Advanced detector technology for Digital Breast Tomosynthesis

用于数字乳腺断层合成的先进探测器技术

• 批准号: 549566-2019
• 负责人: Reznik, Alla
• 金额: $ 3.57万
• 依托单位: Lakehead University
• 依托单位国家: 加拿大
• 项目类别: Alliance Grants
• 财政年份: 2020
• 资助国家: 加拿大
• 起止时间: 2020-01-01 至 2021-12-31
• 项目状态: 已结题
• 来源: https://www.nserc-crsng.gc.ca/ase-oro/Details-Detailles_eng.asp?id=701199
• 关键词: Advanced; detector; technology; Digital; Breast

X-ray imaging detectors rely on indirect or direct conversion of x-ray quanta to an electron signal, with the indirect method most commonly on commercial systems. In this case the multi-stage conversion process begins with a scintillator converting x-ray quanta into optical photons. The optical photons in turn diffuse through a phosphor and then are converted to electrons by an array of photodiodes. In the direct method, the x-ray quanta are absorbed in a photoconductor that directly creates electron hole pairs. The electron hole pair is separated by a bias field to generate an electron signal in the imaging array. The advantages inherent in direct conversion are: (a) high spatial resolution, (b) improved dose efficiency down to the lowest required radiation exposure, and (c) the direct conversion detector system is simpler, and hence potentially more economical to manufacture since the need for separately integrated photodiodes is avoided. Applications in digital x-ray imaging that are ideal for this technology include high resolution low-dose high-resolution x-ray imaging, such Digital Breast Tomosynthesis (DBT), which is an advanced breast cancer imaging technique that has emerged to address the inconclusive nature of standard 2D mammography for a large group of patients. The goals of this NSERC Alliance Grant is to undertake material science research into a new x-ray photoconductive structure based on two different polymorphs of lead oxide (PbO) photoconductor for direct conversion x-ray detectors, and to demonstrate the technical feasibility PbO technology for DBT applications. The new technology of PbO photoconductors will achieve higher sensitivity and improved spatial resolution compared to existing commercial methods. Our innovative approach to radiation medical detector improves the diagnostic capabilities and efficiencies of cancer detection, while reducing the dose associated with radiation medical imaging. As a result, the citizens of Canada and other individuals world-wide, will benefit from high quality and radiation-safe diagnostic imaging.

X射线成像探测器依赖于X射线量子到电子信号的间接或直接转换，其中间接方法在商业系统上最常见。在这种情况下，多级转换过程开始于闪烁体将X射线量子转换成光学光子。可见光子依次扩散通过磷光体，然后由光电二极管阵列转换为电子。在直接方法中，X射线量子被吸收在直接产生电子空穴对的光电导体中。电子空穴对被偏置场分离以在成像阵列中生成电子信号。 直接转换固有的优点是：（a）高空间分辨率，（B）改进的剂量效率，直到最低所需的辐射曝光，以及（c）直接转换检测器系统更简单，并且因此潜在地制造更经济，因为避免了对单独集成的光电二极管的需要。数字X射线成像中的应用是该技术的理想选择，包括高分辨率低剂量高分辨率X射线成像，例如数字乳腺断层合成（DBT），这是一种先进的乳腺癌成像技术，它的出现是为了解决大量患者的标准2D乳腺X射线摄影的不确定性。 该NSERC联盟赠款的目标是进行材料科学研究，以一种新的X射线光电导结构为基础的两种不同的多晶型的氧化铅（PbO）光电导体直接转换X射线探测器，并证明技术可行性PbO技术DBT应用。与现有的商业方法相比，PbO光电导体的新技术将实现更高的灵敏度和更高的空间分辨率。我们创新的放射医学探测器方法提高了癌症检测的诊断能力和效率，同时降低了与放射医学成像相关的剂量。因此，加拿大公民和世界各地的其他个人将受益于高质量和辐射安全的诊断成像。