• Progress in Medical Physics
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• v.19 no.1
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• pp.63-72
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• 2008

With recent advancement of the medical imaging systems and picture archiving and communication system (PACS), installation of digital radiography has been accelerated over past few years. Moreover, Computed Radiography (CR) which was well established for the foundation of digital x-ray imaging systems at low cost was widely used for clinical applications. This study analyzes imaging characteristics for two systems with different pixel sizes through the Modulation Transfer Function (MTF), Noise Power Spectrum (NPS) and Detective Quantum Efficiency (DQE). In addition, influence of radiation dose to the imaging characteristics was also measured by quantitative assessment. A standard beam quality RQA5 based on an international electro-technical commission (IEC) standard was used to perform the x-ray imaging studies. For the results, the spatial resolution based on MTF at 10% for Agfa CR system with I.P size of $8{\times}10$ inches and $14{\times}17$ inches was measured as 3.9 cycles/mm and 2.8 cycles/mm, respectively. The spatial resolution based on MTF at 10% for Fuji CR system with I.P size of $8{\times}10$ inches and $14{\times}17$ inches was measured as 3.4 cycles/mm and 3.2 cycles/mm, respectively. There was difference in the spatial resolution for $14{\times}17$ inches, although radiation dose does not effect to the MTF. The NPS of the Agfa CR system shows similar results for different pixel size between $100{\mu}m$ for $8{\times}10$ inch I.P and $150{\mu}m$ for $14{\times}17$ inch I.P. For both systems, the results show better NPS for increased radiation dose due to increasing number of photons. DQE of the Agfa CR system for $8{\times}10$ inch I.P and $14{\times}17$ inch I.P resulted in 11% and 8.8% at 1.5 cycles/mm, respectively. Both systems show that the higher level of radiation dose would lead to the worse DQE efficiency. Measuring DQE for multiple factors of imaging characteristics plays very important role in determining efficiency of equipment and reducing radiation dose for the patients. In conclusion, the results of this study could be used as a baseline to optimize imaging systems and their imaging characteristics by measuring MTF, NPS, and DQE for different level of radiation dose.

• Journal of Biomedical Engineering Research
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• v.28 no.2
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• pp.300-305
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• 2007

In this study, we have studied the fabrication and the performance evaluation of digital radiation detector of the based on selenium (a-Se) prototype which is widely researched about recently. The detector was fabricated using amorphous selenium in the specification of active area size $7{\times}8.5"$, pixel pitch $139{\mu}m$, and 12 bit ADC. In order for the performance evaluation of the fabricated detector, we used radiation quality RQA 5 that is suggested by the International Electrotechnical Commission (IEC), and evaluated modulation transfer function (MTF), noise power spectrum (NPS), and detective quantum efficiency (DQE). Concerning MTF measurement, we used slit camera (Nuclear Associates, Model : 07-624-2222), and evaluated in the slit method. Also so as to compare the performance evaluation on the detector fabricated in this study, we used Hologic Direct-Ray (DR-1000) and GE Revolution XQ/I system, and evaluated and compared in the same method MTF, NPS, and DQE which are image quality factors. And as a result, the MTF of each detector In Nyquist frequency were evaluated to be 58% (at 3.5 lp/mm) in the case of DR-1000 and 65% (at 2.5 lp/mm) in the case of XQ/I, and that for the detector fabricated in this study was evaluated to be 36% (at 3.51 lp/mm). Also in the case of DQE(0), the detector fabricated in this study, DR-1000 of Hologic company, and XQ/I system of GE company respectively were evaluated as 36%, 32%, and 50%.

• Journal of Biomedical Engineering Research
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• v.28 no.6
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• pp.756-767
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• 2007

For the combination of phosphor screens having various thicknesses and a photodiode array manufactured by complementary metal-oxide-semiconductor (CMOS) process, we report the observation of image-quality degradation under the irradiation of 45-kVp spectrum x rays. The image quality was assessed in terms of dark pixel signal, dynamic range, modulation-transfer function (MTF), noise-power spectrum (NPS), and detective quantum efficiency (DQE). For the accumulation of the absorbed dose, the radiation-induced increase both in dark signal and noise resulted in the gradual reduction in dynamic range. While the MTF was only slightly affected by the total ionizing dose, the noise power in the case of $Min-R^{TM}$ screen, which is the thinnest one among the considered screens in this study, became larger as the total dose was increased. This is caused by incomplete correction of the dark current fixed-pattern noise. In addition, the increase tendency in NPS was independent of the spatial frequency. For the cascaded model analysis, the additional noise source is from direct absorption of x-ray photons. The change in NPS with respect to the total dose degrades the DQE. However, with carefully updated and applied correction, we can overcome the detrimental effects of increased dark current on NPS and DQE. This study gives an initial motivation that the periodic monitoring of the image-quality degradation is an important issue for the long-term and healthy use of digital x-ray imaging detectors.

