The present disclosure relates to the field of radiation detection technology, in particular to a detector system and a radiation imaging device.
In the field of radiation detection, the Compton imaging method is an effective way to determine the location and spatial distribution of gamma radionuclides. Compton camera is a radiation imaging device adopting the Compton imaging method.
As shown in
Gamma rays from a radioactive source 10 undergo Compton scattering in the scattering detector, where the deposited energy is E1 and the scattering position is (x1, y1, z1), and scattered photons undergo photoelectric reaction in the absorbing detector and then be absorbed completely by the absorbing detector, where the deposited energy is E2 and the scattering position is (x2, y2, z2).
According to Compton imaging principle, where the gamma rays are emitted can be determined at a certain point on the surface of a cone, of which the vertex is (x1, y1, z1) and the axis is a line connecting between position (x1, y1, z1) and position (x2, y2, z2). The cone angle can be obtained from equation (1):
Here, Me c2 is the static energy of electrons.
When the radioactive source is single-point or multiple-point source, through multiple examples, many cones can be obtained. The intersection of these cones is theoretically the location of the radioactive source.
Compton cameras require trade-offs between three key indicators: angular resolution, detection efficiency, and imaging field of view. The distance between the scattering detector and the absorbing detector needs to be increased to improve the angular resolution, which inevitably leads to the decrease of the detection efficiency and the imaging field of view. The angular resolution may get worse (generally only 20 to 30 degrees.) if a 3D position sensitive detector is used as both scatterer and absorber to improve the detection efficiency and acquire the omnidirectional detection capability, due to the reduced distance between the scattering point and the absorption point.
The purpose of the present disclosure is to provide a detector system and a radiation imaging device.
One embodiment of the present disclosure provides a detector system including a detector, comprising a plurality of detector layers that are overlapped, and the detector layer comprises a detector element layer and at least one of the detector layers is movable along the thickness direction of the detector layers; and a distance adjusting device which is drivingly connected with at least one of the detector layers, to adjust the inter-layer distance between adjacent detector layers of the detector by moving at least one of the detector layers along the thickness of the detector layers.
Further, the detector element layer comprises a scintillator detecting element layer, and the detector layer comprises a photoelectric conversion element connected with the scintillator detecting element layer and an integrated circuit chip connected with the photoelectric conversion element.
Further, the detector comprises three or more than three detector layers.
Further, the detector element layer comprises a scintillator detecting element layer, and the scintillator detecting element layer comprises a plurality of scintillator bars arranged closely side by side in a direction perpendicular to the thickness of the detector layers.
Further, sides other than the both ends in the length direction of the scintillator bars are provided with reflective layers.
Further, sides other than the both ends in the length direction of the scintillator bars are provided with light shield layers.
Further, the detector layer comprises silicon photomultipliers, and both ends of each scintillator bar are respectively provided with one silicon photomultiplier.
Further, the detector layer further comprises an integrated circuit chip connected with the silicon photomultiplier of the detector layer in which the integrated circuit chip is located.
Further, the detector system comprises a power supply device and a data acquisition device which are connected with the detector.
Further, the distance adjusting device comprises an inter-layer connecting mechanism connected with each detector layer, and the inter-layer connecting mechanism defines the same inter-layer distances between each two adjacent detector layers when the distance adjusting device adjusts the inter-layer distance.
Further, the inter-layer connecting mechanism comprises a rod telescopic structure formed by a plurality of hinged connecting rods, and each detector layer is hinged with the rod telescopic structure.
Further, the distance adjusting device comprises a guiding mechanism for guiding the movement of at least one of the detector layers.
Further, the distance adjusting device further comprises a driving mechanism which is drivingly connected with at least one detector layer of the plurality of detector layers, using to move at least one of the detector layers along the thickness direction of the detector layers to adjust the inter-layer distance.
Further, the detector system comprises a detector bracket, and the plurality of detector layers and the distance adjusting device are arranged on the detector bracket.
The present disclosure provides a radiation imaging device comprising a detector system described in one embodiment of the present disclosure.
Based on the detector system provided in the present disclosure, the inter-layer distance between adjacent detector layers of the detector can be adjusted, and the detection efficiency reaches the top when the inter-layer distance is the minimum. When the inter-layer distance is the maximum, the detection efficiency is the lowest and the field of view is the smallest, but the angular resolution is the best. When the inter-layer distance is between the maximum and the minimum, the detection efficiency, the imaging field of vision and the angular resolution can be adjusted according to the inter-layer distance, which is conducive to meeting different requirements of radiation measurement, and thus conducive to achieving an omnidirectional and efficient detection effect with high angular resolution.
The accompanying drawings, which constitute part of this application, are intended to provide a further understanding of the present disclosure. The exemplary embodiments of the disclosure and description thereof serve to explain the present disclosure, but do not constitute improper restrictions on the present disclosure. In the drawings:
The following description of at least one exemplary embodiment is in fact illustrative only and is in no way intended to limit the present disclosure and its application or usage.
