Claims
- 1. A method for optically segmenting a target media for use in an imaging device, said method including the steps of:
a) forming a void at a selected location within said target media; b) repeating said step of forming a void to form a plurality of voids, said plurality of voids cooperating to define at least one optical boundary, said at least one optical boundary segmenting said target media, wherein said at least one optical boundary assists in control and distribution of scintillation light.
- 2. The method of claim 1 wherein said step of a) forming a void includes the steps of:
i) focusing a laser beam at a selected wavelength at a focal point at said selected location within said target media; and ii) changing the optical properties of said target media at said focal point; and wherein said step of b) repeating said step of forming a void includes the steps of: iii) repositioning the laser beam to a further focal point within said target media; and iv) repeating said step of focusing a laser beam through said step of repositioning said laser beam to form said plurality of voids.
- 3. The method of claim 1 wherein said target media is a scintillator and wherein said at least one optical boundary defines at least one optically-segmented portion creating at least one virtual resolution element.
- 4. The method of claim 1 wherein said target media is a light-transmitting object, and wherein said at least one optical boundary defines a light guide within said light-transmitting object.
- 5. The method of claim 1 wherein said at least one optical boundary includes a plurality of optical boundaries cooperating to define a plurality of optically-segmented portions.
- 6. The method of claim 5 wherein said plurality of optically-segmented portions are rectilinear.
- 7. The method of claim 5 wherein said plurality of optically-segmented portions are non-rectilinear.
- 8. The method of claim 5 wherein said plurality of optically-segmented portions are curvilinear.
- 9. The method of claim 1 wherein said at least one optical boundary is defined by a single layer of said plurality of voids.
- 10. The method of claim 1 wherein said at least one optical boundary is defined by a plurality of layers of said plurality of voids.
- 11. The method of claim 1 wherein a size of each of said plurality of micro-voids is independently selectable.
- 12. The method of claim 1 wherein said at least one optical boundary is defined by said plurality of voids randomly disposed within a given volume of said target media.
- 13. A detector component for use in an imaging device, said detector component comprising:
a scintillator, a plurality of voids being formed within said scintillator to define at least one optical boundary segmenting said scintillator, each of said plurality of voids being formed by focusing a laser beam at a selected wavelength at a focal point within said scintillator; whereby said at least one optical boundary defines at least one virtual resolution element within said scintillator.
- 14. The method of claim 13 wherein said plurality of optically-segmented portions are rectilinear.
- 15. The method of claim 13 wherein said plurality of optically-segmented portions are non-rectilinear.
- 16. A detector component for use in an imaging device, said detector component comprising:
a light-transmitting object, a plurality of voids being formed within said light-transmitting object to define at least one optical boundary segmenting said light-transmitting object, each of said plurality of voids being formed by focusing a laser beam at a selected wavelength at a focal point within said light-transmitting object; whereby said at least one optical boundary defines a light guide within said light-transmitting object.
- 17. The method of claim 16 wherein said plurality of optically-segmented portions are rectilinear.
- 18. The method of claim 16 wherein said plurality of optically-segmented portions are non-rectilinear.
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS
[0001] This application claims the benefit of U.S. Provisional Application No. 60/474,430, filed May 30, 2003.
Provisional Applications (1)
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Number |
Date |
Country |
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60474430 |
May 2003 |
US |