ADVANCED TECHNOLOGY FLAT PANEL IMAGER FOR FLUOROSCOPY

自大约10年前提出最初的概念以来，有源矩阵平板成像器(AMFP)经历了广泛的研究和开发。因此，它们即将广泛引入临床使用。虽然第一代AMFPI提供了比现有商业可用技术更大的好处，但目前的AMFPI技术受到固有限制，严重限制了其在低曝光条件下的性能，这只在荧光透视中才会遇到。具体地说，与系统的增益相比，现有的AMFPI设备遭受相对较大的加性噪声。这个问题适用于使用X射线辐射对入射的间接和直接检测的AMFPI设计。因此，在拟议的研究中要考虑的问题是：~通过将基本创新纳入成像器设计，开发大面积、先进的技术，能够在所有条件下达到或超过X射线图像增强器的性能水平，并能够非常高的射线成像能力，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，以调查各种创新战略，这些创新战略有望实现目前的AMFP技术的跨越式发展。通过迭代开发一系列小面积和大面积的间接和直接检测原型，采用创新的策略来显著减少加性噪声和提高系统增益，将确定最有希望的策略，并最终在大面积、100微米间距、先进技术的原型成像仪中实施。这项研究的成功完成将有助于创造一种新的高度先进的成像技术，从而实现非常高性能的AMFPI系统。这样的系统将提供与现有X射线图像增强器系统相当或超过的更高的空间分辨率和探测量子效率(DQE)性能，并且在所有临床条件下，DQE性能都优于现有的胶片屏幕和计算机放射成像系统。一项展示这些性能水平的技术的成功开发可能会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.