ADVANCED TECHNOLOGY FLAT PANEL IMAGER FOR FLUOROSCOPY

主动矩阵平板成像仪（amfpi）自10年前首次提出以来，经历了广泛的研究和发展。因此，它们正处于广泛引入临床使用的门槛上。虽然第一代AMFPI技术比现有的商业技术具有显著的优势，但目前的AMFPI技术存在固有的局限性，严重限制了其在低曝光条件下的性能，这通常只在透视中遇到。具体来说，与系统增益相比，现有的AMFPI器件存在相对较大的附加噪声。这个问题适用于使用x射线辐射间接和直接探测入射的AMFPI设计。因此，在提出的研究中要检查的问题是：通过将基本创新纳入成像仪设计，开发大面积，先进技术，能够在所有条件下匹配或超过x射线图像增强器的性能水平并能够进行高性能放射成像的荧光amfpi是否可行？为了解决这个问题，这项拨款申请提出了一个雄心勃勃的研究计划，以调查各种创新策略，这些策略提供了“飞跃式蛙跳”AMFPI技术的承诺。通过一系列小型和大型间接和直接检测原型的迭代开发，结合创新策略，显着降低附加噪声并提高系统增益，将确定最有前途的策略，并最终在大面积，100 μ m间距，先进技术的原型成像仪中实现。这项研究的成功结论将有助于创造一种新的高度先进的成像技术，从而实现高性能的AMFPI系统。该系统将提供更高的空间分辨率和探测量子效率（DQE）性能，达到或超过现有的x射线图像增强系统，并且在所有临床条件下，DQE性能优于现有的薄膜屏幕和计算机放射成像系统。显示这些性能水平的技术的成功开发可能对数字放射学产生深远的影响。

Since their initial conception approximately 10 years ago, active- matrix flat-panel imagers (AMFPIs) have undergone extensive research and development. As a result, they are on the threshold of wide- spread introduction to clinical use. While the first generation of AMFPIs offers the promise of significant benefits over existing commercially available technologies, present AMFPI technology suffers from inherent limitations which severely restrict its performance under conditions of low exposure, as is common only encountered in fluoroscopy. Specifically, existing AMFPI devices suffer from a relatively large additive noise compared to the gain of the system. This problem applies to AMFPI designs using both indirect and direct detections of the incident by x-ray radiation. Consequently, the question to be examined in the proposed research is : ~Is it feasible, though the incorporation of fundamental innovations to imager design, to develop large area, advanced technology, fluoroscopic AMFPIs capable of performance levels matching or exceeding those of x-ray image intensifiers under all conditions and capable of very high performance radiographic imaging?~ To address this question this grant application proposes an ambitious program of research to investigate a variety of innovative strategies which offer the promise of "leap--frogging" present AMFPI technology. Through the iterative development of a series of small and large area indirect and direct detection prototypes incorporating innovative strategies to significantly reduce additive noise and enhance system gain, the most promising strategies will be identified and ultimately implemented in a large area, 100 um pitch, advanced technology prototype imager. The successful conclusion of this research will facilitate the creation of a new highly advanced imaging technology allowing the realization of very high performance AMFPI systems. Such systems would offer higher spatial resolution and detective quantum efficiency (DQE) performance matching or exceeding that of existing x-ray image intensifier systems, and DQE performance superior to existing film-screen and computed radiography systems under all clinical conditions. The successful development of a technology exhibiting these performance levels could have a profound impact on digital radiology.