Patent ID: 7449696
Filing Date: 2008-11-11
Classification: A61B,G01T

Abstract:
1. A heat management apparatus configured for disposition in a medical imaging system, the apparatus comprising: a thermally conductive detector module having a thermally conductive rail; sensor components disposed upon the detector module; signal processing electronics disposed upon the detector module proximate the sensor components, the signal processing electronics in thermal communication with the rail; a main heat conductor in thermal communication with a first defined portion of a length of the rail; and a local heat conductor in thermal communication with a second defined portion of the length of the rail; wherein the second defined portion is a subset of the first defined portion, and the first defined portion is greater in length that the second defined portion; wherein the main heat conductor is disposed to conduct heat away from the first defined portion and the second defined portion, and the local heat conductor is disposed to conduct heat away from the second defined portion but not the first defined portion, thereby resulting in the second defined portion having a greater number of outgoing heat flow paths than does that portion of the first defined portion that does not include the second defined portion, thereby controlling the temperature gradient along the length of the rail.