High-dynamic-range pixel architectures for diagnostic medical imaging

Abstract

One approach to increase pixel signal-to-noise ratio (SNR) in low noise digital fluoroscopy is to employ in-situ pixel amplification via current-mediated active pixel sensors (C-APS). Experiments reveal a reduction in readout noise and indicate that an a-Si C-APS, coupled together with an established X-ray detection technology such as amorphous selenium (a-Se), can meet the stringent requirements (of < 1000 noise electrons) for digital X-ray fluoroscopy. A challenge with the C-APS circuit is the presence of a small-signal input linearity constraint. While using such a pixel amplifier for real-time fluoroscopy (where the exposure level is small) is feasible, the voltage change at the amplifier input is much higher in chest radiography or mammography due to the larger X-ray exposure levels. The larger input voltage causes the C-APS output to be non-linear thus reducing the pixel dynamic range. In addition, the resulting larger pixel output current causes the external column amplifier to saturate further reducing the pixel dynamic range. In this research, we investigate two alternate amplified pixel architectures that exhibit higher dynamic range. The test pixels are designed and simulated using an a-Si TFT model implemented in Verilog-A and results indicate a linear performance, high dynamic range, and a programmable circuit gain via choice of supply voltage and sampling time. These high dynamic range pixel architectures have the potential to enable a large area, active matrix flat panel imager (AMFPI) to switch instantly between low exposure, fluoroscopic imaging and higher exposure radiographic imaging modes. Lastly, the high dynamic range pixel circuits are suitable for integration with on-panel multiplexers for both gate and data lines, which can further reduce circuit complexity.