Abstract:
A method of manufacturing a radiation detection apparatus is provided. The method includes preparing a sensor panel having first and second opposing surfaces with a pixel array and electrical contacts being arranged on the first surface side, and adhering a first supporting portion to the panel with an adhesive layer. The first supporting portion supports the pixel array from the second surface side of the panel. The method further includes fixing a second supporting portion to the panel so as to inhibit the second supporting portion from being removed from the panel. The second supporting portion supports the electrical contacts from the second surface side of the panel. The method further includes pressure-bonding wiring members to the electrical contacts. In the pressure-bonding, the elastic modulus of the second supporting portion is higher than that of the adhesive layer.

Description:
[0001]    This application is a continuation of International Patent Application No. PCT/JP2014/003730 filed on Jul. 15, 2014, and claims priority to Japanese Patent Application No. 2013-185703 filed on Sep. 6, 2013, the entire content of both of which is incorporated herein by reference. 
     
    
     TECHNICAL FIELD 
       [0002]    The present invention relates to a radiation detection apparatus, a manufacturing method therefor, and a radiation detection system. 
       BACKGROUND ART 
       [0003]    Japanese Patent No. 4464260 has proposed a technique associated with a radiation imaging apparatus including a sensor panel having a plurality of photoelectric conversion elements and a scintillator layer. The sensor panel includes electrical contacts electrically connected to the photoelectric conversion elements. Wiring members for reading out signals from the sensor panel to the outside are connected to the electrical contacts. The wiring members are pressure-bonded to the electrical contacts. A supporting substrate is adhered to the reverse surface of the sensor panel with an adhesive agent. Gaps are provided between the supporting substrate and portions, of the sensor panel, on which the electrical contacts are arranged. When pressure-bonding the wiring members, rigid members are inserted into the gaps. After the wiring members are mounted, the rigid members are removed from the gaps, and buffer members are inserted instead of the rigid members. When pressure-bonding the wiring members, mounting the rigid members suppresses the deformation of the sensor panel which is caused by pressure-bonding, and mounting the buffer members in the other case improves the impact resistance of the sensor panel. 
       SUMMARY OF INVENTION 
     Technical Problem 
       [0004]    The radiation imaging apparatus disclosed in Japanese Patent No. 4464260 is configured to replace rigid members with buffer members in the gaps between the supporting substrate and the portions, of the sensor panel, on which the electrical contacts are arranged. In this arrangement, when these members are inserted and removed, the sensor panel may be damaged. Some aspects of the present invention provide a technique for suppressing damage/deformation of a sensor panel when pressure-bonding wiring members in a radiation detection apparatus. 
       Solution to Problem 
       [0005]    Some embodiments provide a method of manufacturing a radiation detection apparatus, the method comprising: preparing a sensor panel having a first surface and a second surface located on an opposite side to the first surface, with a pixel array and electrical contacts being arranged on the first surface side; adhering a first supporting portion to the sensor panel with an adhesive layer, the first supporting portion supporting the pixel array from the second surface side of the sensor panel; fixing a second supporting portion to the sensor panel so as to inhibit the second supporting portion from being removed from the sensor panel, the second supporting portion supporting the electrical contacts from the second surface side of the sensor panel; and pressure-bonding wiring members to the electrical contacts, wherein an elastic modulus of the second supporting portion in the pressure-bonding is higher than an elastic modulus of the adhesive layer in the pressure-bonding. 
         [0006]    Further features of the present invention will become apparent from the following description of exemplary embodiments (with reference to the attached drawings). 
     
