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Title: Construction of collimators and/or detectors for penetrating radiation
Claims: What I claim is: 1. A method of constructing a multi-channel array of collimators and/or detectors for penetrating radiation, said channels being substantially side-by-side and extending in the same general direction, the method including the step of forming said channels by tensioning and winding a tape containing material which attenuates said radiation on a winding support including first and second sets of elongated finger members extending in a first direction, substantially parallel to the direction in which said channels extend, the members of a set being spaced apart in a second direction, transverse of said first direction and the sets being spaced apart in a third direction, substantially orthogonal to both said first and second directions; said tape being wound alternately over an elongated member of one set and under an elongated member of the other set and progressing along the members of both sets as winding proceeds, and the method further including the steps of rendering the array self-supporting and thereafter removing the array from the winding support. 2. A method according to claim 1 wherein the step of rendering the array self-supporting includes the step of filling said channels with a plastics material. 3. A method according to claim 2 wherein said plastics material comprises an x-ray sensitive scintillator material. 4. A method according to claim 2 wherein said step of filling is effected by injection of said plastics material into a closed cavity containing the tape as wound on said winding support. 5. A method according to claim 4 wherein said plastics material comprises an x-ray sensitive scintillator material. 6. A method according to claim 1, wherein said step of removing the array from the winding support includes the step of cutting said array in respective planes, spaced apart in said third direction, said planes being closer together than said sets. 7. A method according to claim 1 wherein all of said elongated members are parallel. 8. A method according to claim 1 wherein the elongated members of each set are tapered in the same sense and also mutually inclined to one another in said second direction, and the sets of elongated members are inclined to one another in said third direction with the thinner ends of said elongated members farther apart, in said third direction, than the fatter ends of said elongated members. 9. A method according to claim 1 in which the elongated members of one of said sets overly gaps between the elongated members of the other set. 10. A method according to claim 1 wherein the step of rendering the array self-supporting is effected by inserting divider means into said channels at a given position along their length, filling the part of said channels to one side of said divider means with non-scintillating plastics material, filling the part of said channels to the other side of said divider means with X-ray sensitive scintillating plastics material and, after the plastics materials have cured, removing said divider means. 11. A method of constructing a multi-channel array of collimators and/or detectors for penetrating radiation, including the step of forming said channels by winding a tape, containing material which attenuates said radiation, on a winding support comprising first and second sets of elongated members arranged in substantially overlying relationship and extending in a direction substantially parallel to the direction of said channels, said tape being wound alternately over an elongated member of one set and under an elongated member of said first set and progressing along said sets as winding proceeds, and the method further including the steps of rendering the array self-supporting and thereafter removing the array from the winding support. Other info: Inventors: Moore, John F. (Lake Bluff, IL, US) Application Number: 865879 Filing Date: 1977-12-30 Publication_date: 1980-01-22 Assignee: EMI Limited (Hayes, GB2) Primary Class(es): 250/361R 250/505.1, 378/7, 378/19, 378/147, 976/DIG429 Other Classes: US Patent Ref:
Other Refs:
Primary Examiner: Anderson, Bruce C. Assistant Examiner: Attorney: Cooper, Dunham, Clark, Griffin & Moran |
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