Hanbean Youn

Analytic Model of Energy-Absorption Response Functions in Compound X-ray Detector Materials

The absorbed energy distribution (AED) in X-ray imaging detectors is an important factor that affects both energy resolution and image quality through the Swank factor and detective quantum efficiency. In the diagnostic energy range (20-140 keV), escape of characteristic photons following photoelectric absorption and Compton scatter photons are primary sources of absorbed-energy dispersion in X-ray detectors. In this paper, we describe the development of an analytic model of the AED in compound X-ray detector materials, based on the cascaded-systems approach, that includes the effects of escape and reabsorption of characteristic and Compton-scatter photons. We derive analytic expressions for both semi-infinite slab and pixel geometries and validate our approach by Monte Carlo simulations. The analytic model provides the energy-dependent X-ray response function of arbitrary compound materials without time-consuming Monte Carlo simulations. We believe this model will be useful for correcting spectral distortion artifacts commonly observed in photon-counting applications and optimal design and development of novel X-ray detectors.

A feasibility study of digital tomosynthesis for volumetric dental imaging

We present a volumetric dental tomography method that compensates for insufficient projection views obtained from limited-angle scans. The reconstruction algorithm is based on the backprojection filtering method which employs apodizing filters that reduce out-of-plane blur artifacts and suppress high-frequency noise. In order to accompolish this volumetric imaging two volume-reconstructed datasets are synthesized. These individual datasets provide two different limited-angle scans performed at orthogonal angles. The obtained reconstructed images, using less than 15% of the number of projection views needed for a full skull phantom scan, demonstrate the potential use of the proposed method in dental imaging applications. This method enables a much smaller radiation dose for the patient compared to conventional dental tomography.

Performance characterization of microtomography with complementary metal-oxide-semiconductor detectors for computer-aided defect inspection

We developed a computer-aided defect inspection system based on computed tomography (CT). The system consists of a homemade small cone-beam CT (CBCT) system and a graphical toolbox, which is used to extract a computer-aided design (CAD) model from the CT data. In the small CBCT system, the x-ray imaging detector is based on a complementary metal-oxide-semiconductor photodiode array in conjunction with a scintillator. Imaging performance of the detector was evaluated in terms of modulation-transfer function, noise-power spectrum, and detective quantum efficiency. The tomographic imaging performance of the small CBCT system was evaluated in terms of signal-to-noise ratio and contrast-to-noise ratio. The graphical toolbox to support defect inspection incorporates various functional tools such as volume rendering, segmentation, triangular-mesh data generation, and data reduction. All the tools have been integrated in a graphical-user interface form. The developed system can provide rapid visual inspection as ...

Effect of the phosphor screen optics on the Swank noise performance in indirect-conversion x-ray imaging detectors

The optics between the scintillators and photodiode arrays of indirect-conversion x-ray imaging systems requires careful design because it can be a cause of secondary quantum sink, which reduces the detective quantum efficiency at high spatial frequencies. The aim of this study was the investigation of the effect of the optical properties of granular phosphor screens — including optical coupling materials and passivation layers in photodiode arrays — on the imaging performance of indirect-conversion x-ray imaging detectors using the Monte Carlo technique. In the Monte Carlo simulations, various design parameters were considered, such as the refractive index of the optical coupler and the passivation layer, the reflection coefficient at the screen backing, and the thickness of the optical coupler. We developed a model that describes the optical pulse-height distributions based on the depth-dependent collection efficiency obtained from the simulations. We used the model to calculate the optical Swank noise. A loss in the number of collected optical photons was inevitable owing to the introduction of intermediate optics and mismatches in the optical design parameters. However, the collection efficiency marginally affected the optical Swank factor performance. The results and methodology of this study will facilitate better designs and optimization of indirect-conversion x-ray detectors.

Signal and noise analysis of flat-panel sandwich detectors for single-shot dual-energy x-ray imaging

We have developed a novel sandwich-style single-shot (single-kV) detector by stacking two indirect-conversion flat-panel detectors for preclinical mouse imaging. In the sandwich detector structure, extra noise due to the direct x-ray absorption in photodiode arrays is inevitable. We develop a simple cascaded linear-systems model to describe signal and noise propagation in the flat-panel sandwich detector considering direct x-ray interactions. The noise-power spectrum (NPS) and detective quantum efficiency (DQE) obtained from the front and rear detectors are analyzed by using the cascaded-systems model. The NPS induced by the absorption of direct x-ray photons that are unattenuated within the photodiode layers is white in the spatial-frequency domain like the additive readout noise characteristic; hence that is harmful to the DQE at higher spatial frequencies at which the number of secondary quanta lessens. The model developed in this study will be useful for determining the optimal imaging techniques with sandwich detectors and their optimal design.