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS 
         [0007]    The accompanying drawings, which are incorporated in and constitute a part of the specification, illustrate embodiments of the invention and, together with the description, serve to explain the principles of the invention. 
           [0008]      FIG. 1A  is a view for explaining an example of the arrangement of a radiation detection apparatus according to some embodiments; 
           [0009]      FIG. 1B  is a view for explaining an example of the arrangement of the radiation detection apparatus according to some embodiments; 
           [0010]      FIG. 1C  is a view for explaining an example of the arrangement of the radiation detection apparatus according to some embodiments; 
           [0011]      FIG. 2A  is a view for explaining an example of a manufacturing method for the radiation detection apparatus in  FIGS. 1A to 1C ; 
           [0012]      FIG. 2B  is a view for explaining an example of the manufacturing method for the radiation detection apparatus in  FIGS. 1A to 1C ; 
           [0013]      FIG. 2C  is a view for explaining an example of the manufacturing method for the radiation detection apparatus in  FIGS. 1A to 1C ; 
           [0014]      FIG. 2D  is a view for explaining an example of the manufacturing method for the radiation detection apparatus in  FIGS. 1A to 1C ; 
           [0015]      FIG. 3A  is a view for explaining an example of the arrangement of a radiation detection apparatus according to some embodiments; 
           [0016]      FIG. 3B  is a view for explaining an example of the arrangement of the radiation detection apparatus according to some embodiments; 
           [0017]      FIG. 3C  is a view for explaining an example of the arrangement of the radiation detection apparatus according to some embodiments; 
           [0018]      FIG. 4A  is a view for explaining an example of a manufacturing method for the radiation detection apparatus in  FIGS. 3A to 3C ; 
           [0019]      FIG. 4B  is a view for explaining an example of the manufacturing method for the radiation detection apparatus in  FIGS. 3A to 3C ; 
           [0020]      FIG. 4C  is a view for explaining an example of the manufacturing method for the radiation detection apparatus in  FIGS. 3A to 3C ; 
           [0021]      FIG. 5A  is a view for explaining an example of the arrangement of a radiation detection apparatus according to some embodiments; 
           [0022]      FIG. 5B  is a view for explaining an example of the arrangement of the radiation detection apparatus according to some embodiments; 
           [0023]      FIG. 5C  is a view for explaining an example of the arrangement of the radiation detection apparatus according to some embodiments; and 
           [0024]      FIG. 6  is a view for explaining an example of the arrangement of a radiation detection system according to some embodiments. 
       
    
    
     DESCRIPTION OF EMBODIMENTS 
       [0025]    The embodiments will be described below with reference to the accompanying drawings. The same reference numerals denote the same elements throughout various embodiments, and a repetitive description of them will be omitted. In addition, the respective embodiments can be changed and combined as needed. 
         [0026]    An example of the arrangement of a radiation detection apparatus  100  according to some embodiments will be described with reference to  FIGS. 1A to 1C .  FIG. 1A  is a plan view of the radiation detection apparatus  100 .  FIG. 1B  is a sectional view taken along a line A-A′ of the radiation detection apparatus  100 .  FIG. 1C  is a sectional view taken along a line B-B′ of the radiation detection apparatus  100 . 
         [0027]    The radiation detection apparatus  100  includes constituent elements shown in  FIGS. 1A to 1C . A sensor panel  110  includes a pixel array  111  and electrical contacts  112  on one principal surface (the surface on the upper side in  FIG. 1B ; to be referred to as the obverse surface hereinafter). The pixel array  111  has a plurality of pixels arranged in an array. Each pixel includes a photoelectric conversion element. The electrical contacts  112  are located on outer sides of the pixel array  111  and electrically connected to the pixel array  111 . In the case shown in  FIGS. 1A to 1C , the plurality of electrical contacts  112  are arranged along two opposite sides of the radiation detection apparatus  100 . However, the electrical contacts  112  may be arranged on two adjacent sides, only one side, three sides, or all the sides. In addition, in the case shown in  FIGS. 1A to 1C , the sensor panel  110  is constituted by a plurality of sensor chips each having the pixel array  111  and the electrical contact  112 . Dummy chips  113 , each having no pixel array  111  or electrical contact  112 , are arranged around the plurality of sensor chips. Alternatively, the sensor panel  110  may be constituted by one sensor chip. 
         [0028]    The sensor panel  110  has any arrangement as long as it includes the pixel array  111  and the electrical contacts  112 . For example, the sensor panel  110  may be a CMOS sensor or CCD sensor having semiconductor elements formed on a silicon substrate. Alternatively, the sensor panel  110  may be a flat panel having semiconductor elements formed on a substrate such as a glass substrate. 
         [0029]    The radiation detection apparatus  100  may be of a front-side illumination type (a type that radiation enters from the obverse surface of the sensor panel  110 ) or back-side illumination type (a type that radiation enters from the reverse surface of the sensor panel). The reverse surface of the sensor panel  110  is a principal surface (the surface on the lower side in  FIG. 1B ) on the opposite side of the sensor panel  110  to the obverse surface. In general, when using the radiation detection apparatus for mammography, imaging is performed by using X-rays at a low tube voltage of about 25 keV. When the radiation detection apparatus  100  is of the back-side illumination type, it is possible to use a thin flat substrate to suppress radiation absorption by the substrate of the sensor panel  110 , assuming that the apparatus is used for mammography. 
         [0030]    Table 1 given below shows the results obtained by calculating X-ray transmittance improvement ratios at a tube voltage of 25 keV on single-crystal silicon substrates with various thicknesses with reference to the transmittance of a single-crystal silicon substrate with a thickness of 0.775 mm, which is the thickness of a general 300-mm wafer. 
         [0000]    
       
