Film Processing Quality Research Articles

The CO2 laser parameter optimization design and practical verification for a touch panel conductive film

This study investigated the touch panel conductive film processing quality by using a CO2 laser system. The processing material chooses ethylene terephthalate with a size of 10cm×4cm. Experimental results measuring the three characteristics included line width, heat-affected zone and bump height. It further analyzed the relationship between the control parameters of a CO2 laser cutting system and the quality characteristics. First, the orthogonal array in the Taguchi Method was applied to plan the experiment. The signal noise ratio (S/N) of the quality characteristics was calculated according to data obtained from the experiments. Second, data were pre-processed using the gray relation method and the processed data showed a relationship between the control parameters and various quality characteristics. Next, the fuzzy inference system was applied to solve the multiple quality characteristics to determine the optimal solution and the combinations of the optimal multiple laser control parameters. Moreover, the Back-Propagation Neural Networks (BPNN) with the Levenberg–Marquardt algorithm was applied to construct a prediction system and simulate experimental results. Finally, the optimal solution was experimentally verified. The results showed that the prediction error rate was within 5%, proving that the proposed prediction system can effectively predict the laser processing of transparent conductive film.

Assessing the quality of radiographic processing in general dental practice

To determine if a commercial device (Vischeck) for monitoring film processing quality was a practical option in general dental practice, and to assess processing quality among a group of GDPs in the West Midlands with this device. Clinical evaluation. General dental practice, UK, 2004. Ten GDP volunteers from a practice based research group processed Vischeck strips (a) when chemicals were changed, (b) one week later, and (c) immediately before the next change of chemicals. These were compared with strips processed under ideal conditions. Additionally, a series of duplicate radiographs were produced and processed together with Vischeck strips in progressively more dilute developer solutions to compare the change in radiograph quality assessed clinically with that derived from the Vischeck. The Vischeck strips suggested that at the time chosen for change of processing chemicals, eight dentists had been processing films well beyond the point indicated for replacement. Solutions were changed after a wide range of time periods and number of films processed. The calibration of the Vischeck strip correlated closely to a clinical assessment of acceptable film quality. Vischeck strips are a useful aid to monitoring processing quality in automatic developers in general dental practice. Most of this group of GDPs were using chemicals beyond the point at which diagnostic yield would be affected.

Radiographic processing in general dental practice

ObjectivesTo determine if a commercial device (Vischeck) for monitoring film processing quality was a practical option in general dental practice, and to assess processing quality among a group of GDPs in the West Midlands with this device.DesignClinical evaluation.SettingGeneral dental practice, UK, 2004.MethodTen GDP volunteers from a practice based research group processed Vischeck strips (a) when chemicals were changed, (b) one week later, and (c) immediately before the next change of chemicals. These were compared with strips processed under ideal conditions. Additionally, a series of duplicate radiographs were produced and processed together with Vischeck strips in progressively more dilute developer solutions to compare the change in radiograph quality assessed clinically with that derived from the Vischeck.ResultsThe Vischeck strips suggested that at the time chosen for change of processing chemicals, eight dentists had been processing films well beyond the point indicated for replacement. Solutions were changed after a wide range of time periods and number of films processed. The calibration of the Vischeck strip correlated closely to a clinical assessment of acceptable film quality.ConclusionsVischeck strips are a useful aid to monitoring processing quality in automatic developers in general dental practice. Most of this group of GDPs were using chemicals beyond the point at which diagnostic yield would be affected.

SU‐FF‐I‐27: The Effects of Fog On the Detectability of Radiographic Signals

Purpose: To evaluate the effects of fog on the detectability of radiographic signals. Method and Materials: The effects of added fog on a general‐purpose medical radiographic film were quantitatively evaluated in terms of threshold signal detectability using the CDRAD phantom under general radiographic conditions. Six observers evaluated threshold detectability within this phantom's uniformly exposed background at 36 combinations of x‐ray exposure and added fog. Additionally, the visibility of faint radiographic signals was visually assessed by experienced observers for 20 different film brands, using an aluminum step wedge as a background for faint signals. These 20 films span a wide range of contrast and speed. Results: In all instances, adding background fog to radiographic film samples had minimal effect or improved the subjectively perceived and CDRAD phantom‐assessed detectability of faint signals. Conclusion: The threshold detectability of radiographic films is not very sensitive to added fog level under the broad experimental conditions used. However, many current regulations and guidances prescribe very small tolerances within which fog should be maintained, sometimes as small as 0.03 in optical density. These data indicate that fog should be considered as a simple issue of meeting a radiologist's preference, and fog is not appropriate as a strictly proscribed performance specification. However, one may use short‐term fog changes, assessed using a properly stored single box of film, as an indictor of potential film processing quality control problems. Conflict of Interest: The author is an employee of the Eastman Kodak Company.

Nationwide Evaluation of X-ray Trends survey of abdomen and lumbosacral spine radiography.

Results of the 1995 Nationwide Evaluation of X-ray Trends (NEXT) survey of facilities that perform diagnostic radiographic examinations of the abdomen and lumbosacral spine were compared with those of previous NEXT surveys conducted in 1987 and 1989. A clinically validated radiographic phantom was used in the 1995 survey to capture data about radiation exposure and image quality. Additional data were obtained regarding clinical techniques, facility workloads, x-ray beam quality, film processing quality, and darkroom fog. Mean skin-entrance air kerma for the abdomen examination dropped from 3.2 mGy (in 1987) to 2.8 mGy at hospitals and from 3.4 mGy (in 1989) to 3.0 mGy at nonhospital facilities. Mean skin-entrance air kerma also decreased for the lumbosacral spine examination from 3.7 mGy (in 1987) to 3.3 mGy at hospitals and from 3.8 mGy (in 1989) to 3.2 mGy at nonhospital facilities. The quality of film processing improved, although 58 (18.3%) of 317 surveyed facilities did not meet the Mammography Quality Standards Act standard for film processing quality, compared with 185 (5.9%) of 3,120 mammography facilities inspected in 1995. Finally, 181 (58.0%) of 312 surveyed facilities had darkroom fog levels greater than the Mammography Quality Standards Act standard, compared with 1,426 (16.6%) of 8,605 mammography facilities inspected in 1995.

RADIOGRAPHIC TRENDS OF DENTAL OFFICES AND DENTAL SCHOOLS

A survey of private practice facilities in the United States that perform dental radiography was conducted in 1993 and repeated in dental schools in 1995-1996. Both surveys were conducted as part of the Nationwide Evaluation of X-ray Trends, or NEXT, survey program. A representative sample of dental facilities from each participating state were surveyed, and data on patient radiation exposure, radiographic technique, film-image quality, film-processing quality and darkroom fog were collected. The authors found that dental schools use E-speed film more frequently than do private practice facilities. The use of E-speed film and better film processing by dental schools resulted in lower patient radiation exposures without sacrificing image quality. The authors also found that dental school darkrooms had lower ambient fog levels than did those of private practice facilities. The distribution for the 1993 NEXT survey facilities was greater than that observed for dental schools for radiation exposure, film-processing quality and darkroom fog. Dental schools, in general, had better film quality and lower radiation exposures than did private practice facilities. Facilities need to emphasize better quality processing and the use of E-speed film to reduce patient exposure and improve image quality.