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Demonstration of megavoltage and diagnostic x‐ray imaging with hydrogenated amorphous silicon arrays
Author(s) -
Antonuk Larry E.,
Boudry John,
Huang Weidong,
McShan Daniel L.,
Morton Edward J.,
Yorkston John,
Longo Michael J.,
Street Robert A.
Publication year - 1992
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 - 10.1118/1.596802
Subject(s) - materials science , flat panel , imaging phantom , amorphous silicon , detector , x ray detector , flat panel detector , medical imaging , silicon , photodiode , optics , optoelectronics , medical physics , computer science , physics , crystalline silicon , artificial intelligence
Flat‐panel imagers consisting of the first large area, self‐scanning, pixelated, solid‐state arrays made with hydrogenated amorphous silicon (a‐Si:H) are under development by the authors for applications in diagnostic x‐ray and megavoltage radiotherapy imaging. The arrays, designated by the acronym MASDA for multi‐element amorphous silicon detector array, consist of a two‐dimensional array of a‐Si:H photodiodes and thin‐film transistors and are used in conjunction with scintillating materials. Imagers utilizing MASDA arrays offer a variety of advantages over existing technologies. This article presents initial megavoltage and diagnostic‐quality x‐ray images taken with several such arrays including the first examples of anatomical‐phantom images. The external readout electronics and imaging techniques required to obtain such images are outlined, the construction, operation, and advantages of the arrays briefly reviewed, and the future potential of this new technology discussed.