N. Kalyvas

Experimental and Theoretical Evaluation of a High Resolution CMOS Based Detector Under X-Ray Imaging Conditions

Fundamental imaging performance in terms of Modulation Transfer Function (MTF), Noise Power Spectrum (NPS) and Detective Quantum Efficiency (DQE) was investigated for a high resolution CMOS based imaging sensor. The device consists of a 33.91 mg/cm2 Gd2O2S:Tb scintillator screen, placed in direct contact with a CMOS photodiode array. The CMOS photodiode array, featuring 1200×1600 pixels with a pixel pitch of 22.5 μm, was used as an optical photon detector. In addition to the conventional frequency dependent parameters characterizing image quality, image information content was assessed through the application of information capacity (IC). The MTF was measured using the slanted-edge method to avoid aliasing while the Normalized NPS (NNPS) was determined by two-dimensional (2D) Fourier transforming of uniformly exposed images. Both measurements were performed under the representative radiation quality (RQA) settings, RQA-5 (70 kVp digital-radiography) and RQA-M2 (28 kVp digital-mammography) recommended by the International Electrotechnical Commission Reports 62220-1 and 62220-1-2 respectively. The DQE was assessed from the measured MTF, NPS and the direct entrance surface air-Kerma (ESAK) obtained from X-ray spectra measurement with a portable cadmium telluride (CdTe) detector. The ESAK values ranged between 11-87 μGy for RQA-5 and 6-40 μGy for RQA-M2. Additionally the output electrons per X-ray photon of the detector and its signal transfer characteristics were assessed via an analytical model, within the framework of the linear cascaded systems (LCS) theory. It was found that the detector response function was linear for the exposure ranges under investigation. Additionally our results showed that for the same RQA quality the output electrons per X-ray photon, as well as the measured and analytically predicted MTF, were not significantly affected by ESAK. MTF and DQE where found better compared to previously published data for other CCD and CMOS sensors, while the NNPS appeared to be comparable in the frequency range under investigation (0-10 cycles/mm).

Evaluation of the Red Emitting

The aim of the present study was to investigate the imaging transfer characteristics and the luminescence efficiency (XLE) of Gd2O2S:Eu powder scintillator for use in X-ray mammography detectors. Gd2O2S:Eu emits in the red part of the visible spectrum, having very good spectral compatibility with optical sensors employed in digital imaging systems. Three Gd2O2S:Eu powder scintillating screens, with coating thicknesses 33.1, 46.4 and 63.1 mg/cm2 , were prepared in our laboratory. The imaging performance of these screens was assessed by experimental determination of the modulation transfer function (MTF), the noise transfer function (NTF) and the detective quantum efficiency (DQE) as well as a single index image quality parameter such as the information capacity (IC). A theoretical model, describing radiation and light transfer, was used to fit experimental MTF data. This has allowed the estimation of optical attenuation coefficients of the scintillator. In addition, a previously validated Monte Carlo code, based on the X-ray attenuation properties and on the Mie light scattering theory, was used to estimate the X-ray detection efficiency, the Swank factor and the zero frequency DQE of the Gd2O2S:Eu scintillator. Results showed that Gd2O2S:Eu exhibits high MTF and DQE values, which are comparable to those of a commercially employed Gd2O2S:Tb screen. In addition Gd2O2S:Eu shows high compatibility (effective gain) to CCDs and to recently introduced CMOS based detectors. Considering our image quality parameters and luminescence efficiency results, this material can potentially be considered for use in digital X-ray mammography detectors.

{\rm Gd}_{2}{\rm O}_{2}{\rm S}\!\!:\!\!{\rm Eu}

Dual energy methods can suppress the contrast between adipose and glandular tissues in the breast and therefore enhance the visibility of calcifications. In this study, a dual energy method based on analytical modeling was developed for the detection of minimum microcalcification thickness. To this aim, a modified radiographic X-ray unit was considered, in order to overcome the limited kVp range of mammographic units used in previous DE studies, combined with a high resolution CMOS sensor (pixel size of 22.5 μm) for improved resolution. Various filter materials were examined based on their K-absorption edge. Hydroxyapatite (HAp) was used to simulate microcalcifications. The contrast to noise ratio (CNRtc) of the subtracted images was calculated for both monoenergetic and polyenergetic X-ray beams. The optimum monoenergetic pair was 23/58 keV for the low and high energy, respectively, resulting in a minimum detectable microcalcification thickness of 100 μm. In the polyenergetic X-ray study, the optimal spectral combination was 40/70 kVp filtered with 100 μm cadmium and 1000 μm copper, respectively. In this case, the minimum detectable microcalcification thickness was 150 μm. The proposed dual energy method provides improved microcalcification detectability in breast imaging with mean glandular dose values within acceptable levels.