Feasibility of active sandwich detectors for single-shot dual-energy imaging

We revisit the doubly-layered sandwich detector configuration for single-shot dual-energy x-ray imaging. In order to understand its proper operation, we investigated the contrast-to-noise performance in terms of the x-ray beam setup using the Monte Carlo methods. Using a pair of active photodiode arrays coupled to phosphor screens, we have built a sandwich detector. For better spectral separation between the projection images obtained from the front and rear detectors during a single x-ray exposure, we inserted a copper sheet between two detectors. We have successfully obtained soft tissue- and bone-enhanced images for a postmortem mouse with the developed sandwich detector using weighted logarithmic subtraction, and the image quality was comparable to those achieved by the conventional kVp-switching technique. Although some problems to be mitigated for the optimal and practical use, for example, the scatter effect and image registration, are still left, the performance of the sandwich detector for single-shot dual-energy x-ray imaging is promising. We expect that the active sandwich detector will provide motion-artifact-free dual-energy images with a reasonable image quality.

Fourier Analysis of Noise Characteristics in Cone-Beam Microtomography Laboratory Scanners

Goal: We investigate the signal and noise performance of an x-ray microtomography system that incorporates a complementary metal-oxide-semiconductor flat-panel detector as a projection image receptor. Methods: Signal and noise performance is analyzed in the Fourier domain using modulation-transfer function (MTF), noise-power spectrum (NPS), and noise-equivalent number of quanta (NEQ) with respect to magnification and different convolution kernels for image reconstruction. Results: Higher magnification provides lower NPS, and thus, higher NEQ performance in the transaxial planes from microtomography. A window function capable of smoothing the ramp filter edge to below one-half of the Nyquist limit results in better performance in terms of NPS and NEQ. The characteristics of convolution kernels do not affect signal and noise performance in longitudinal planes; hence, MTF performance mainly dominates the NEQ performance. The signal and noise performances investigated in this study are demonstrated with images obtained from the contrast phantom and postmortem mouse. Conclusion: The results of our study could be helpful in developing x-ray microtomography systems based on flat-panel detectors.

X-ray interaction-induced signal and noise performances of edge-on silicon microstrip detectors for digital mammography

We are developing a silicon microstrip-array detector, which is operated in photon- counting mode, for line-scanned digital mammography. To enhance the x-ray interaction efficiency, the x-ray beam is oriented toward the edge of microstrips, known as the edge-on geometry. To pre- dict the fundamental signal and noise performances induced by x-ray interactions, we performed Monte Carlo simulations. Absorbed energy distribtuions were obtained for various tilting angles (5 to 85 degrees) in the edge-on detector geometry for a wide range of incident energies from 1 to 50 keV. Based on the energy-moments theory with the obtained absorbed energy distributions, we estimated various physical performance parameters such as the quantum absorption efficiency, the average energy deposition per interaction, and the Swank noise factor. In addition, relative accuracy and imprecision in photon-energy measurements were estimated. These analyses were extended to the typical poly-energetic mammography x-ray spectra from various target materials

Computed tomography with single-shot dual-energy sandwich detectors

Single-shot dual-energy sandwich detector can produce sharp images because of subtraction of images from two sub-detector layers, which have different thick x-ray converters, of the sandwich detector. Inspired by this observation, the authors have developed a microtomography system with the sandwich detector in pursuit of high-resolution bone-enhanced small-animal imaging. The preliminary results show that the bone-enhanced images reconstructed with the subtracted projection data are better in visibility of bone details than the conventionally reconstructed images. In addition, the bone-enhanced images obtained from the sandwich detector are relatively immune to the artifacts caused by photon starvation. The microtomography with the single-shot dual-energy sandwich detector will be useful for the high-resolution bone imaging.

Microtomography with sandwich detectors for small-animal bone imaging

An x-ray radiographic system consisting of two detectors in tandem, or a sandwich detector, can produce dual-energy image from a single-shot exposure. Subtraction of two images obtained from the two detectors can produce a sharper image through an unsharp masking effect if the two images are formed at different spatial resolutions. This is indeed possible by incorporating different thicknesses of x-ray conversion layers in the detectors. In this study, we have developed a microtomography system with a sandwich detector in pursuit of high-resolution bone-enhanced small-animal imaging. The results show that the bone-enhanced images reconstructed from the dual-energy projection data provide higher visibility of bone details than the conventionally reconstructed images. The microtomography with the single-shot dual-energy sandwich detector will be useful for the high-resolution bone-enhanced small-animal imaging.