         
               
               
               
             
           
               
                   
                 TABLE 1 
               
               
                   
                   
               
               
                   
                   
                 X-ray Transmittance 
               
               
                   
                   
                 Improvement Ratio (with 
               
               
                   
                   
                 reference to thickness of 
               
               
                   
                 Thickness of Substrate 
                 0.775 mm) 
               
               
                   
                   
               
             
             
               
                   
                 0.5 mm 
                 10.2% 
               
               
                   
                 0.3 mm 
                 18.5% 
               
               
                   
                 0.2 mm 
                 39.2% 
               
               
                   
                   
               
             
          
         
       
     
         [0031]    In addition, Table 2 given below shows the results obtained by calculating X-ray transmittance improvement ratios at a tube voltage of 25 keV on single-crystal silicon substrates with various thicknesses with reference to the transmittance of a 0.7-mm thick glass substrate. 
         [0000]    
       
         
               
               
               
             
           
               
                   
                 TABLE 2 
               
               
                   
                   
               
               
                   
                   
                 X-ray Transmittance 
               
               
                   
                   
                 Improvement Ratio (with 
               
               
                   
                   
                 reference to thickness of 
               
               
                   
                 Thickness of Substrate 
                 0.7 mm) 
               
               
                   
                   
               
             
             
               
                   
                 0.5 mm 
                 10.0% 
               
               
                   
                 0.3 mm 
                 21.8% 
               
               
                   
                 0.2 mm 
                 35.5% 
               
               
                   
                   
               
             
          
         
       
