Abstract

This paper reviewed some of the recent patents on the development of solid state detectors for medical imaging applications focused on nuclear medicine and X-Ray imaging systems. A series of solid state detectors including position sensitive avalanche photodiodes, APD arrays, silicon photomultipliers, amorphous silicon/selenium flat panel detectors, CCD cameras, CMOS sensors, etc., were addressed. These solid state detectors found wide applications in nuclear medicine imaging instruments including PET, SPECT etc., and in X-Ray medical imaging systems for diagnosis and therapy, including radiography, fluoroscopy, mammography, tomosynthesis, CT and dental imaging, etc. In addition, a discussion on some recently patented medical imaging systems employing solid state detectors was also presented.

Keywords: Medical imaging, solid state detector, photodiode, X-Ray imaging systems, position sensitive avalanche photodiode, thin-film transistor, medical imaging modalities, signal attenuation, pin-cushion distortion, Indirect conversion, fluoroscopic imaging, ghost imaging