Fast Photon-counting CZT Detector for CT Imaging

用于 CT 成像的快速光子计数 CZT 探测器

• 批准号: 7109596
• 负责人: NEAL EUGENE HARTSOUGH
• 金额: $ 10万
• 依托单位: DXRAY, INC.
• 依托单位国家: 美国
• 财政年份: 2007
• 资助国家: 美国
• 起止时间: 2007-05-01 至 2008-04-30
• 项目状态: 已结题
• 来源: https://reporter.nih.gov/project-details/7109596
• 关键词: Area; Arts; Cadmium; Ceramics; Characteristics; Charge; Competence; Count; Coupled; Custom; Development; Device Designs; Devices; Diagnostic; Discrimination; Dose; Electrodes; Electronics; Elements; Engineering; Event; Exhibits; Film; Future; Goals; Human; Image; Individual; Lead; Manufacturer Name; Measures; Methods; Noise; Object Attachment; Patients; Pattern; Performance; Phase; Photons; Production; Rate; Rattus; Reading; Research; Research Design; Research Personnel; Resolution; Risk; Semiconductors; Shapes; Side; Signal Transduction; Silicon; Simulate; Structure; System; Techniques; Technology; Testing; Time; Tissues; Togo; Work; Zinc; base; design; detector; digital; experience; new technology; next generation; novel; programs; prototype; sensor; simulation; skills; success; two-dimensional

DESCRIPTION (provided by applicant): The goal of the project is to develop the next generation CT detector modules for x-ray CT scanners based on high-throughput photon-counting cadmium zinc telluride (CZT) detectors combined with CMOS readout arrays. This new technology will deliver significant improvements in diagnostic capabilities. We will develop a novel detector module which adds several new important features compared with the basic principles of technology currently used by all major CT manufacturers. The currently commercially-available CT systems typically use a detector having silicon (Si) (p-n junction) photodiodes that are optically coupled to a scintillator which is operated in a current-integrating mode where the signals generated from the x-rays are integrated in each pixel over a time before the integrated charge is read out. The use of these current-mode detectors results in generally poorer image quality than could be achieved by using the technology proposed in the product presented here. Instead of integrating the x-ray current over a time, photon counting is used to measure and count each x-ray individually over a similar time. By doing this, the following additional features can be obtained: counting (and analysis) of each individual x-ray, binning events according to x-ray energies, and spectroscopic x-ray imaging capabilities. These new features lead to: potentially significantly reduced x-ray dose to the patient, compositional analysis of tissue through spectroscopic x-ray imaging, and potentially significant improvement in overall image quality. In Phase I we will develop and test a drift structure for each individual pixel element to greatly increase the count-rat capability of the detector system, a critical characteristic due to the large x-ray flux incident on x-ray CT detectors. We will choose an optimal structure by performing simulations and then measuring the actual performance of the structure on high-quality CZT detectors. The Phase I work will reduce the risk for the successful completion of Phase II, where we will construct the detector module prototype which will consist of individual detector modules (tiles) arranged in a (one- or two- dimensional) array so as to form the entire detector. Each detector module (tile) constitutes a pixillated semiconductor detector that allows for direct conversion of the x-rays. In addition it uses highly advanced next generation integrated circuits in order to produce digital x-ray CT images where each individual x-ray is counted and analyzed.

描述（由申请人提供）：该项目的目标是开发用于X射线CT扫描仪的下一代CT探测器模块，该模块基于高通量光子计数碲锌镉（CZT）探测器与CMOS读出阵列相结合。这项新技术将显著提高诊断能力。我们将开发一种新型探测器模块，与所有主要CT制造商目前使用的技术基本原理相比，该模块增加了几个新的重要功能。目前市售的CT系统通常使用具有硅（Si）（p-n结）光电二极管的检测器，所述光电二极管光学耦合到闪烁体，所述闪烁体以电流积分模式操作，在电流积分模式中，在读出积分电荷之前的一段时间内在每个像素中对从X射线生成的信号进行积分。使用这些电流模式探测器通常会导致图像质量比使用本文所述产品中提出的技术所能实现的图像质量更差。光子计数不是在一段时间内对X射线电流进行积分，而是用于在类似的时间内对每个X射线单独进行测量和计数。通过这样做，可以获得以下附加功能：对每个单独的X射线进行计数（和分析），根据X射线能量对事件进行分箱，以及光谱X射线成像能力。这些新功能可实现：潜在地显著降低了对患者的X射线剂量、通过光谱X射线成像对组织进行成分分析、以及潜在地显著提高了整体图像质量。在第一阶段，我们将开发和测试每个单独的像素元件的漂移结构，以大大提高探测器系统的计数率能力，这是由于X射线CT探测器上的大X射线通量入射的一个关键特性。我们将通过执行模拟来选择最佳结构，然后在高质量CZT探测器上测量该结构的实际性能。第一阶段的工作将减少成功完成第二阶段的风险，在第二阶段，我们将建造探测器模块原型，该原型将由以（一维或二维）阵列排列的单个探测器模块（瓦片）组成，以形成整个探测器。每个探测器模块（瓦片）构成像素化的半导体探测器，其允许X射线的直接转换。此外，它还使用了非常先进的下一代集成电路，以产生数字X射线CT图像，其中每一个单独的X射线计数和分析。

项目成果

Photon Counting Energy Dispersive Detector Arrays for X-ray Imaging.

• DOI: 10.1109/tns.2009.2013709
• 发表时间: 2009
• 期刊: IEEE transactions on nuclear science
• 影响因子: 1.8
• 作者: Iwanczyk JS;Nygård E;Meirav O;Arenson J;Barber WC;Hartsough NE;Malakhov N;Wessel JC
• 通讯作者: Wessel JC