     
         [0032]    In either of the above cases, it is obvious that an X-ray transmittance improves with a reduction in the thickness of a substrate. 
         [0033]    The sensor panel  110  may have a protective layer on the obverse surface side to cover and protect the pixel array  111 . The protective layer is formed from, for example, an organic resin. For example, a high heat-resistant organic resin is used. Such organic resins include a polyimide resin, styrene resin, epoxy-based resin, acrylic-based resin, polyvinylidene chloride-based resin, polyvinylidene fluoride-based resin, polyester-based resin, and polyolefin-based resin. 
         [0034]    A scintillator layer  120  is arranged on the obverse surface side of the sensor panel  110  at a position to cover the pixel array  111 . The scintillator layer  120  converts radiation entering the radiation detection apparatus  100  into light (for example, visible light) having a wavelength that can be detected by each photoelectric conversion element of the pixel array  111 . The scintillator layer  120  is formed from, for example, an alkali halide-based material typified by a material (CsI:Tl) obtained by doping cesium iodide (to be referred to as CsI hereinafter) with Tl. The scintillator layer  120  is formed from a powder phosphor (to be referred to as a GOS hereinafter) obtained by doping a metal oxysulfide (for example, Gd 2 O 2 S) as a matrix with a small amount of trivalent rare earth as a luminescent center such as terbium or europium. 
         [0035]    The surface of the scintillator layer  120  may be covered by a scintillator protective layer  121  except for the surface in contact with the sensor panel  110 . The scintillator protective layer  121  suppresses a decrease in the luminescence amount or sharpness of the scintillator layer  120  which is caused by moisture absorption. The scintillator protective layer  121  can be formed by bonding an organic resin having low moisture permeability or a sheet having low moisture permeability to it through an adhesive layer such as an adhesive agent, pressure sensitive adhesive agent, or the like. Organic resins having low moisture permeability include chlorine-based resins such as polyparaxylylene and polyvinylidene chloride and fluorine-based resins such as PCTFE and polyvinylidene fluoride. Sheets having low moisture permeability include metallic foils such as aluminum, silver, and copper foils as well as resin sheets. In the embodiment shown in  FIGS. 1A to 1C , the scintillator protective layer  121  is formed by bonding an aluminum sheet to it using a pressure sensitive adhesive agent. 
         [0036]    Wiring members  130  are mounted on the electrical contacts  112 . The wiring members  130  are, for example, FPCs (Flexible Printed Circuits). The conductor members contained in the wiring members  130  are electrically connected to the electrical contacts  112 . An external apparatus and the pixel array  111  exchange electrical signals via the wiring members  130  and the electrical contacts  112 . 
         [0037]    The reverse surface of the sensor panel  110  is adhered to the obverse surface of a supporting substrate  142  with an adhesive layer  141 . The adhesive layer  141  is in contact with a portion, of the reverse surface of the sensor panel  110 , on which the pixel array  111  is arranged but is not in contact with portions, of the revere surface, on which the electrical contacts  112  are arranged. Bonding the supporting substrate  142  to the sensor panel  110  can improve the strength of the sensor panel  110 . In this manner, the supporting substrate  142  supports the pixel array  111  from the reverse surface side of the sensor panel  110 . A high heat-resistant member may be used as the supporting substrate  142 . When the radiation detection apparatus  100  is of the back-side illumination type, a member having high radiation transmittance may be used as the supporting substrate  142 . Materials for such members include light metals and light metal alloys such as aluminum, magnesium, an aluminum alloy, and a magnesium alloy, crystals such as silicon, germanium, and carbon, amorphous materials such as amorphous carbon, glass, ceramics, and pottery materials, composite materials such as CFRP (Carbon Fiber Reinforced Plastic) and GFRP (Glass Fiber Reinforced Plastic), and heat-resistant resins such as an aramid-based resin, a polyimide-based resin, a PPS resin, a PEEK resin, an epoxy-based resin, and an acrylic-based resin. The adhesive layer  141  also functions as a buffer member. 
