Novel Laser Scanning Technology for Computed Radiography

描述（由申请人提供）：该项目的目标是提高计算机放射成像系统的尺寸，鲁棒性，患者吞吐量和图像质量。运营效率日益推动着行业向数字成像发展。计算机放射照相设备通常比数字放射照相系统便宜，但被认为提供的图像质量较低，患者吞吐量较低。我们的技术将提供一个更紧凑和强大的系统，以解决移动市场的问题，并使计算机放射照相在图像质量和吞吐量的基础上更有效地竞争，同时保持其在资本支出方面的成本优势。我们建议在激光扫描源中应用一种新近出现的技术，即垂直腔面发射激光（VCSEL）阵列。VCSEL阵列可以在单个芯片上单片制作，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激光和旋转镜的飞点扫描仪。这将导致一个更紧凑和更强大的扫描仪。此外，该技术还支持直线扫描操作模式。这种能力将扫描速度和图像质量之间的正常权衡转移到一个更有利的点。这种直线扫描单元已经用离散激光器进行了演示，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2.5厘米的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，并展示了每毫米解析5对线的能力。拟议的第二期项目将建造两个全宽（35厘米）扫描仪，第一个具有1005m激光间距，第二个具有505m激光间距。这两种原型都将集成到实际的CR系统中并进行评估。性能将根据MTF、NPS和DQE进行评估，性能将与现有系统相媲美，并随后优于现有系统。

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.