Digital Radiology with High Resolution Linear X-Ray Detectors

Abstract

This chapter presents digital radiology with high-resolution linear X-ray detectors. Conventional X-ray imaging systems are based on radiographic films or X-ray image intensifier/TV camera assemblies. These conventional systems have operational limitations: films are not useful for real time imaging and have a limited dynamic range. The image intensifier systems are limited by field diameter, geometrical distortion, and dynamic range. Linear X-ray detectors are good candidates for solving several of these limitations and for producing X-ray digital images. Linear X-ray detectors produce X-ray images line by line as a narrow fan beam scans the object to be imaged. A video signal is generated line by line in digital format. A digital frame buffer stores the lines sequentially to produce a two-dimensional image. Solid-state linear X-ray detectors are an attractive technology for X-ray digital imaging. They allow inspection of objects transported at high speed by a conveyor belt (up to 1 m/s). Large field size, lack of scattered radiation in the object, wide detection dynamic range, direct digital output, and visualization in high contrast ratio are some of the advantages of linear X-ray detectors.