation crystal arrangement for a scintillation camera, said arrangement comprising: a) a freely supported scintillation layer (22d) emitting light in response to impinging gamma radiation (11); b) two protective layers (24, 26), said scintillation layer (22d) being sandwiched by said protective layers (24, 26); and c) an elastic light coupling medium (27) for coupling one of said two protective layers (24, 26) to a glass plate (18).
Claim 36
Dependent Claim
68 words
A scintillation crystal arrangement for a scintillation camera, said arrangement comprising: a) a freely supported scintillation layer (22d) emitting light in response to impinging gamma radiation (11); b) two protective layers (24, 26), said scintillation layer (22d) being sandwiched by said protective layers (24, 26); and c) an elastic light coupling medium (27) for coupling one of said two protective layers (24, 26) to a glass plate (18).
Claim 37
Dependent Claim
15 words
The arrangement of claim 31, wherein said light coupling medium (27) is a silicon rubber.
Claim 38
Dependent Claim
29 words
The arrangement of claim 31 or 32, wherein said scintillation layer (22d) comprises activated sodium iodide (NaJ), and wherein said protective layers (24, 26) comprise non-activated cesium iodide (CsJ).
Claim 39
Dependent Claim
39 words
The arrangement of any of the claims 20 through 33, wherein said scintillation layer (22; 22c; 22d) is contained in a pot-shaped housing (28) made of aluminum, and wherein said housing (28) is covered by a glass plate (28).
References Cited (Backward Citations)
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