ADVANCED TECHNOLOGY FLAT PANEL IMAGER FOR FLUOROSCOPY

自大约10年前有源矩阵平板成像器（AMFPI）的最初概念以来，已经经历了广泛的研究和开发。 因此，它们即将被广泛引入临床使用. 虽然第一代AMFPI提供了优于现有市售技术的显著益处的前景，但目前的AMFPI技术存在固有的局限性，这些局限性严重限制了其在低曝光条件下的性能，这在荧光透视中很常见。 具体地，现有AMFPI设备与系统的增益相比遭受相对大的加性噪声。这个问题适用于AMFPI设计使用间接和直接检测的入射x射线辐射。 因此，在拟议的研究中要检查的问题是：~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非常高性能的射线照相成像的荧光AMFPI是否可行？~ 为了解决这个问题，本基金申请提出了一项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“跨越式”目前AMFPI技术的承诺。通过一系列小面积和大面积间接和直接检测原型的迭代开发，结合创新策略，以显着降低加性噪声和提高系统增益，最有前途的策略将被确定，并最终在大面积，100 um间距，先进技术的原型成像器中实施。 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，允许实现非常高性能的AMFPI系统。这样的系统将提供匹配或超过现有X射线图像增强器系统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性能上级现有的胶片-屏幕和计算机射线照相系统。 展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.