Novel Laser Scanning Technology for Computed Radiography

描述（由申请人提供）：本项目的目标是改善计算机放射摄影系统的尺寸、稳健性、患者吞吐量和图像质量。运营效率正日益推动行业向数字成像发展。计算机X线摄影设备通常比数字X线摄影系统便宜，但被认为提供的图像质量略低，患者吞吐量也较低。我们的技术将提供一个更紧凑和强大的系统，将解决移动的市场，以及使计算机X射线摄影，以更有效地竞争的图像质量和吞吐量的基础上，同时保持其成本优势方面的资本支出。我们建议应用一种技术，最近已经成为可用的，即垂直腔面发射激光器（VCSEL）阵列中的激光扫描源。VCSEL阵列可以单片地制造在单个芯片上，具有非常精确的间距和良好的性能均匀性。该阵列可以取代使用单个激光器和旋转镜的飞点扫描仪。这将导致更紧凑和更鲁棒的扫描仪。此外，该技术还支持行扫描操作模式。这种能力将扫描速度和图像质量之间的正常权衡转移到更有利的点。这种线扫描单元已经用分立激光器进行了演示，但是这种系统的制造具有挑战性。我们的第一阶段项目通过构建一个2.5cm扫描仪来证明这种方法的可行性，该扫描仪包括VCSEL阵列，驱动器IC和板上的透镜，并证明了每毫米分辨5线对的能力。这个拟议的第二阶段项目将建立两个全宽（35厘米）扫描仪，第一个与1005米的激光间距，第二个与505米的激光间距。这两种原型将被集成到真实的CR系统中并在其中进行评估。性能将根据MTF、SNR和DQE进行评估，并将证明其性能与现有系统相当，随后优于现有系统。 公共卫生相关性：该项目开发了一种用于计算机X射线摄影的新的激励激光扫描技术，该技术将产生一种紧凑，坚固的单元，提高效率和图像质量。一个成功的项目将产生一个具有成本效益的数字成像替代方案，同时保持高图像质量。该技术预计将特别有利于便携式单元，用于床边，诊所，甚至运送到专业护理机构，并通过显着改善扫描和数字化时间来提高操作效率。

DESCRIPTION (provided by applicant): The goal of this project is to improve the size, robustness, patient throughput and image quality of Computed Radiography systems. Operational efficiencies are increasingly driving the industry toward digital imaging. Computed radiography equipment is generally less expensive than digital radiography systems, but is perceived as offering somewhat lower image quality, and a lower patient throughput. Our technology would provide a more compact and robust system that would address the mobile market, as well as enable computed radiography to compete more effectively on an image quality and throughput basis, while maintaining its cost advantage in terms of capital expense. We propose to apply a technology that has recently become available, i.e. Vertical Cavity Surface Emitting Laser (VCSEL) arrays in the laser scanning source. VCSEL arrays can be fabricated monolithically on a single chip with a very precise spacing and good performance uniformity. The array can replace the flying spot scanners which use a single laser and a rotating mirror. This will result in a more compact and more robust scanner. In addition, the technology enables a linescan mode of operation. This ability shifts the normal trade-offs between scan speed and image quality to a more favorable point. Such linescan units have been demonstrated with discrete lasers, but the manufacturing of such systems is challenging. Our Phase I project demonstrate the feasibility of this approach by building a 2.5cm scanner which included the VCSEL array, driver I.C.s and lensing on a board, and demonstrated the ability to resolve 5 line pairs per millimeter. This proposed Phase II project will build two full width (35cm) scanners, the first with a 1005m laser pitch, and the second with a 505m laser pitch. Both prototypes will be integrated into and evaluated in real CR systems. Performance will be evaluated in terms of MTF, NPS, and DQE, and performance comparable to, and subsequently better than, existing systems will be demonstrated. PUBLIC HEALTH RELEVANCE: This project develops a new stimulating laser scanning technology for computed radiography which will result in a compact, robust unit with improved efficiency and image quality. A successful project would result in a cost-effective alternative for digital imaging, while maintaining high image quality. The technology is expected to be particularly beneficial to portable units, to be used bedside, in clinics, or even transported to skilled nursing facilities, and to improving the operational efficiency by dramatically improving scan and digitization times.