         [0038]    The reverse surface of the supporting substrate  142  is bonded to the bottom portion of a box-like frame member  144  with an adhesive layer  143 . Side walls of the frame member  144  are in contact with portions, of the reverse surface of the sensor panel  110 , on which the electrical contacts  112  are arranged. The side walls of the frame member  144  therefore support the electrical contacts  112  from the reverse surface side of the sensor panel  110 . In order to suppress the deformation of the sensor panel  110  at the time of mounting the wiring members  130 , the frame member  144  has a higher elastic modulus than the adhesive layer  141 . In this specification, an elastic modulus can be, for example, a volume elastic modulus. In addition, the compressive strength of the frame member  144  is equal to or more than 90 MPa (equal to or more than 918 kgf/cm 2 ). If the compressive strength of the frame member  144  is less than 90 MPa, mounting the wiring members  130  on the electrical contacts  112  with a pressure of 5 MPa can deform the frame member  144  and cause a contact failure on the wiring members  130 . The frame member  144  is formed from one of the following materials: metals and metal alloys such as aluminum, an aluminum alloy, magnesium, a magnesium alloy, iron, and stainless steel, crystals such as silicon, germanium, and carbon, amorphous materials such as amorphous carbon, glass, and ceramics, composite materials such as CFRP and GFRP, and resins such as an aramid-based resin, a polyimide-based resin, an acrylic-based resin, a polyethylene-based resin, a phenol-based resin, an acetylcellulose-based resin, and a vinyl chloride-based resin. Gaps exist between the side walls of the frame member  144  and the adhesive layer  141 . In other words, the reverse surface of the sensor panel  110  includes portions, between the frame member  144  and the adhesive layer  141 , which are covered by none of them. The sensor panel  110  is adhered to the supporting substrate  142  with the adhesive layer  141 . The frame member  144  is adhered to the supporting substrate  142  with the adhesive layer  143 . Therefore, the frame member  144  is fixed on the sensor panel  110 . The frame member  144  cannot be removed from the radiation detection apparatus  100 . 
         [0039]    An example of a manufacturing method for the radiation detection apparatus  100  will be described next with reference to  FIGS. 2A to 2D . First of all, as shown in  FIG. 2A , the sensor panel  110  including the pixel array  111  and the electrical contacts  112  is prepared. This process can be performed by any technique and may be performed by using an existing technique. Therefore, a detailed description of the process will be omitted. 
         [0040]    Subsequently, the reverse surface of the prepared sensor panel  110  may be polished by chemical polishing (etching) or the like to thin the substrate of the sensor panel  110 . For example, the substrate of the sensor panel  110  may be polished to a thickness of 5 mm or less. Setting the thickness of a silicon substrate to, for example, 0.3 mm can improve the X-ray transmittance by 18.5% as compared with a silicon substrate having a thickness of 0.775 mm. In addition, when using a flat panel as the sensor panel  110 , setting the thickness of the glass substrate of the sensor panel  110  to, for example, 0.3 mm can improve the X-ray transmittance by 21.8% as compared with a glass substrate having a thickness of 0.7 mm. 
         [0041]    Subsequently, the reverse surface of the sensor panel  110  is adhered to the obverse surface of the supporting substrate  142  with the adhesive layer  141 . The adhesive layer  141  is, for example, a 100-μm thick silicone-based pressure sensitive adhesive agent. The adhesive layer  141  is in contact with a portion, of the reverse surface of the sensor panel  110 , on which the pixel array  111  is arranged but is not in contact with portions, of the reverse surface, on which the electrical contacts  112  are arranged. 
         [0042]    Subsequently, the scintillator layer  120  is arranged on the obverse surface side of the sensor panel  110 . The scintillator layer  120  is formed by, for example, heating and depositing CsI and TlI simultaneously in a vacuum chamber. For example, a resistance heating boat is filled with a phosphor material as a deposition material, and the sensor panel  110  is installed on the support holder of a deposition apparatus. The deposition apparatus is then evacuated by a vacuum pump. Ar gas is introduced into the apparatus to adjust the degree of vacuum to 0.1 Pa. The apparatus then performs deposition. When using a powder phosphor as the scintillator layer  120 , the scintillator layer  120  is formed by coating and drying, for example, GOS. 
         [0043]    Subsequently, the scintillator protective layer  121  covering the scintillator layer  120  is formed. The scintillator protective layer  121  is formed by bonding an aluminum sheet coated with a pressure sensitive adhesive agent to the scintillator layer  120  so as to cover it by using a roll laminator. As the scintillator protective layer  121 , polyparaxylylene is formed by CVD. For example, the sensor panel  110  on which the scintillator layer  120  is formed is installed in a chamber for CVD, which is evacuated to 30 Pa. Polyparaxylylene is then deposited while the table on which the sensor panel  110  is installed is rotated at 5 rpm. With the above process, a structure  200  shown in  FIG. 2A  is formed. 