Powder Scintillator for Use in Indirect X-Ray Digital Mammography Detectors

During the last decades, radiation protection and dosimetry in medical X-ray imaging practice has been extensively studied. The purpose of this study was to measure secondary radiation in a conventional radiographic room, in terms of ambient dose rate equivalent H*(10) and its dependence on the radiographic exposure parameters such as X-ray tube voltage, tube current and distance. With some exceptions, the results indicated that the scattered radiation was uniform in the space around the water cylindrical phantom. The results also showed that the tube voltage and filtration affect the dose rate due to the scatter radiation. Finally, the scattered X-ray energy distribution was experimentally calculated.

Dual Energy Method for Breast Imaging: A Simulation Study.

Breast microcalcifications are mainly composed of calcite (CaCO3), calcium oxalate (CaC2O4) and apatite (a calcium-phosphate mineral form). Any pathologic alteration (carcinogenesis) of the breast may produce apatite. In the present simulation study, an analytical model was implemented in order to distinguish malignant and non-malignant lesions. The Calcium/Phosphorus (Ca/P) mass ratio and the standard deviation (SD) of the calcifications were calculated. The size of the calcifications ranged from 100 to 1000 μm, in 50 μm increments. The simulation was performed for hydroxyapatite, calcite and calcium oxalate calcifications. The optimum pair of energies for all calcifications was 22keV and 50keV. Hydroxyapatite and calcite calcifications were sufficiently characterized through their distinct confidence interval (99.7%, 3SD) values for calcifications sizes above 500 μm, while the corresponding sizes for hydroxyapatite and calcium oxalate characterization were found above 250 μm. Initial computer simulation results indicate that the proposed method can be used in breast cancer diagnosis, reducing the need for invasive methods, such as biopsies.

Measuring scatter radiation in diagnostic X rays for radiation protection purposes

Powder phosphors scintillators are used in indirect digital radiography as x-ray to light converters coupled to electronic optical sensors (photodiodes, CCDs, CMOS). Recently, nanophosphors have been reported to have enhanced luminescence efficiency. The purpose of the present study was to evaluate Lu2O3:Eu nanophosphor as a candidate for digital medical imaging applications. Lu2O3:Eu was employed in the form of a 30.2 mg/cm2 powder screen with 50 nm grain size and 5% Eu concentration. Both the nanophosphor material and the screen were prepared in our laboratories. Parameters such as the Absolute Efficiency-AE (light energy flux over exposure rate), the Luminescence Efficiency- XLE (Light energy flux over incident x-ray energy flux), Detector Quantum Gain-DQG (optical quanta emitted per incident x-ray quantum) and the light spectral compatibility to electronic optical sensors (Effective Efficiency) were investigated under x-ray excitation in the radiographic energy range. Results were compared with previously published data for a 33.1 mg/cm2 Gd2O2S:Eu conventional phosphor screen. It was found that Lu2O3:Eu nanophosphor has higher AE and XLE by a factor of 1.32 and 1.37 on average, respectively, in the whole radiographic energy range. DQG was also found higher in the energy range from 50 kVp to 100 kVp and comparable thereafter. Effective efficiency was found with high values for electronic optical sensors such as CCDs and CMOS, due to the high spectral compatibility with the upper visible wavelength range. These results indicate that Lu2O3:Eu nanophosphor could potentially be considered for applications in digital x-ray radiography detectors.

Modeling of the Calcium/Phosphorus Mass ratio for Breast Imaging

The influence of the grain shape and size on spatial resolution (ranging from nano to micro scale) of various Lu2O3:Eu phosphor screens was investigated. All screens were prepared using the sedimentation method. Three screens were prepared with spherical grains and sizes 50 nm, 200 nm and 5 μm, whilst two screens with rod-like shape grains and sizes 500 nm and 1-8 μm. All screens were coupled to a high resolution CMOS digital imaging sensor (Remote RadEye HR) consisting of 1200 x 1600 pixels with 22.5 μm pixel pitch. Experiments were performed under radiographic conditions, using 70 kVp tube voltage and 63 mAs tube load. Spatial resolution was assessed utilizing the Modulation Transfer Function (MTF). It was found that the influence of the grains shape on imaging performance was more crucial than the grain size. The rod-like grains showed very poor spatial resolution. The influence of grains size between 50 nm 200 nm and 5 μm was negligible on MTF values.

