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，其中间接方法最常用于商业系统。在这种情况下，多级转换过程从闪烁体将 X 射线量子转换为光学光子开始。光学光子依次通过磷光体扩散，然后通过光电二极管阵列转换为电子。在直接法中，X射线量子被光电导体吸收，直接产生电子空穴对。电子空穴对被偏置场分开以在成像阵列中产生电子信号。 直接转换的固有优点是：（a）高空间分辨率，（b）将剂量效率提高到所需的最低辐射暴露，以及（c）直接转换探测器系统更简单，因此制造起来可能更经济，因为避免了对单独集成光电二极管的需要。该技术理想的数字 X 射线成像应用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，旨在解决不确定的问题适用于大量患者的标准 2D 乳房 X 线摄影的性质。 NSERC 联盟拨款的目标是对基于两种不同晶型的氧化铅 (PbO) 光电导体的新型 X 射线光电导结构进行材料科学研究，用于直接转换 X 射线探测器，并论证 PbO 技术用于直接转换 X 射线探测器的技术可行性。 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。我们的辐射医学探测器创新方法提高了癌症检测的诊断能力和效率，同时减少了与辐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。