Micro-probe for medical radiation imaging based on Medipix2 detector

Abstract

For medical imaging applications the emphasis is generally put on obtaining high resolution and low dose images of samples or patients. All this features can be covered by using the single photon counting devices like Medipix and advanced techniques of image reconstruction. In case that intra-operative approach is advantageous, like in direct observation of dental implants, also the size of the imaging device itself plays critical role. Therefore we manufactured the miniaturized version of currently used USB interface accommodating also the Medipix2 chip itself on the same printed circuit board. The dimensions of the whole imaging device are reduced to 15 mm × 60 mm (which means that 25 % out of the total device size is actually sensitive area). Detector of this size can easily fit directly into the patients' mount. This so-called USB Lite device includes all circuits necessary for detector operation including high voltage source for detector biasing and it is fully powered from the USB bus itself. The measurements using the commercial dental imaging X-ray tube is presented and compared to the imaging plate.