• Proceedings of the Korean Society of Medical Physics Conference
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• 2002.09a
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• pp.385-388
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• 2002

We measured and evaluated digital, pre-sampling and overall imaging properties (characteristic curves, Modulation Transfer Function (MTF), Wiener spectra (WS), Noise Equivalent Quanta (NEQ) and Detective Quantum Efficiency (DQE)) for the direct type and indirect type of Flat-Panel Detector (FPD). First, the digital and overall characteristic curves of the both types of FPD had more wide dynamic range than that of the S/F system. Second, the pre-sampling and overall MTF of the direct-type FPD were superior to those of the indirect-type FPD. Third, for identical exposures, the digital and overall WS of the direct-type FPD were similar or worse than those of the indirect-type FPD, and for larger exposure, the digital WS of the both types of FPD were smaller, but overall WS of the both types of FPD were larger. Fourth, the digital and overall NEQ and DQE of the direct-type FPD were worse than both NEQ and DQE of the indirect-type FPD at lower spatial frequencies, but were better at higher spatial frequencies.

• Journal of radiological science and technology
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• v.42 no.4
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• pp.259-263
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• 2019

This study was purpose to compare image quality of Indirect digital radiography (IDR) system by using the International electro-technical commission standard(IEC 62220-1) which were applied to IEC in medical imaging. To evaluation the analysis of Modulation transfer function(MTF) measurements edge device each angle by using edge method. In this study, Aero (Konica, Japan) which is Indirect flat panel detector(FPD) was used, the size of image receptor matrix $1994{\times}2430$ which performed 12bit processing and pixel pitch is $175{\mu}m$. In IEC standard method were applied to each angle were compared. The results of shown as LSF at $2.0^{\circ}$ and $3.0^{\circ}$ angeles. Shape is constant and shows smooth shape. The amount of data seemed reasonable and 2.19 cycles/mm and 2.01 cycles/mm at a spatial frequency of $2.0^{\circ}$ and $3.0^{\circ}$ at an MTF value of 0.1. At an MTF value of 0.5, the spatial frequencies were $2.0^{\circ}$ and 1.11 cycles/mm and 0.93 cycles/mm at an angle of $3.0^{\circ}$. This study were to evaluate MTF by setting the each $2{\sim}3^{\circ}$ each angle and to suggest the quantitative methods of measuring by using IEC.

• Journal of radiological science and technology
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• v.45 no.2
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• pp.127-134
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• 2022

In order to overcome the image quality limitations of the conventional C-arm, a flat panel detector (FPD) is used to enhance spatial resolution, detective quantum efficiency, frame rate, and dynamic range. Three-dimensional (3D) visualized information can be obtained from C-arm computed tomography (CT) equipped with an FPD, which can reduce patient discomfort and provide various medical information to health care providers by conducting procedures in the interventional procedure room without moving the patient to the CT scan room. Unlike a conventional C-arm device, a C-arm CT requires different basic safety and essential performance evaluation criteria; therefore, in this study, basic safety and essential performance evaluation criteria to protect patients, medical staff, and radiologists were derived based on International Electrotechnical Commission (IEC) standards, the Ministry of Food and Drug Safety (MFDS) standards in Korea, and the rules on the installation and operation of special medical equipment in Korea. As a result of the study, six basic safety evaluation criteria related to electrical and mechanical radiation safety (leakage current, collision protection, emergency stopping device, overheating, recovery management, and ingress of water or particulate matter into medical electrical (ME) equipment and ME systems: footswitches) and 14 essential performance evaluation criteria (accuracy of tube voltage, accuracy of tube current, accuracy of loading time, accuracy of current time product, reproducibility of radiation output, linearity and consistency in radiography, half layer value in X-ray equipment, focal size and collimator, relationship between X-ray field and image reception area, consistency of light irradiation versus X-ray irradiation, performance of the mechanical device, focal spot to skin distance accuracy, image quality evaluation, and technical characteristic of cone-beam computed tomography) were selected for a total of 20 criteria.

