K-edge digital subtraction imaging based on a dichromatic and compact x-ray source

none11This work proposes a compact dichromatic imaging system for the application of the K-edge digital subtraction technique based on a conventional x-ray tube and a monochromator system. A quasi-monochromatic x-ray beam at the energy of iodine K-edge is produced by Bragg diffraction on a mosaic crystal. Two thin adjacent beams with energies that bracket the K-edge discontinuity are obtained fromthe diffracted beam bymeans of a proper collimation system. They are then detected using an array of Si detectors. A home-made phantom is used to study the image quality as a function of iodine concentration. Signal and signal-to-noise ratio analysis has also been performed. The results are compared with theoretical expectations.noneA. Sarnelli; A. Taibi; A. Tuffanelli; G. Baldazzi; D. Bollini; A. E. Cabal Rodriguez; M. Gombia; F. Prino; L. Ramello; E. Tomassi; M. GambacciniA. Sarnelli; A. Taibi; A. Tuffanelli; G. Baldazzi; D. Bollini; A. E. Cabal Rodriguez; M. Gombia; F. Prino; L. Ramello; E. Tomassi; M. Gambaccin

Energy resolution of a silicon detector with the RX64 ASIC designed for X-ray imaging

Results from a silicon microstrip detector coupled to the RX64 ASIC are presented. The system is capable of single photon counting in digital X-ray imaging, with foreseen applications to dual energy mammography and angiography. The main features of the detecting system are low noise (operation with threshold as low as E4 keV is possible), good spatial resolution (a pixel of 100 mm 300 mm when oriented edge-on) and good counting rate capability (up to one million counts per channel with a maximum rate of about 200 kHz per channel). The energy resolution of the system, as obtained with several fluorescence X-ray lines, is described

A silicon stripdetector coupled to the RX64 ASIC for X-ray diagnostic imaging

Firstresultsfromasiliconmicrostripdetectorwith100mmpitchcoupledtotheRX64ASICarepresented. The system is capable of single photon counting in digital X-ray imaging, with possible applications to dual energy mammography and angiography. The main features of the detecting system are low noise, good spatial resolution and high counting rate capability. The energy resolution and the conversion efficiency of the system are discussed, based on results obtained with fluorescence X-ray sources and quasi-monochromatic X-ray beams in the 8–36 keV energy range, with strips being either orthogonal or parallel to the incoming X-rays. We present also preliminary imaging results obtained with a plexiglass phantom with tiny cylindrical cavities filled with iodate solution, simulating patient vessels; in this case the X-ray beam has two components, respectively below and above the iodine K- edge at 33:17 keV

X-ray imaging with a silicon microstrip detector coupled to the RX64 ASIC

A single photon counting X-ray imaging system, with possible applications to dual energy mammography and angiography, is presented. A silicon microstrip detector with 100 μm pitch strips is coupled to RX64 ASICs, each of them including 64 channels of preamplifier, shaper, discriminator and scaler. The system has low noise, good spatial resolution and high counting rate capability. Results on energy resolution have been obtained with a fluorescence source and quasi-monochromatic X-rays beams. Preliminary images obtained with an angiographic phantom are presented

Results about imaging with silicon strips for angiography and mammography

We present results obtained with a single photon counting system consisting of 384 silicon microstrips of 100 micron pitch equipped with 6 RX64 ASICs. The ASIC includes a charge preamplifier, a shaper, a discriminator and a 20‐bit counter for each of its 64 channels. The energy resolution of the system has been measured in the range from 8 keV to 32 keV using fluorescence X‐ray lines from several targets, using either an Am‐241 source or an X‐ray tube. Then, the efficiency of the system has been determined using the specially developed quasi‐monochromatic X‐ray beams in the energy range 18–36 KeV. Good efficiency has been obtained in the edge‐on configuration, which is more suitable for the intended applications. The spatial resolution of the system has been verified using a special microfocus X‐ray tube equipped with capillaries. Finally, images of angiographic and mammographic test objects have been obtained with dual energy X‐ray beams and have then been processed with the dual energy subtraction technique. In particular, the contrast for the angiographic test object has been evaluated for different concentrations of an iodate solution injected into 1 mm and 2 mm diameter vessels. Further developments, including a double threshold version of the ASIC, are also discussed