         [0044]    Subsequently, as shown in  FIG. 2B , the bottom portion of the frame member  144  is coated with the adhesive layer  143 , and a chuck stage  201  vacuum-chucks the upper side of the structure  200  (the upper surface of the scintillator protective layer  121 ). As the frame member  144 , for example, a 2-mm thick CFRP plate processed into a box-like shape is used. The adhesive layer  143  is formed from, for example, a two-pack epoxy resin designed to promote curing by mixing two types of liquids. Using the two-pack epoxy resin can cure the adhesive layer  143  without heating it. 
         [0045]    Subsequently, as shown in  FIG. 2C , the structure  200  is mounted on the frame member  144 . When performing this mounting operation, the structure  200  is pressurized with, for example, a pressure of 0.05 MPa. Applying an excessively high pressure at the time of the mounting operation may cause cracking in the sensor panel  110 . Applying an excessively low pressure at the time of the mounting operation may make the contact between the sensor panel  110  and the frame member  144  insufficient and cause cracking in the sensor panel  110  when mounting the wiring members  130 . 
         [0046]    Subsequently, as shown in  FIG. 2D , the wiring members  130  are arranged on the electrical contacts  112  through adhesive members such as anisotropic conductive films (ACFs), gold bumps, or the like. Thereafter, each wiring member  130  is thermally pressure-bonded to a corresponding one of the electrical contacts  112  by using a pressure-bonding head  202  at a temperature of 100° C. to 200° C. and a pressure of 1 MPa to 5 MPa for 5 sec to 5 min. When performing this thermal pressure-bonding, the frame member  144  supports portions, of the sensor panel  110 , on which the electrical contacts  112  are arranged, from the reverse surface. In this process, the frame member  144  has a higher elastic modulus than the adhesive layer  141 , and hence is hard to be deformed by a pressure from the pressure-bonding head  202 . This can therefore suppress the deformation of the sensor panel  110  and improve the adhesiveness between the electrical contacts  112  and the wiring members  130 . As a result, high-quality radiation images can be obtained from the radiation detection apparatus  100 . The wiring members  130  may be adhered to the electrical contacts  112  by pressure-bonding without heating instead of using thermal pressure-bonding. 
         [0047]    An example of the arrangement of a radiation detection apparatus  300  according to another embodiment will be described next with reference to  FIGS. 3A to 3C .  FIG. 3A  is a plan view of the radiation detection apparatus  300 .  FIG. 3B  is a sectional view taken along a line A-A′ of the radiation detection apparatus  300 .  FIG. 3C  is a sectional view taken along a line B-B′ of the radiation detection apparatus  300 . 
         [0048]    The radiation detection apparatus  300  includes the respective constituent elements shown in  FIGS. 3A to 3C . The same reference numerals denote constituent elements common to the radiation detection apparatus  300  and the radiation detection apparatus  100 , and a repetitive description of them will be omitted. A sensor panel  310  has a pixel array  311  and electrical contacts  312  on one principal surface (the surface on the upper side in  FIG. 3B ; to be referred to as the obverse surface hereinafter). The pixel array  311  and the electrical contacts  312  may be the same as the pixel array  111  and the electrical contacts  112 , respectively, and hence a description of them will be omitted. In the embodiment shown in  FIGS. 3A to 3C , the sensor panel  310  is formed from one sensor chip. However, as in the case shown in  FIGS. 1A to 1C , the sensor panel  310  may be constituted by a plurality of sensor chips. 
         [0049]    A supporting member  341  is arranged between a supporting substrate  142  and portions, of the sensor panel  310 , on which the electrical contacts  312  are arranged. That is, the supporting member  341  supports the electrical contacts  312  from the reverse surface side of the sensor panel  310 . The supporting member  341  has a higher elastic modulus than an adhesive layer  141 . In addition, as the supporting member  341 , a material having a compressive strength of 90 MPa or more can be used. As such a material, for example, an organic resin such as an epoxy resin having a compressive strength of 150 MPa may be used. Alternatively, a metallic material such as a metal or metal alloy having a compressive strength of 90 MPa or more may be used as a material for the supporting member  341 . For example, stainless steel having a compressive strength of 400 MPa is used as a material for the supporting member  341 . In addition, a material having adhesiveness may be used as a material for the supporting member  341 . That is, the supporting member  341  may be an adhesive layer which adheres the reverse surface sides of the electrical contacts  312  to the supporting substrate  142 . Furthermore, a material for the supporting member  341  may have curability such as light curability or heat curability. 
