LARGE-FORMAT REAL-TIME X-RAY IMAGERS

WE PROPOSE A NOVEL TECHNOLOGY FOR A REAL-TIME X-RAY IMAGER. THE PROPOSED TECHNOLOGY CAN BE ADAPTED TO SPECIFIC MEDICAL OR INDUSTRIAL APPLICATIONS WHICH MAY HAVE DIFFERENT REQUIREDCHARACTERISTICS. THE SPATIAL RESOLUTION CAN BE IN THE RANGEOF 5 TO 20 LINE PAIRS PER MM. A SINGLE UNIT HAS AN ACTIVE IMAGING AREA OF 10 CM X 10 CM. BECAUSE THERE IS ESSENTIALLYNO DEAD SPACE AROUND THE EDGE OF A UNIT, SEVERAL UNITS CAN BE CLOSE PACKED TO PROVIDE VERY LARGE FORMAT REAL-TIME IMAGING. THE X-RAY CONVERSION, LIGHT PRODUCTION, AND PHOTO-ELECTRIC CONVERSION EFFICIENCIES CAN PROVIDE ABOUT ONEELECTRON PER CONVERTED X-RAY. THIS FEATURE GUARANTEES EFFECTIVE IMAGING AT MINIMAL RADIATION DOSE EXPOSURE. IN PHASE 1, WE PROPOSE DESIGNING, BUILDING, AND TESTING A SECTION OF AN IMAGING UNIT. MEASUREMENTS WILL INCLUDE SPATIAL RESOLUTION, DYNAMIC RANGE, NOISE, DETECTIVE QUANTUM EFFICIENCY, AND CONTRAST DETAIL CURVES. RESULTS WILL BE COMPARED WITH THOSE OBTAINED FROM STANDARD X-RAY IMAGING MODALITIES. THE FEASIBILITY OF THE NOVEL TECHNOLOGY WILL THEREFORE BE FULLY EXPLORED. IN PHASE 2, A COMPLETE IMAGING UNIT WILL BE DESIGNED, BUILT,AND TESTED IN A VARIETY OF MEDICAL AND INDUSTRIAL APPLICATIONS.