Heidrun Steinhauser

Flat detector ghost image reduction by UV irradiation

We study flat detectors for X-ray imaging performance degradation. In cone beam C-arm-CT, memory effects have a detrimental effect on image quality. Depending on the magnitude and history of irradiance differences, detector sensitivity variations may persist for a long period of time (days) and are visible as rings upon 3D reconstruction. A new method is proposed for reducing memory effects produced in CsI:Tl based Flat Detector X-ray imaging, which is based upon trap-filling by UV-light. For experiments, a commercial detector has been modified such that UV back-lighting is accomplished. A regular LED refresh light array for reducing photodiode temporal effects is interleaved with UV LED sub-arrays of different wavelengths in the near UV range. The array irradiates the scintillator through translucent parts of the detector substrate. In order to assess the efficacy of the method, ghost images are imprinted by well-defined transitions between direct radiation and attenuated or shuttered radiation. As an advantage, the new method accomplishes ghost-prevention, either by (1) continuous trap-filling at image-synchronous UV light pulsing, or (2) by applying a single dose of UV light. As a result, ring artefacts in reconstructed 3D-images are reduced to low levels. An effective wavelength has been found and an equilibrium UV dosage could be set for effective trap-filling. The overall sensitivity of the detector increases at saturated trap-filling. It was found that with optimised detector settings, i.e. optimum saturated trap-filling, the dependence on X-ray irradiation levels is low, so that the usage of the detector and its performance is robust.