High Resolution Imaging System

Abstract

New sensors, pixel detectors and different embodiments of multi-channel integrated circuit are disclosed. The new high energy and spatial resolution sensors use solid state detectors. Each channel or pixel of the readout chip employs low noise preamplifier at its input followed by other circuitry. The different embodiments of the sensors, detectors and the integrated circuit are designed to produce high energy and / or spatial resolution two-dimensional and three-dimensional imaging for different applications. Some of these applications may require fast data acquisition, some others may need ultra high energy resolution, and a separate portion may require very high contrast. The embodiments described herein addresses these issues and also other issues that may be useful in two and three dimensional medical and industrial imaging. The applications of the new sensors, detectors and integrated circuits addresses a broad range of applications such as medical and industrial imaging, NDE and NDI, security, baggage scanning, astrophysics, nuclear physics and medicine.

Description

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION[0001]This application is a divisional of U.S. patent application Ser. No. 11 / 090,123, filed on Mar. 28, 2005. U.S. patent application Ser. No. 11 / 090,123 claims the benefit of U.S. Provisional Application Ser. No. 60 / 556,507 filed on Mar. 26, 2004, entitled HIGH RESOLUTION IMAGING SYSTEM. The afore-mentioned application is hereby incorporated by reference herein in its entirety, including but not limited to those portions that specifically appear hereinafter, the incorporation by reference being made with the following exception: In the event that any portion of the above-referenced application is inconsistent with this application, this application supercedes said above-referenced applications.STATEMENT REGARDING FEDERALLY SPONSORED RESEARCH OR DEVELOPMENT[0002]Some parts of the invention were made with U.S. Government support under Contract Numbers DAAE 30-02-C-1015, DAAE 30-03-C-1074, and DAMD 17-01-1-0356, which are awarded by the Departmen...

AI Technical Summary

Benefits of technology

[0008]The disclosed fast full body digital radiography system is a direct imaging digital radiography system and will not use radiographic film. The solid state pixel detectors have high MTF, about 5 to 8 line pairs per mm, approaching the resolution of a screen-film system. The system has high DQE, about 50%-70%, and high contrast, therefore low dose to the patient. The linear array has a low projected area for x-rays scattered in the patient's body and therefore low background and higher signal to noise ratio. The images are taken in scanning mode using the Time Delayed Integration (TDI) technique. This technique produces uniform images without flawed or dead image pixels even if there are a moderate number of random defective detector pixels.

[0009]This is a low cost, digital (no film), high resolution, low dose and fast general whole or partial body radiography system that will allow immediate and fast prescreening of patients arriving at emergency rooms (ER). In human diagnostic applications the system is capable of screening a whole body or parts of a body in several seconds and displaying the image in real time on a high resolution computer screen without the need for accurate patient positioning and elaborate exposure setting. Small and portable machines can be used in ambulances, special imaging vans, rural and remote communities, during catastrophic events, on battlefields and in field hospitals.

Problems solved by technology

However, use of a scanning system coupled to the disclosed position sensitive digital detection methods are not.

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