Photonic Radiation Detection Device, And Methods For Dimensioning And Operating Such Device

Abstract

A photonic radiation detection device includes a collimator, a detector, and localization means for determining information relative to the localization of a photon interaction with the detector material. In at least one previously selected acquisition configuration, a degree of pixelation in the detection plane is greater than 1 and a collimator-detector distance (C) is greater than one tenth of the septal height (h) of the collimator where the septal height is a maximum dimension of the collimator in a direction orthogonal to the frontal detection plane. In one instance, the septal wall thickness (e) is one of about 0.1 or less than about 0.1 of the channel width (w). In another instance, the collimator-detector distance is greater than h/(2(w/e−1)). A dimensioning method includes, for at least one given spatial frequency, calculating and comparing merit indicator values for different acquisition configurations of a structural model of the detection device.

1 . A detection device for photonic radiation comprising:
 a collimator comprising a plurality of collimator channels having a channel width (w) and separated by septal walls having a thickness (e);   a detector comprising a detector material and having a frontal detection plane on a collimator side of the detector; and   localization means for determining information relative to the localization, in lateral directions parallel to the frontal detection plane, of a photon interaction with the detector material, the localization means in the frontal detection plane, defining a partitioning of the frontal detection plane in physical or virtual pixels with transversal dimensions smaller than those of the collimator channels, and associating one of the pixels with each photon interaction,   wherein, at least in one previously selected acquisition configuration, a degree of pixelation in the detection plane is greater than 1 and a collimator-detector distance (C) between the collimator and the frontal detection plane, is greater than one tenth of a septal height (h) of the collimator, the septal height being a maximum dimension of the collimator in a direction orthogonal to the frontal detection plane, and   wherein the septal wall thickness (e) is one of about 0.1 or less than about 0.1 of the channel width (w).   
     
     
         2 . The detection device according to  claim 1 , wherein the localization means in the frontal detection plane define a virtual over-pixelation in the frontal detection plane. 
     
     
         3 . The detection device according to  claim 1 , further comprising means for adjusting the collimator-detector distance (C). 
     
     
         4 . The detection device according to  claim 1 , further comprising image reconstruction means for determining a combined projection including a set of radiation data, allowing the reconstruction of an image of the photonic radiation source, starting from a plurality of radiation data sets, defined as unitary projections, each unitary projection resulting from an acquisition operation of radiation data per exposure of the detection device to the photonic radiation source. 
     
     
         5 . The detection device according to  claim 1 , wherein the collimator-detector distance (C) is smaller than the septal height (h) of the collimator in any acquisition configuration. 
     
     
         6 . The detection device according to  claim 1 , wherein the collimator includes a central axis and constant septal thickness in at least one plane orthogonal to the central axis. 
     
     
         7 . The detection device according to  claim 1 , wherein the collimator channels are parallel, and each collimator channel reciprocally corresponds with a unique physical pixel of the detector. 
     
     
         8 . The detection device according to  claim 1 , wherein the detector material comprises a semiconductor material. 
     
     
         9 . The detection device according to  claim 8 , further comprising location means for determining information relative to the depth of the photon interaction in the detector material, defining a partitioning of the depth of the detector material in a plurality of virtual layers and associating one of the layers with each photon interaction. 
     
     
         10 . The detection device according to  claim 9 , configured for use in mammography type applications, wherein:
 the septal height (h) of the collimator is between 10 mm and 20 mm;   the localization means in the frontal detection plane are suitable for defining virtual pixels with a pitch between 0.1 mm and 0.4 mm;   the depth localization means are suitable for defining a partitioning of the semiconductor material in at least three virtual layers; and   the collimator-detector distance is between one fourth and one half of the septal height (h) of the collimator, at least in a previously selected acquisition configuration.   
     
     
         11 . A detection device for photonic radiation comprising:
 a collimator comprising a plurality of collimator channels having a channel width (w) and separated by septal walls having a thickness (e);   a detector comprising a detector material and having a frontal detection plane on a collimator side of the detector; and   localization means for determining information relative to the localization, in lateral directions parallel to the frontal detection plane, of a photon interaction with the detector material, the localization means in the frontal detection plane, defining a partitioning of the frontal detection plane in physical or virtual pixels with transversal dimensions smaller than those of the collimator channels, and associating one of the pixels with each photon interaction,   wherein, at least in one previously selected acquisition configuration, a degree of pixelation in the detection plane is greater than 1 and a collimator-detector distance (C) between the collimator and the frontal detection plane, is greater than one tenth of a septal height (h) of the collimator, the septal height is a maximum dimension of the collimator in a direction orthogonal to the frontal detection plane and wherein C>h/(2(w/e−1)).   
     
     
         12 . The detection device according to  claim 11 , wherein the septal wall thickness (e) is one of about 0.1 or less than about 0.1 of the channel width (w).