         [0050]    The radiation detection apparatus  300  can have the same advantages as those of the radiation detection apparatus  100 . In addition, the radiation detection apparatus  300  can be manufactured at low cost because it has fewer constituent elements than the radiation detection apparatus  100 . 
         [0051]    An example of a manufacturing method for the radiation detection apparatus  300  will be described next with reference to  FIGS. 4A to 4C . First of all, as shown in  FIG. 4A , the sensor panel  310  including the pixel array  311  and the electrical contacts  312  is prepared. This process can be performed by any technique and may be performed by using an existing technique. Therefore, a detailed description of the process will be omitted. Subsequently, as in the same manner as that described with reference to  FIG. 2A , the sensor panel  310  is adhered to the supporting substrate  142  with the adhesive layer  141 . A scintillator layer  120  and a scintillator protective layer  121  are then formed on the sensor panel  310 . 
         [0052]    Subsequently, as shown in  FIG. 4B , the supporting member  341  is inserted between the supporting substrate  142  and portions, of the sensor panel  310 , on which the electrical contacts  312  are arranged. For example, an epoxy resin before curing is arranged between the supporting substrate  142  and the sensor panel  110  by using Dispenser MS-10 available from Musashi engineering. Thereafter, the epoxy resin is cured for 1 hr at 80° C. to form the supporting member  341 . 
         [0053]    Subsequently, as shown in  FIG. 4C , wiring members  130  are pressure-bonded to the electrical contacts  312 . Since this process is the same as that shown in  FIG. 2D , a repetitive description will be omitted. In the case shown in  FIGS. 4A to 4C , the supporting member  341  is arranged after the sensor panel  310  is adhered to the supporting substrate  142 . However, the sensor panel  310  may be adhered to the supporting substrate  142  after the supporting member  341  is arranged on the supporting substrate  142 . 
         [0054]    Examples of the arrangements of radiation detection apparatuses according to various other embodiments of the present invention will be described next with reference to  FIGS. 5A to 5C . The same reference numerals denote constituent elements common to the radiation detection apparatuses described with reference to  FIGS. 5A to 5C  and the radiation detection apparatuses  100  and  300 , and a repetitive description of them will be omitted. A radiation detection apparatus  510  in  FIG. 5A  has a sensor panel  110  directly adhered to a frame member  144  with an adhesive layer  141 . 
         [0055]    A radiation detection apparatus  520  in  FIG. 5B  has an adhesive layer  521  having curability arranged between a frame member  144  and portions, of the reverse surface of a sensor panel  110 , on which electrical contacts  112  are arranged. Polishing the reverse surface of the sensor panel  110  sometimes causes irregularity such as polishing unevenness or polishing flaws caused by an abrasive on the reverse surface. The radiation detection apparatus  520  is configured to reduce such irregularity by using the adhesive layer  521 . First of all, the adhesive layer  521  before curing is arranged between the frame member  144  and portions, of the reverse surface of the sensor panel  110 , on which the electrical contacts  112  are arranged. Thereafter, the adhesive layer  521  is cured. The elastic modulus of the cured adhesive layer  521  is higher than that of an adhesive layer  141 . Therefore, the adhesive layer  141  supports the electrical contacts  112  from the reverse surface side of the sensor panel  110 . As a material for the adhesive layer, it is possible to use one of the following resins: an epoxy resin, an acrylic resin, a polyethylene-based resin, a phenol-based resin, an acetylcellulose-based resin, and a vinyl chloride-based resin. 
         [0056]    A radiation detection apparatus  530  in  FIG. 5C  is configured such that a supporting member  341  is adhered to a sensor panel  310  with an adhesive layer  531 , and the supporting member  341  is adhered to a supporting substrate  142  with an adhesive layer  532 . Since the adhesive layers  531  and  532  may each be the same as the adhesive layer  521 , a repetitive description will be omitted. 
         [0057]    In the above embodiments, the scintillator layer is directly formed on the sensor panel. However, a scintillator panel having a scintillator layer may be prepared independently of a sensor panel, and the sensor panel and the scintillator panel may be overlaid on each other to form a radiation detection apparatus. Alternatively, a radiation detection apparatus may be of a type that has no scintillator layer and makes the conversion elements of a sensor panel directly convert radiation into charge. 
