APPARATUS AND METHOD OF CONVERTING ELECTROMAGNETIC ENERGY DIRECTLY TO ELECTRONS FOR COMPUTED TOMOGRAPHY IMAGING

摘要

The present invention provides a detector (20) for a multi-slice CT system. The detector includes a scintillator (57) for receiving and converting high frequency electromagnetic energy (16) directly to electrons. The detector (20) is further configured to directly conduct the electrons. The detector (20) comprises a compound formed of scintillator bulk and a conducting material capable of converting high frequency energy (16) to electrons as well as conduct electrons. The CT system also provides for a gantry (12) having an output (14) for projecting high frequency electromagnetic energy (16) toward the detector (20) and a data acquisition system (32) for receiving electrons directly from the detector (20). A method to provide imaging electrons to a CT system is also provided.