Therefore, other examples of the exemplary embodiments may have different values. It should be noted that similar labels and letters represent similar items in the accompanying drawings below, and therefore, any item already defined in one accompanying drawing does not need to be further discussed in subsequent accompanying drawings.
The use of the terms “first”, “second” and similar words when describing the present disclosure are merely used to distinguish between different parts and have no special meaning unless otherwise stated, therefore cannot be construed as limitation on the scope of protection in the present disclosure.
It should be noted that nouns of locality used to describe the present disclosure, such as “front, rear, top, bottom, left and right”, “transverse, vertical, perpendicular and horizontal” and “top and bottom”, usually indicate the orientation or positional relationship shown in the accompanying drawings for the convenience of describing the present disclosure and simplifying the description only and, in the absence of a statement to the contrary, do not indicate or imply that the device or element in question may have a particular orientation or be constructed and operated in a particular orientation, and therefore cannot be understood as a limitation on the scope of protection of the present disclosure. Terms “inside” and “outside” refer to the inside and outside of the outline of each component.
In the present disclosure, “a plurality of” means two, three or more than three, for example, “a plurality of layers” means two layers, three layers or more than three layers.
As shown in
In the detector system 200 provided in embodiments of the present disclosure the inter-layer distance between adjacent detector layers 211 can be adjusted. The detection efficiency reaches the top when the inter-layer distance is the minimum. When the inter-layer distance is the maximum, the detection efficiency is the lowest and the field of view is the smallest, but the angular resolution is the best. When the inter-layer distance is between the maximum and the minimum, the detection efficiency, the imaging field of vision and the angular resolution can be adjusted according to the inter-layer distance, which is conducive to meeting different requirements of radiation measurement, and thus conducive to achieving an omnidirectional and efficient detection effect with high angular resolution.
The detector element layer could be, for example, a scintillator detecting element layer, a semiconductor detecting element layer or a gas detecting element layer, or the like. The scintillator detecting element, for example, could be a GAGG scintillator element, a LSO scintillator element, a NaI scintillator element, a CsI scintillator element or a LaBr3 scintillator element. The semiconductor detector element could be a high-pure germanium detector element, a CdZnTe detector element, etc.
In some embodiments, the detector element layer comprises a scintillator detecting element layer, and each detector layer 211 comprises a photoelectric conversion element connected with the scintillator detecting element layer and an integrated circuit chip connected with the photoelectric conversion element.
The photoelectric conversion element, for example, could be a photomultiplier tube (PMT), a photo-diode (PD), an avalanche photodiode (APD) or a silicon photomultiplier (SiPM or multi-pixel photon counter (MPPC)). The photoelectric conversion element is adapted to convert optical signals obtained by the scintillator detecting element layer into electrical signals.
The photoelectric conversion element is not needed if the detector element layer is a semiconductor detecting element layer or a gas detecting element layer.
In some embodiments, the detector 210 may comprise three or more detector layers 211, such as three, four, six, seven, nine, ten, fourteen or more layers, but eight or more layers are preferable. Of course, the detector 210 may also comprise only two detector layers 211.
In some embodiments, the detector element layer of the detector layers 211 comprises a scintillator detecting element layer. The scintillator detecting element layer comprises a plurality of scintillator bars 2111 arranged closely side by side in a direction perpendicular to the thickness of the detector layers 211. In this case, the detector layers 211 may comprise silicon photomultipliers 2112, and both ends of each scintillator bar 2111 are respectively provided with one silicon photomultiplier 2112. The detector layers 211 may further comprise an integrated circuit chip which is connected with the silicon photomultiplier 2112 of the detector layer 211 in which the integrated circuit chip is located.
In some embodiments, a reflective layer is provided on each scintillator bar 2111, specifically on the sides parallel to the thickness direction of the detector layers 211. The reflective layer is used to isolate the scintillant light produced by each scintillator bar 2111, which is advantageous for preventing interference between different scintillator bars 2111.
In some embodiments, a light shield layer is provided for each scintillator bar 2111, specifically on the sides parallel to the thickness direction of the detector layers 211, which prevents the interference generated by lights other than detection rays.
In some embodiments, the detector system 200 comprises a power supply device and a data acquisition device which are connected with the detector 210.
In some embodiments, the distance adjusting device 220 comprises an inter-layer connecting mechanism 221 which is connected with each detector layer 211, and the inter-layer connecting mechanism 221 defines the same inter-layer distances between each two adjacent detector layers 211 when the distance adjusting device 220 adjusts the inter-layer distance.
In some embodiments, the inter-layer connecting mechanism 221 comprises a rod telescopic structure formed by a plurality of hinged connecting rods, and each detector layer 211 is hinged with the rod telescopic structure. In some embodiments, the rod telescopic structure consists of a plurality of connecting rods which are hinged sequentially from end to end or in some other embodiments the rod telescopic structure may also comprise a plurality of shear fork structures connected successively.
