Patent ID: 7224772
Filing Date: 2007-05-29
Classification: G01N,G21K

Abstract:
1. A backscatter radiography system, comprising: a source of a penetrating radiation beam for irradiating first area of an object to a depth to be interrogated, wherein responsive to said irradiating said object emits backscattered radiation comprising a first backscatter component and plurality of multiple backscatter components, said multiple backscatter components emerging from said object from areas remote from said first area due to lateral migration, and an array of reconfigurable collimated radiation detectors disposed on the same side of said object as said source of penetrating radiation, a center of at least one of said detectors laterally offset from a line between said radiation beam and said first area of said object, said detectors having adjustable collimators, said collimators comprising: a concave structure including a plurality of spaced apart features secured thereto, said detector disposed inside said concave structure, and a capping structure, wherein said capping structure is slideably mounted to said concave structure, wherein said collimators select a field-of-view for said backscattered radiation which is less than an entire volume of said object which scatters said beam, but more than a volume which intersects the radiation beam at said first area, and wherein adjustments to said collimators selects particular sets of directions of travel of said multiple backscatter components which reach said detector.