Multi-spectral and phase contrast X-ray detectors for advanced radiation imaging applications

X射线探测器代表着全球20亿美元的市场，随着数字X射线技术日益成为主流，该市场正以近10%的复合年增长率增长。X射线探测器是医疗、工业、安全、汽车、航空航天、制造业、食品加工和国防领域的关键部件。然而，自伦琴发现它们以来，X射线成像在100多年里基本上没有改变。拟议研究的目标是使新一代X射线探测器能够用于多光谱和相衬X射线成像，这两种令人兴奋的X射线成像方法分别有助于区分材料和可视化低密度材料。材料辨别和低密度材料成像（例如软组织）都是传统X射线成像的众所周知的弱点。 研究目标将通过使用各种电路，设备和工艺技术创建新的辐射探测器来实现，同时使用行业标准制造工艺，以确保从研究到市场的快速过渡。PI已经有相当丰富的经验，将高科技研究从实验室转化为他共同创立的初创公司KA Imaging。拟议研究的其他优点包括利用完善的大面积电子制造基础设施和过去三十年发展的成熟硅电路设计技术。 所有的设计、制造和测试都将在滑铁卢千兆到纳米电子实验室进行，该实验室在北美是独一无二的，能够建造和表征完整的X射线探测器原型。这项研究将解决阻碍多光谱和相衬X射线探测技术进入主流的关键瓶颈。 与数字X射线相关的重要工业活动强调了该技术的关键性。尽管与边境以南的通用电气以及欧洲的飞利浦和西门子等巨头相比相形见绌，但加拿大在X射线探测器市场的占有率越来越高。例如，Analogic Canada Corporation生产用于乳房X光检查和安全的高分辨率探测器，总部位于魁北克蒙特利尔，而Teledyne DALSA Imaging Corporation生产用于医疗和工业部门的实时X射线探测器，总部位于安大略滑铁卢。来自不列颠哥伦比亚省温哥华的Redlen公司正在将其碲锌镉探测器应用于医疗计算机断层扫描和安全，而滑铁卢大学的初创公司KA Imaging正在将独特的多光谱X射线探测器技术推向市场，用于医疗，工业和安全应用。拟议的研究旨在创新新技术，激励和培训该部门和相关加拿大公司成长并成为大型全球参与者所需的人才。

X-ray detectors represent a $2B USD market globally that is growing at almost 10% CAGR with the increasing adoption of digital X-ray technology into the mainstream. X-ray detectors are critical enabling components in the medical, industrial, security, automotive, aerospace, manufacturing, food processing and defense sectors. However, X-ray imaging has fundamentally not changed for over 100 years since Roentgen discovered them. The objective of the proposed research is to enable a new generation of X-ray detectors for multi-spectral and phase contrast X-ray imaging, two exciting approaches to X-ray imaging that help discriminate between materials and visualize low density materials, respectively. Material discrimination and low density materials imaging (e.g. soft tissue) are both well-known weaknesses of traditional X-ray imaging.     The research objective will be accomplished by creating new radiation detectors using a variety of circuit, device and process techniques, all the while using industry standard fabrication processes to ensure a rapid transition out of the research and into the market. The PI has already considerable experience translating high tech research from the lab to a start-up company, KA Imaging, that he co-founded. Other merits of the proposed research include leveraging well-established large area electronics fabrication infrastructure and the mature silicon circuit design techniques developed over the past three decades.  All design, fabrication and test will occur at the Waterloo Giga-to-Nano Electronics Lab, a facility that is unique in North America in its ability to build and characterize complete prototype X-ray detectors. This research will address the critical bottlenecks that have been holding multi-spectral and phase contrast X-ray detection technology from entering the mainstream.    The significant industrial activity associated with digital X-ray serves to underscore the critical nature of the technology. Although dwarfed by giants such as General Electric south of the border and Philips and Siemens in Europe, Canada has a growing presence in the X-ray detector market. For example, Analogic Canada Corporation makes high resolution detectors for mammography and security and is headquartered in Montreal, Quebec while another, Teledyne DALSA Imaging Corporation makes real-time X-ray detectors for medical and industrial sectors and is based in Waterloo, Ontario. Redlen Corporation from Vancouver, British Columbia is applying its Cadmium Zinc Telluride detector for medical Computed Tomography  and security while KA Imaging, a University of Waterloo startup company is now bringing unique multi-spectral X-ray detector technology to market for medical, industrial, and security applications. The proposed research seeks to innovate new technology and to inspire and train talented individuals necessary for this sector and the associated Canadian companies to grow and come into their prime as large, global players.