Patent Number: 
Section: claims

1. An integrated collimator device, comprising:a) a radiation detector with an anode face and a cathode face;b) an anode disposed at the anode face;c) an insulating layer deposited on one face of the radiation detector and at least one layer of collimator material deposited on the insulating layer; andd) an aperture through the at least one layer of collimator material and defining an exposed area on the radiation detector, the aperture configured to allow radiation to impinge upon the exposed area of the radiation detector. 2. A device as in claim 1, wherein the at least one layer of collimator material comprises at least three layers and each layer comprises a different material. 3. A device as in claim 2, wherein a layer of collimator material closest to the radiation detector has a lowest atomic number of the at least three layers and each successive layer away from the radiation detector has a higher atomic number than an adjacent layer that is nearer the radiation detector. 4. A device as in claim 3, wherein:a) the insulating layer is deposited on the anode face of the radiation detector. 5. A device as in claim 1, further comprising a hermetically sealed container surrounding the integrated collimator device and a window in the container configured to allow x-rays to pass into the container and impinge upon the exposed area of the radiation detector. 6. A device as in claim 1, wherein the insulating layer is a continuous layer. 7. A device as in claim 1, wherein a thickness of the insulating layer is less than about 50 micrometers. 8. A device as in claim 1, wherein the aperture extends through the insulating layer. 9. A device as in claim 1, wherein the insulating layer and the at least one layer of collimator material are deposited on the cathode face. 10. A method of making the integrated collimator device of claim 1, the method comprising:a) depositing at least one layer of insulating material on one face of the radiation detector;b) depositing at least one layer of collimator material on the insulating material;b) patterning and etching the collimator material to create an exposed area on the radiation detector;c) boundaries of the exposed area correspond to the boundaries of the anode. 11. A method of making the integrated collimator device as in claim 10, wherein the at least one layer of collimator material is deposited on the anode face. 12. A radiation detection system, comprising:a) an integrated collimator device comprising:i) a radiation detector with an anode face and a cathode face;ii) an anode disposed at the anode face;iii) an insulating material deposited on the anode face;iv) at least three layers of collimator material deposited on the insulating material;v) an aperture through the at least three layers of collimator material and defining an exposed area on the radiation detector, the aperture configured to allow radiation to impinge upon the exposed area of the radiation detector;vi) a layer of collimator material closest to the radiation detector has a lowest atomic number of the at least three layers and each successive layer away from the radiation detector has a higher atomic number than an adjacent layer that is nearer the radiation detector; andb) a hermetically sealed container surrounding the integrated collimator device and a window in the container configured to allow x-rays to pass into the container and impinge upon the exposed area of the radiation detector. 13. An integrated collimator device, comprising:a) a radiation detector with an anode face and a cathode face;b) an anode disposed at the anode face;c) at least one layer of collimator material deposited on the anode face;d) an aperture through the at least one layer of collimator material and defining an exposed area on the anode face, the aperture configured to allow radiation to impinge upon the anode face of the radiation detector; ande) an area of the anode is substantially the same as an area of the aperture of the collimator material. 14. A device as in claim 13, wherein the anode face of the radiation detector further comprises an insulating material which is deposited on the anode. 15. A device as in claim 14, wherein the insulating material is a continuous layer. 16. A device as in claim 14, wherein the aperture extends through the insulating material such that the exposed area on the radiation detector is the anode. 17. A device as in claim 13, wherein:a) the at least one layer of collimator material comprises at least three layers and each layer comprises a different material; andb) a layer of collimator material closest to the radiation detector has a lowest atomic number of the at least three layers and each successive layer away from the radiation detector has a higher atomic number than an adjacent layer that is nearer the radiation detector. 18. An integrated collimator device, comprising:a) a radiation detector with an anode face and a cathode face;b) an anode disposed at the anode face;c) at least one layer of collimator material deposited on the cathode face; andd) an aperture through the at least one layer of collimator material and defining an exposed area on the radiation detector, the aperture configured to allow radiation to impinge upon the exposed area of the radiation detector. 19. A device as in claim 18, wherein the cathode face of the radiation detector further comprises an insulating material which is deposited on the cathode. 20. A device as in claim 18, wherein an area of the anode is substantially the same as an area of the aperture of the collimator material. 21. A device as in claim 18 further comprising a hermetically sealed container surrounding the integrated collimator device and a window in the container configured to allow x-rays to pass into the container and impinge upon the exposed area of the radiation detector.