US 12,471,877 B2
Photon counting computed tomography (PCCT) detector sensor repair for increased sensor yield
Nicholas R Konkle, Sussex, WI (US); Brian D Yanoff, Niskayuna, NY (US); and John M Boudry, Waukesha, WI (US)
Assigned to GE PRECISION HEALTHCARE LLC, Wauwatosa, WI (US)
Filed by GE Precision Healthcare LLC, Wauwatosa, WI (US)
Filed on Jun. 7, 2022, as Appl. No. 17/805,834.
Prior Publication US 2023/0389884 A1, Dec. 7, 2023
Int. Cl. A61B 6/42 (2024.01); A61B 6/00 (2006.01); A61B 6/03 (2006.01); A61B 6/58 (2024.01); B23K 26/21 (2014.01); G01R 31/28 (2006.01); G01R 31/52 (2020.01); G01T 1/24 (2006.01)
CPC A61B 6/586 (2013.01) [A61B 6/032 (2013.01); A61B 6/4241 (2013.01); A61B 6/5205 (2013.01); A61B 6/5258 (2013.01); B23K 26/21 (2015.10); G01R 31/28 (2013.01); G01R 31/52 (2020.01); G01T 1/242 (2013.01); G01T 1/247 (2013.01)] 20 Claims
OG exemplary drawing
 
1. A method for a photon counting computed tomography (PCCT) imaging system, the method comprising:
for each pixel along a sensor array, the sensor array comprising a plurality of vertically stacked segments including at least one divided segment comprising a plurality of sub-segments electrically coupled to a readout electronics configured to calculate a photon count for each sub-segment of the at least one divided segment, the plurality of vertically stacked segments extending below each pixel and oriented in a direction of incoming X-ray beams,
generating a total photon count for the at least one divided segment based on combined electrical signals produced at each sub-segment of the at least one divided segment, the photon count for each sub-segment being calculated based on electrical signals; and
reconstructing an image based on the total photon count at the at least one divided segment.
 
11. A photon counting computed tomography (PCCT) imaging system, comprising:
a photon counting detector including a sensor array, the sensor array including a plurality of segments, at least one of the plurality of segments divided into a plurality of sub-segments, wherein the plurality of sub-segments is electrically coupled in series and at least one sub-segment is electrically coupled to the readout electronics; and
one or more processors, and a non-transitory memory storing instructions executable by the one or more processors to:
for a segment of the at least one of the plurality of segments:
calculate, at the readout electronics, a total photon count for the segment based on combined signals received from each sub-segment of the plurality of sub-segments; and
reconstruct an image based on the total photon count for the segment.
 
16. A method for a photon counting computed tomography (PCCT) imaging system, the method comprising:
in response to detecting a defect in a divided segment of a sensor array of a photon counting detector of the PCCT imaging system, the divided segment including a plurality of sub-segments and the defect being detected by a presence of high leakage currents and short circuits and generation of image artifacts in a reconstructed image generated based total photon count of the divided segment, the total photon count being based on a combined signal:
identifying a defective sub-segment of the segment, by iteratively isolating each sub-segment of the plurality of sub-segments from readout electronics configured to measure the combined signal, the combined signal comprising signals produced by each sub-segment of the plurality of sub-segments, each respective signal being used to determine a photon count for a respective sub-segment, and comparing a first measured combined signal of the plurality of sub-segments prior to isolating the sub-segment with a second measured combined signal after isolating the sub-segment; and
repairing the segment by permanently severing a connection between the defective sub-segment and the readout electronics.