Active dual-energy x-ray detector: experimental characterization

Robert E. Alvarez; James Anthony Seibert; Thomas F. Poage

doi:10.1117/12.274011

2 May 1997 Active dual-energy x-ray detector: experimental characterization

Robert E. Alvarez, James Anthony Seibert, Thomas F. Poage

Proceedings Volume 3032, Medical Imaging 1997: Physics of Medical Imaging; (1997) https://doi.org/10.1117/12.274011
Event: Medical Imaging 1997, 1997, Newport Beach, CA, United States

Abstract

We have developed a new, active detector for dual energy computed radiography. The active detector consists of a computer controlled x-ray generator that produces two, fast voltage switched x-ray pulses, with the high voltage pulse first. An image acquisition unit contains two storage phosphor screens arranged in a 'sandwich'. The screen nearest the x-ray tube is in an optical chamber coupled to high intensity flashlamps. These lamps produce a short duration light pulse during the inter-exposure period that erases the high voltage x-ray data from the front screen but not from the back screen. The active detector is thus able to acquire the high and low voltage images fast enough to minimize patient motion artifacts with no mechanical motion of the storage phosphor screens. The voltage switched x-ray spectra are much better conditioned for dual energy image processing than the effective spectra produced by conventional, single exposure 'sandwich' detectors. The processed dual energy images with the active detector have much lower noise for the same patient dose as single exposure detectors. We experimentally characterized the performance of the active detector and show initial human subject images. We measured the following parameters: (1) speed of tow exposure image acquisition, and (2) repeatability of x-ray spectra and flux. We characterized the imaging performance by making images of a chest phantom with our detector and a conventional sandwich detector using the same incident exposure. Finally, we show a chest image of a human subject.

Citation Download Citation

Robert E. Alvarez, James Anthony Seibert, and Thomas F. Poage "Active dual-energy x-ray detector: experimental characterization", Proc. SPIE 3032, Medical Imaging 1997: Physics of Medical Imaging, (2 May 1997); https://doi.org/10.1117/12.274011

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