公开(公告)号：US20160320496A1

公开(公告)日：2016-11-03

申请号：US15209842

申请日：2016-07-14

Applicant: KONINKLIJKE PHILIPS N.V.

Inventor： Thomas FRACH ,  Andreas THON

IPC: G01T1/202 ,  G01T1/20 ,  A61B6/03 ,  G01T1/29

CPC classification number: G01T1/202 ,  A61B6/037 ,  G01T1/1642 ,  G01T1/1644 ,  G01T1/2018 ,  G01T1/2985

Abstract: When designing detector arrays for diagnostic imaging devices, such as PET or SPECT devices, a virtual detector, or pixel, combines scintillator crystals with photodetectors in ratios that deviate from the conventional 1:1 ratio. For instance, multiple photodetectors can be glued to a single crystal to create a virtual pixel which can be software-based or hardware-based. Light energy and time stamp information for a gamma ray hit on the crystal can be calculated using a virtualizer processor or using a trigger line network and time-to-digital converter logic. Additionally or alternatively, multiple crystals can be associated with each of a plurality of photodetectors. A gamma ray hit on a specific crystal is then determined by a table lookup of adjacent photodetectors that register equal light intensities, and the crystal common to such photodetectors is identified as the location of the hit.

Abstract translation: 当设计用于诸如PET或SPECT装置的诊断成像装置的检测器阵列时，虚拟检测器或像素将闪烁体晶体与光电探测器的比率与传统的1:1比例偏离。 例如，可以将多个光电检测器粘合到单晶以创建可以基于软件或基于硬件的虚拟像素。 可以使用虚拟器处理器或使用触发线网络和时间 - 数字转换器逻辑来计算晶体上的伽马射线的光能和时间戳信息。 附加地或替代地，多个晶体可以与多个光电检测器中的每一个相关联。 然后通过对相等的光强度进行注册的相邻光电检测器的表格查找来确定特定晶体上的伽马射线，并且将这种光电探测器公共的晶体识别为命中的位置。

公开(公告)号：US20220283025A1

公开(公告)日：2022-09-08

申请号：US17626464

申请日：2020-07-16

Applicant: KONINKLIJKE PHILIPS N.V.

Inventor： Thomas FRACH ,  Torsten SOLF

IPC: G01J1/44

Abstract: The present application relates generally to silicon photomultiplier (SiPM) detector arrays. In one aspect, there is a system including an array of cells each including a single-photon avalanche diode (SPAD) reverse-biased above a breakdown voltage of the SPAD. Each cell may further include trigger logic connected to the SPAD, and configured to output a trigger signal indicating whether the SPAD is in breakdown. Each cell may still further include a conditional recharge circuit configured to recharge the SPAD conditional upon both (i) the recharge circuit applying the recharge signal to the cell and (ii) the trigger signal output by the trigger logic of the cell indicating the SPAD of the cell is in breakdown.

公开(公告)号：US20220342089A1

公开(公告)日：2022-10-27

申请号：US17782693

申请日：2020-11-30

Applicant: KONINKLIJKE PHILIPS N.V.

Inventor： Torsten SOLF ,  Thomas FRACH

IPC: G01T1/164

Abstract: The present invention relates to a calibration method for a gamma ray detector (100) including a pixelated scintillator array (110) for emitting scintillation photons at photo conversion positions (94) in response to incident gamma rays (90), and a pixelated photodetector array (120) for determining a spatial intensity distribution of the scintillation photons. The present invention bases on the idea that using the concept of optical light sharing of scintillation photons, which are emitted in one element, i.e., one scintillator pixel (112) of the scintillator array (110) and distributed over multiple photodetector pixels (122) of the pixelated photodetector array (120), allows obtaining an estimate for the time skew between adjacent photodetector pixels (122). The present invention further relates to a calibration module (200) for a gamma ray detector (100) including a recorder (210) and a processing module (220) for performing the function of the above-explained method. Still further, the present invention relates to a gamma ray detector (100) as well as to a medical imaging device (50) comprising this gamma ray detector (100).

公开(公告)号：US20200284922A1

公开(公告)日：2020-09-10

申请号：US16340178

申请日：2017-10-24

Applicant: KONINKLIJKE PHILIPS N.V.

Inventor： Herfried Karl WIECZOREK ,  Torsten SOLF ,  Thomas FRACH

IPC: G01T1/20 ,  G01T1/164 ,  A61B6/03

Abstract: The invention relates to a gamma radiation detector that provides compensation for the parallax effect. The gamma radiation detector includes a plurality of scintillator elements, a planar optical detector array, and a pinhole collimator that includes a pinhole aperture. Each scintillator element has a gamma radiation receiving face and an opposing scintillation light output face. The gamma radiation receiving face of each scintillator element faces the pinhole aperture for generating scintillation light in response to gamma radiation received from the pinhole aperture. The scintillator elements are arranged in groups. Each group has a group axis that is aligned with the pinhole aperture and is perpendicular to the radiation receiving face of each scintillator in that group. The scintillation light output faces of each of the scintillator elements are in optical communication with the planar optical detector array.

公开(公告)号：US20220244099A1

公开(公告)日：2022-08-04

申请号：US17626442

申请日：2020-07-14

Applicant: KONINKLIJKE PHILIPS N.V.

Inventor： Thomas FRACH ,  Torsten SOLF ,  Dennis GROBEN

IPC: G01J1/44 ,  H03K5/26 ,  H03K5/24

Abstract: The present application relates generally to silicon photomultiplier (SiPM) detector arrays. In one aspect, there is a system including an array of cells each including a single-photon avalanche diode (SPAD) reverse-biased above a breakdown voltage of the SPAD. The system may further include a trigger network configured to generate pulses on a trigger line in response to SPADs of the array undergoing breakdown. The system may still further include a pulse-width filter configured to block pulses on the trigger line whose pulse width is less than a threshold width.