In some embodiments, the distance adjusting device 220 comprises a guiding mechanism 222 for guiding the movement of each detector layer 211. The guiding mechanism 222, for example, may comprise guiding rods, and each detector layer 211 may comprise guiding holes matching the guiding rods. The guiding mechanism 222 may also comprise a guiding rail and a mating part movably fitted along the guiding rail, and each detector layer 211 is provided with a mating part.
In some embodiments, the distance adjusting device 220 further comprises a driving mechanism 223 which is drivingly connected with at least one detector layer 211 in the plurality of detector layers 211 and is configured to move of the at least one of the detector layers 211 along the thickness direction of the detector layers 211, to adjust the inter-layer distance. The driving mechanism 223 may comprise a screw rod and a nut which is matched with the screw rod and is fixedly connected with one of the detector layers 211. The screw rod can be driven manually or by a power source, such as a step motor, which drives the screw rod to act.
In some embodiments, the detector system 200 comprises a detector bracket 230, the plurality of detector layers 210 and a distance adjusting device 220 arranged on the detector bracket 230. The detector bracket 230 is to have a frame structure.
The detector system 200 in some embodiments of the present disclosure will be described in detail below in conjunction with
The detector system 200 mainly comprises detector 210, a distance adjusting device, a detector bracket, a power supply device, and a data acquisition device.
As shown by
The distance adjusting device is drivingly connected with at least one of the detector layers 211 of the plurality of detector layers 211, to adjust the inter-layer distance between adjacent detector layers 211 by moving at least one of the detector layers 211 along the thickness of the detector layers 211. The present embodiment focuses on the structure, function, principle and effect of the detector 210. Therefore,
The detector element layer of the detector layer 211 comprises a scintillator detecting element layer, a silicon photomultiplier 2112 connected with the scintillator detecting element layer, and an integrated circuit chip connected with the silicon photomultiplier 2112.
As shown by
In this case, the detector layer 211 comprises 32 silicon photomultipliers 2112, and both ends of each of the 16 scintillator bars 2111 are respectively provided with one said silicon photomultiplier 2112. The integrated circuit chip may be an ASIC (Application Specific Integrated Circuit) chip connected to the 32 silicon photomultipliers 2112 of the detector layer 211 in which the integrated circuit chip is located. In the present embodiment, cooperating with the end faces at both ends of the scintillator bars 2111, signals of both ends of the scintillator bars 2111 are read by a silicon photomultiplier 2112 having an effective area of 3 mm×3 mm. Each of the scintillator bars 2111 and the two silicon photomultipliers 2112 at both ends thereof constitute a basic detecting device.
As shown in
In
In
In the simulation calculation, the detector is provided with the 8 detector layers, and the detector layer is provided with 16 GAGG scintillator bars which are 3 mm×3 mm×48 mm in size. When the distance between the centers of adjacent detector layer is 15 mm, a total of 1805 cases are counted, with the intrinsic detection efficiency reaching 1.8% and the angular resolution reaching 10 degrees.
As shown in
The inter-layer connecting mechanism 221 is a control mechanism that keeps the inter-layer distances between each two detector layers 211 equal. The inter-layer connecting mechanism 221 is connected with each detector layer 211, and the inter-layer connecting mechanism 221 defines the same inter-layer distances between each two adjacent detector layers 211 when the distance adjusting device 220 adjusts the inter-layer distance.
As shown in
The function of defining the same inter-layer distances between each two adjacent detector layers 211 is realized by relating the movement and displacement of each detector layer 211 by means of the inter-layer connecting mechanism 221 which connects all detector layers 211.
In order to ensure the accuracy after adjusting the inter-layer distance of the detector layers 211, in the present embodiment, a rod telescopic structure is symmetrically arranged on both sides of the detector layers 211.
The guiding mechanism 222 guides the movement of each detector layer 211. The guiding mechanism 222 in the present embodiment, as shown in
The driving mechanism 223 may be drivingly connected with at least one of detector layers 211 in the plurality of detector layers 211. As shown in
The outer contour of the nut and the position of the threaded hole relative to the outer contour of the nut are not limited in the description of the present disclosure as long as there is one threaded hole that cooperates with the screw rod to adjust the relative displacement of each detector layer 211. In one embodiment, the shape of the nut may be hexagonal, circular, square or irregular. As shown in
As shown in
The detector bracket 230, the distance adjusting device 220 and the connecting structure of the detector layers may be made of a low Z material for the sake of preventing the detector bracket 230, the distance adjusting device 220 and the connecting structure of the detector layers from affecting the detection radioactive source 100 of the detector 210. Low Z materials have limited effects on high-energy rays and will not affect the detection of radioactive sources by the detector.
Embodiments of the present disclosure also provides a radiation imaging device comprising a detector system 200 involved in the present embodiment. The radiation imaging device has the same advantages as the detector system 200 disclosed in embodiments of the present disclosure. The radiation imaging device in embodiments of the present disclosure utilizes a position sensitive detector and the Compton imaging principle and is applicable in the fields of nuclear radiation detection, radiation imaging, radionuclide monitoring and nuclear technology application.
Number | Date | Country | Kind |
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201811580796.7 | Dec 2018 | CN | national |