• Journal of radiological science and technology
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• v.45 no.5
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• pp.397-405
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• 2022

Computed radiography (CR) systems, which convert an analog signal recorded on a cassette into a digital image, combine the characteristics of analog and digital imaging systems. Compared to digital radiography (DR) systems, CR systems have presented difficulties in evaluating system performance because of their lower detective quantum efficiency, their lower signal-to-noise ratio (SNR), and lower modulation transfer function (MTF). During the step of energy-storing and reading out, a baseline offset occurs in the edge area and makes low-frequency overestimation. The low-frequency offset component in the line spread function (LSF) critically affects the MTF and other image-analysis or qualification processes. In this study, we developed the method of baseline correction using mathematical morphology to determine the LSF and MTF of CR systems accurately. We presented a baseline correction that used a morphological filter to effectively remove the low-frequency offset from the LSF. We also tried an MTF evaluation of the CR system to demonstrate the effectiveness of the baseline correction. The MTF with a 3-pixel structuring element (SE) fluctuated since it overestimated the low-frequency component. This overestimation led the algorithm to over-compensate in the low-frequency region so that high-frequency components appeared relatively strong. The MTFs with between 11- and 15-pixel SEs showed little variation. Compared to spatial or frequency filtering that eliminated baseline effects in the edge spread function, our algorithm performed better at precisely locating the edge position and the averaged LSF was narrower.

• Journal of Biomedical Engineering Research
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• v.25 no.4
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• pp.253-259
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• 2004

in this study, we developed a Monte Carlo imaging simulation code written by the visual C$\^$++/ programing language for design optimization of a digital X-ray imaging system. As a digital X-ray imaging system, we considered a Gd$_2$O$_2$S(Tb) scintillator and a photosensor array, and included a 2D parallel grid to simulate general test renditions. The interactions between X-ray beams and the system structure, the behavior of lights generated in the scintillator, and their collection in the photosensor array were simulated by using the Monte Carlo method. The scintillator thickness and the photosensor array pitch were assumed to 66$\mu\textrm{m}$ and 48$\mu\textrm{m}$, respertively, and the pixel format was set to 256 x 256. Using the code, we obtained X-ray images under various simulation conditions, and evaluated their image qualities through the calculations of SNR (signal-to-noise ratio), MTF (modulation transfer function), NPS (noise power spectrum), DQE (detective quantum efficiency). The image simulation code developed in this study can be applied effectively for a variety of digital X-ray imaging systems for their design optimization on various design parameters.

• Progress in Medical Physics
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• v.21 no.3
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• pp.239-245
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• 2010

The purpose of this study is to comprehensively compare and evaluate the characteristics of image quality for digital mammography systems which use a direct and indirect conversion detector. Three key metrics of image quality were evaluated for the direct and indirect conversion detector, the modulation transfer function (MTF), normalized noise power spectrum (NNPS), and detective quantum efficiency (DQE), which describe the resolution, noise, and signal to noise performance, respectively. DQE was calculated by using a edge phantom for MTF determination according to IEC 62220-1-2 regulation. The contrast to noise ratio (CNR) was evaluated according to guidelines offered by the Korean Institute for Accreditation of Medical Image (KIAMI). As a result, the higher MTF and DQE was measured with direct conversion detector compared to indirect conversion detector all over spatial frequency. When the average glandular dose (AGD) was the same, direct conversion detector showed higher CNR value. The direct conversion detector which has higher DQE value all over spatial frequency would provide the potential benefits for both improved image quality and lower patient dose in digital mammography system.

• The Journal of the Korea Contents Association
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• v.15 no.10
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• pp.362-373
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• 2015

This study analysed the effectiveness of aluminium(Al) filter in the added compound filtration for the removal of characteristic radiation from high atomic number material by DQE and image evaluation. 1mm Al was applied to each 0.1, 0.2, 0.3 mm copper and befere and after use were evaluated. Beam quality and DQE were tested by IEC regulations and image quality was evaluated by PSNR, MAE, MSE, CNR, SNR and qualitative analysis was performed by 7 items for resolution and contrast from chest x-ray criteria of national cancer checkup. MTF 10 and 50% were the same by 4.6, 2.54 cycle/mm and NPS, DQE, PSNR MAE, MSE, CNR, SNR and qualitative analysis were all the same or slightly better when Al was not used. PSNR is over 30dB and all significant and at the qualitative analysis, the p-value of t-test was over 0.05. The DQE and image quality evaluation have little difference between before and after use of Al filter and it is effective to use the Al filter for the reduction of skin dose by removal of characteristic radiation.