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MO‐B‐I‐618‐01: Recent Advances and State‐Of‐The‐Art in Screen‐Film Receptors and Film Processing
Author(s) -
Dickerson R
Publication year - 2005
Publication title -
medical physics
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.473
H-Index - 180
eISSN - 2473-4209
pISSN - 0094-2405
DOI - 10.1118/1.1998222
Subject(s) - optical transfer function , image quality , imaging phantom , materials science , image resolution , medical imaging , coating , computer science , optics , computed radiography , medical physics , biomedical engineering , medicine , artificial intelligence , nanotechnology , physics , image (mathematics)
Purpose: This presentation discusses recent advances in film/screen radiography. These include a high‐resolution high‐contrast film/screen system for mammography, as well as a high‐speed high‐resolution film/screen system that provides improved image quality and opportunities for dose reduction, compared to an existing state‐of‐the‐art, general purpose film/screen system. A description of the technical aspects and system design of these new systems is given. The new film features novel silver‐halide microcrystals and is dual coated using a split E‐layer coating format featuring gradient crossover control. Without sacrificing image quality, the new system can be exposed with existing intensifying screens and provides significant dose reductions. Method and Materials: This paper describes details of the system's design and performance. The film includes: 1) a dual‐layer coating structure that provides high‐speed and high‐resolution imaging of chest and orthopedic imaging; 2) high sensitivity silver‐halide microcrystals that provide high contrast and high resolution. Modulation transfer function (MTF) measurements were used to describe the resolution of various film/screen combinations using this new radiographic film and they are compared to existing state‐of‐the‐art film/screen systems. Results: Inverse square sensitometry and MTF measurements, as well as phantom and clinical radiographs using this new film/screen system, demonstrate several benefits. A significant dose reduction is possible without reducing image quality by using standard intensifying screens. In addition, significant image quality improvements are possible in orthopedic imaging using high‐resolution extremity‐intensifying screens at conventional radiation doses. Conclusions: We have designed, built, and implemented a novel film/screen system for general‐purpose radiography that provides high‐resolution images with a potential for dose reduction or MTF improvement. Initial clinical evaluation of the system demonstrates a 2X reduction in dose without sacrificing image quality. In addition, significant resolution improvements are possible at the conventional radiation doses.