         [0058]      FIG. 6  is a view showing an application example of any one of the radiation detection apparatuses described above to an X-ray diagnostic system (radiation detection system). X-rays  6060  generated by an X-ray tube  6050  (radiation source) are transmitted through a chest region  6062  of an object or a patient  6061  and enter a detection apparatus  6040  as one of the above radiation detection apparatuses. The incident X-rays include information about the inside of the body of the patient  6061 . The scintillator emits light as X-rays enter, and electrical information is obtained by photoelectric conversion. This information is converted into a digital signal. An image processor  6070  serving as a signal processing unit performs image processing of the signal. It is possible to observe the resultant image on a display  6080  serving as a display unit in a control room. Note that the radiation detection system includes at least a detection apparatus and a signal processing unit which processes signals from the detection apparatus. 
         [0059]    In addition, it is possible to transfer this information to a remote place via a transmission processing unit such as a telephone line  6090 . The information can be displayed on a display  6081  as a display unit in another place such as a doctor room or can be stored in a recording unit such as an optical disk. This makes it possible for a doctor in a remote place to perform diagnosis. In addition, a film processor  6100  as a recording unit can record the information on a film  6110  as a recording medium. 
         [0060]    Various examples will be described. As each arrangement whose concrete example is not shown in the following examples, any one of the arrangements described above may be used. Embodiment 1 uses a CMOS chip as the sensor panel  110  in the arrangement shown in  FIGS. 1A to 1C . The reverse surface of the silicon substrate of the sensor panel  110  is polished to a thickness of 0.3 mm. As the supporting substrate  142 , a 1-mm thick CRFP substrate is used. As the scintillator layer  120 , CsI:TI formed by vacuum deposition is used. As the scintillator protective layer  121 , a film to which an aluminum sheet is bonded is used. As the frame member  144 , a CFRP substrate impregnated with an epoxy resin is used. As the adhesive layer  141 , a 100-μm thick silicone-based pressure sensitive adhesive agent is used. As the adhesive layer  143 , a two-pack epoxy resin is used. 
         [0061]    Example 2 uses a CMOS chip as the sensor panel  110  in the arrangement shown in  FIGS. 3A to 3C . The silicon substrate of the sensor panel  110  is polished to a thickness of 0.3 mm. As the supporting substrate  142 , a 1-mm thick CRFP substrate is used. As the scintillator layer  120 , CsI:TI formed by vacuum deposition is used. As the scintillator protective layer  121 , a film to which an aluminum sheet is bonded is used. As the supporting member  341 , an epoxy resin having a compressive strength of 150 MPa is used. As the adhesive layer  141 , a 100-μm thick silicone-based pressure sensitive adhesive agent is used. 
         [0062]    Example 3 uses a CMOS chip as the sensor panel  110  in the arrangement shown in  FIGS. 3A to 3C . The silicon substrate of the sensor panel  110  is polished to a thickness of 0.3 mm. As the supporting substrate  142 , a 1-mm thick CRFP substrate is used. As the scintillator layer  120 , CsI:TI formed by vacuum deposition is used. As the scintillator protective layer  121 , a film to which an aluminum sheet is bonded is used. As the supporting member  341 , 0.2-mm thick stainless steel having compressive strength of 400 Mpa is used. As the adhesive layer  141 , a 200-μm thick silicone-based pressure sensitive adhesive agent is used. 
         [0063]    Example 4 uses a flat panel as the sensor panel  110  in the arrangement shown in  FIGS. 3A to 3C . The glass substrate of the sensor panel  110  is polished to a thickness of 0.3 mm. As the supporting substrate  142 , a 1-mm thick CRFP substrate is used. As the scintillator layer  120 , polyparaxylylene formed by CVD is used. As the scintillator protective layer  121 , a film to which an aluminum sheet is bonded is used. As the supporting member  341 , an epoxy resin having a compressive strength of 150 MPa is used. As the adhesive layer  141 , a 100-μm thick silicone-based pressure sensitive adhesive agent is used. 
         [0064]    While the present invention has been described with reference to exemplary embodiments, it is to be understood that the invention is not limited to the disclosed exemplary embodiments. The scope of the following claims is to be accorded the broadest interpretation so as to encompass all such modifications and equivalent structures and functions.