Fiber Optically Coupled Diode Array Digital Radiography System

A new type of digital radiography system of very high contrast sensitivity and spatial resolution is described which is based on the use of six linear arrays of self-scanning diodes fiber-optically coupled to a phosphor screen. The high detail of the system results from the fact that 6144 discrete diodes, 1024 per array, scan a field of view of 6 inches wide. A contrast sensitivity five times greater than film is achieved due to the high dynamic range of the diodes combined with the scatter rejection associated with the slit geometry. The entrance radiation exposure per image is 100 mR but could be reduced well below that in the future. Initial clinical experience has demonstrated the advantage of being able to display a single image over a wide range of window levels and window widths at the same time having a high contrast sensitivity in both the dark and light areas of the image. The complete digital radiograph is taken in a second, however the motion unsharpness is held to a minimum by virtue of an effective exposure time of 8 milliseconds. Applications to digital chest radiography and digital intravenous subtraction angiography in over 30 patients have shown the clinical value of this new form of radiography.© (1982) COPYRIGHT SPIE--The International Society for Optical Engineering. Downloading of the abstract is permitted for personal use only.