Light emission efficiency of Lu2O3:Eu nanophosphor scintillating screen under x-ray radiographic conditions

Quantum Dots are semiconductor nanocrystals, with their optical properties controlled by their size, shape and material composition. The aim of the present study is to examine the scintillation properties of Manganese Doped Zinc Sulfide (ZnS:Mn 2+) Quantum Dot (QDs) nanocrystals under UV and X-ray irradiation. ZnS:Mn 2+ Quantum Dots, with typical diameter of ZnS dots of 13-20nm (also called scintillation QDs, stQDs), were developed and acquired by Mesolight Inc. The initial stQD sample was a solution of 75mg of ZnS:Mn 2+ dissolved in 100μL of Toluene, having a concentration of 75% w/v. Emission characteristics under UV and X-Ray excitation were examined. Two ultraviolet sources were incorporated (315 nm and 365 nm) as well as a medical X-ray tube with tube voltage from 50 to 130 kVp. Parameters such as Energy Quantum Efficiency under UV excitation and Luminescence Efficiency-LE (light energy flux over exposure rate) under X-ray excitation were examined. Luminescence Efficiency (LE) of ZnS:Mn 2+ was higher than that exhibited by previously examined QDs, (ZnCdSeS:ZnS and ZnCuInS:ZnS). The ability of ZnS:Mn 2+ to transform UV photons energy into optical photons energy, tends to increase while the incident UV wavelength decreases. Energy Quantum Efficiency of the sample exhibited a 6% increase when exposed to 315nm UV light compared to 365 nm. The emission spectrum of the stQDs, exhibited a narrow peak (~585nm) in the yellow range.

X-ray imaging resolution of phosphor screens prepared with different grains size and shape of granular Lu2O3:Eu

OBJECTIVE The aim of the present study was to propose a comprehensive method for positron emission tomography (PET) scanners image quality assessment, by simulation of a thin layer chromatography (TLC) flood source with a previously validated Monte Carlo model. METHODS AND MATERIALS We used the GATE Monte Carlo package (GEANT4 application for tomographic emission) and the reconstructed images were obtained using the software for tomographic image reconstruction (STIR), with cluster computing. The PET scanner used in this simulation study was the General Electric Discovery-ST (USA). The plane source that was used for the image quality assessment was a TLC plate, consisting of an aluminum (Al) foil, coated with a thin layer of silica and immersed in fluorodeoxyglucose (18F-FDG) bath solution (1 MBq). The influence of different scintillating crystals on PET scanners image quality, in terms of the modulation transfer function (MTF), the normalized noise power spectrum (NNPS) and the detective quantum efficiency (DQE), were also investigated. Modulation transfer function was estimated from transverse slices of the plane source, whereas the NNPS from the corresponding coronal slices. Images were reconstructed by the commonly used 2D filtered back projection (FBP2D), the Kinahan and Rogers FPB3DRP and the maximum likelihood estimation (MLE)-OSMAPOSL algorithms. Images obtained using the OSMAPOSL algorithm were assessed by using 15 subsets and 3 iterations. RESULTS The PET scanner configuration, equipped with LuAP crystals, exhibited the optimum MTF values in both 2D and 3D FBP image reconstruction, whereas the corresponding configuration with BGO crystals exhibited the optimum MTF values after the iterative algorithm. The scanner equipped with the BGO crystals was also found to exhibit overall the lowest noise levels and the highest DQE values after algorithms. These finding indicate that the GE Discovery ST PET scanner exhibits the optimum image quality parameters, in terms of MTF, NNPS and DQE, with BGO scintillating crystals. CONCLUSION Our new method showed that the imaging performance of PET scanners can be fully characterized and further improved by investigation of the imaging chain components through Monte Carlo methods. To this aim, a TLC based plane source was used during the simulation, in order to assess the impact of the scintillating crystal material on PET image quality, with the application of a previously validated Monte Carlo model. The aforementioned plane source can be also useful for the further development of PET and SPET scanners through GATE simulations, for clinical applications.

Preliminary Study of ZnS:Mn2+ Quantum Dots Response Under UV and X-Ray Irradiation

The aim of the present work was to demonstrate the fabrication technique for semitransparent layers of nanoparticulated (~50 nm) LuPO4:15%Eu phosphors. Furthermore, to present their basic luminescent properties and provide results regarding their performance in a planar imaging system incorporating a CMOS photodetector. Parameters such as the Detective Quantum Efficiency (DQE), the Normalized Noise Power Spectrum (NNPS) and the Modulation Transfer Function (MTF), were investigated. The NNPS was found to present significantly higher values near the zero frequency for the 67 μm, 100 μm films, pointing on their higher non uniformities compared to the 220 and 460 μm films For the two thickest films (460 μm and 220 μm) the MTF curves practically do not differ, while MTFs for the thinner layers of 100 μm and 67 μm are higher as the layer’s thickness decreases. The higher DQE values observed for the 220 μm and 460 μm films up to medium frequencies, while at high frequencies the DQE values are comparable. Although the MTF values of these films are much lower than the thinner screens, the capability of the higher x-ray absorption, in conjunction with the low noise properties, lead to higher DQE values. The LuPO4:Eu semitransparent films seems to be a very promising scintillator for stationary x-ray imaging. The acquired data allow to predict that high-temperature sintering of our films under pressure may help to improve their imaging quality, since such a processing should increase the luminescence efficiency without significant growth of the grains, and thus without sacrificing their translucent character.