公开(公告)号：US20190137636A1

公开(公告)日：2019-05-09

申请号：US16239609

申请日：2019-01-04

Applicant: KONINKLIJKE PHILIPS N.V.

Inventor： Thomas FRACH

IPC: G01T1/24 ,  G01T1/20 ,  G01T7/00 ,  G01T1/40

Abstract: A PET scanner includes a ring of detector modules encircling an imaging region. Each of the detector modules includes one or more sensor avalanche photodiodes (APDs) that are biased in a breakdown region in a Geiger mode. The sensor APDs output pulses in response to light from a scintillator corresponding to incident photons. A reference APD also biased in a breakdown region in a Geiger mode is optically shielded from light and outputs a voltage that is measured by an analog to digital converter. Based on the measurement, a bias control feedback loop directs a variable voltage generator to adjust a bias voltage applied to the APDs such that a difference between a voltage of a breakdown pulse and a preselected logic voltage level is minimized.

公开(公告)号：US20180156926A1

公开(公告)日：2018-06-07

申请号：US15859789

申请日：2018-01-02

Applicant: KONINKLIJKE PHILIPS N.V.

Inventor： Thomas FRACH ,  Klaus FIEDLER

IPC: G01T1/20 ,  G01T7/00 ,  G01T1/29 ,  G01T1/24 ,  G01T1/164 ,  A61B6/03

CPC classification number: G01T1/2018 ,  A61B6/037 ,  G01T1/1642 ,  G01T1/248 ,  G01T1/2985 ,  G01T7/005

Abstract: A radiation detector includes an array of detector pixels each including an array of detector cells. Each detector cell includes a photodiode biased in a breakdown region and digital circuitry coupled with the photodiode and configured to output a first digital value in a quiescent state and a second digital value responsive to photon detection by the photodiode. Digital triggering circuitry is configured to output a trigger signal indicative of a start of an integration time period responsive to a selected number of one or more of the detector cells transitioning from the first digital value to the second digital value. Readout digital circuitry accumulates a count of a number of transitions of detector cells of the array of detector cells from the first digital state to the second digital state over the integration time period.

公开(公告)号：US20160146949A1

公开(公告)日：2016-05-26

申请号：US15000336

申请日：2016-01-19

Applicant: KONINKLIJKE PHILIPS N.V.

Inventor： Thomas FRACH ,  Klaus FIEDLER

IPC: G01T1/20 ,  G01T1/29 ,  G01T7/00

CPC classification number: G01T1/2018 ,  A61B6/037 ,  G01T1/1642 ,  G01T1/248 ,  G01T1/2985 ,  G01T7/005

Abstract: A radiation detector includes an array of detector pixels each including an array of detector cells. Each detector cell includes a photodiode biased in a breakdown region and digital circuitry coupled with the photodiode and configured to output a first digital value in a quiescent state and a second digital value responsive to photon detection by the photodiode. Digital triggering circuitry is configured to output a trigger signal indicative of a start of an integration time period responsive to a selected number of one or more of the detector cells transitioning from the first digital value to the second digital value. Readout digital circuitry accumulates a count of a number of transitions of detector cells of the array of detector cells from the first digital state to the second digital state over the integration time period.

Abstract translation: 辐射检测器包括检测器像素的阵列，每个检测器像素包括检测器单元的阵列。 每个检测器单元包括偏置在击穿区域中的光电二极管和与光电二极管耦合的数字电路，并且被配置为输出响应于光电二极管的光子检测的静止状态的第一数字值和第二数字值。 数字触发电路被配置为响应于从第一数字值转换到第二数字值的一个或多个检测器单元的选定数量，输出指示积分时间段开始的触发信号。 读出数字电路在积分时间段内累积检测器单元阵列的检测器单元从第一数字状态到第二数字状态的转移次数的计数。

公开(公告)号：US20150076357A1

公开(公告)日：2015-03-19

申请号：US14548326

申请日：2014-11-20

Applicant: KONINKLIJKE PHILIPS N.V.

Inventor： Thomas FRACH

IPC: G01T1/24

CPC classification number: G01T1/247 ,  A61B6/037 ,  G01T1/2018 ,  G01T1/244 ,  G01T1/248 ,  G01T1/40 ,  G01T7/005

Abstract: A PET scanner includes a ring of detector modules encircling an imaging region. Each of the detector modules includes one or more sensor avalanche photodiodes (APDs) that are biased in a breakdown region in a Geiger mode. The sensor APDs output pulses in response to light from a scintillator corresponding to incident photons. A reference APD also biased in a breakdown region in a Geiger mode is optically shielded from light and outputs a voltage that is measured by an analog to digital converter. Based on the measurement, a bias control feedback loop directs a variable voltage generator to adjust a bias voltage applied to the APDs such that a difference between a voltage of a breakdown pulse and a preselected logic voltage level is minimized.

Abstract translation: PET扫描器包括环绕成像区域的检测器模块环。 每个检测器模块包括在盖革模式下偏置在击穿区域中的一个或多个传感器雪崩光电二极管（APD）。 传感器APD响应于来自对应于入射光子的闪烁体的光而输出脉冲。 在Geiger模式的击穿区域中偏置的参考APD被光学屏蔽，并输出由模数转换器测量的电压。 基于测量，偏置控制反馈环路引导可变电压发生器以调整施加到APD的偏置电压，使得击穿脉冲的电压和预选逻辑电压电平之间的差最小化。