Patent Number: 
Section: claims

1. A collimator ( 332 ) for a detector array ( 190 ) of an x-ray technique-based nonintrusive inspection apparatus ( 8 ), which includes: a body which includes:  a support structure ( 332 ); and  a plurality of septa ( 334 ) secured to the support structure, wherein center lines ( 346 ) of two of the septa located next to one another converge in a first direction ( 348 ), but surfaces ( 342 ,  344 ) of the two septa facing one another diverge in the first direction. 2. The collimator ( 332 ) according to  claim 1 , claim 1 wherein the support structure is made of a material having a first, lead component. 3. The collimator according to  claim 2 , wherein the support structure includes first and second support members and the septa are secured between the first and second support members. claim 2 4. The collimator according to  claim 1  wherein a lower tip of a first of the septa is spaced from a lower tip of a sixteenth of the septa by a first distance and an upper tip of the first septum is spaced from an upper tip of the sixteenth septum by a second distance that is approximately 1 mm less than the first distance. claim 1 5. The collimator according to  claim 4  wherein the first distance is approximately 50 mm and the second distance is approximately 49 mm. claim 4 6. The collimator according to  claim 1  wherein the material includes a first, lead component comprises at least 86 percent lead. claim 1 7. The collimator according to  claim 6  wherein the material includes a second component which provides the material with a strength which is stronger than lead. claim 6 8. The collimator according to  claim 7  wherein the second component includes tin. claim 7 9. The collimator according to  claim 8  wherein the material comprises about 86 percent lead, 3 percent tin, and 11 percent antimony. claim 8 10. The collimator according to  claim 1  wherein the body is molded. claim 1 11. An x-ray technique-based nonintrusive inspection apparatus ( 8 ) which includes: a tunnel section ( 14 );  an x-ray source ( 150 ) which, when operated, radiates at least a portion of the confines of the tunnel section;  a detector array ( 190 ); and  a collimator ( 332 ) mounted over the detector array, the collimator including a plurality of septa ( 334 ), with center lines ( 346 ) of two of the septa located next to one another converging in a direction ( 348 ) toward the x-ray source and surfaces ( 342 ,  344 ) of the two septa that face one another do not converge towards the x-ray source. 12. The x-ray technique-based nonintrusive inspection apparatus according to  claim 11  wherein the surfaces diverge from one another toward the x-ray source. claim 11 13. The x-ray technique-based nonintrusive inspection apparatus according to  claim 11  wherein the septa is of a material that includes a first, lead component comprising at least 86 percent thereof. claim 11 14. The x-ray technique-based nonintrusive inspection apparatus according to  claim 13  which includes a CT scanner subsystem ( 34 ) mounted for rotation relative to the tunnel section, the x-ray source forming part of the CT scanner subsystem and being rotatable therewith. claim 13 15. The x-ray technique-based nonintrusive inspection apparatus according to  claim 14  wherein the material includes a second component which provides the material with a strength which is stronger than lead. claim 14 16. The x-ray technique-based nonintrusive inspection apparatus according to  claim 15  wherein the second component includes tin. claim 15 17. The x-ray technique-based nonintrusive inspection apparatus according to  claim 16  wherein the material comprises about 86 percent lead, 3 percent tin, and 11 percent antimony. claim 16