Lecture 4 Digital Radiography

MEDICAL IMAGING SYSTEMS

UNIT I: X RAYS

Dr E Emerson Nithiyaraj
AP/ECE
Digital Radiography
Conventional Radiography

• Ever since the original discovery of X-rays, film has been the
preferred medium for producing medical X-ray images.
• The difference between digital radiography and conventional

radiography may be compared to that between the old cameras based
on the use of films that have to be developed in a darkroom, and
modern digital cameras.
Digital Radiography
• Digital radiography is filmless, and allows immediate acquisition,
deletion, editing and transfer of films to a computer system which
generates the image almost at once using digital X-ray sensors.
• With respect to physical principles, there is not much difference

between digital and film radiography.
• Instead of using film to both detect and store image data, digital
radiography uses digital detectors to produce a digital image,
which is then stored separately on a digital medium.
Digital Radiography
Digital Radiography – Working
• X-ray Source: Digital radiography begins with the use of an X-ray
tube as the source of X-rays. The X-ray tube emits X-ray photons that
pass through the patient's body.
• Patient Exposure: The patient is positioned between the X-ray source

and a digital detector. X-rays penetrate the body, and the degree of
absorption depends on the density and composition of the tissues.
• Digital Detector: Instead of using traditional X-ray film, digital
radiography employs a digital detector to capture the X-ray image.
There are two main types of digital detectors used in DR:
– Flat-Panel Detectors (FPD): These are solid-state detectors that

directly convert X-rays into electrical signals.
– Computed Radiography (CR): Uses a storage phosphor plate that

captures X-rays, and then the plate is scanned to produce a digital
image.
• Image Formation: In the case of flat-panel detectors, when X-rays

strike the detector, they generate electrical charges. The charges are
converted into digital signals, pixel by pixel, creating a digital image
of the X-ray attenuation pattern in the patient's body.
Image Formation (Storage Phosphor Imaging):
• The storage phosphor plate contains a layer of photostimulable phosphor
crystals, typically made of barium fluorohalide compounds.
• The patient is exposed to X-rays, and the X-ray photons interact with the
phosphor crystals in the storage phosphor plate.
• Energy from the X-rays is absorbed by the phosphor crystals, causing
them to become electronically excited.
• After exposure, the phosphor plate is removed from the cassette and
processed in a CR reader.
• The CR reader uses a laser to stimulate the excited phosphor crystals,
causing them to emit light (photostimulated luminescence).
• The emitted light is detected by a photomultiplier tube and converted
into electrical signals.
• The electrical signals are then converted from analog to digital format
using an analog-to-digital converter (ADC).
• Digital processing algorithms enhance the image, adjusting for
contrast, brightness, and other parameters.
• The final digital image can be displayed on a computer monitor for
diagnostic interpretation.
• Analog-to-Digital Conversion: The analog signals generated by the

detector are converted into digital data through an analog-to-digital
converter (ADC). This conversion allows for the creation of a digital
image that can be processed and stored electronically.
• Display and Storage: The processed digital image can be displayed on a

computer monitor for immediate viewing by the radiologist. It can also
be stored electronically in a Picture Archiving and Communication
System (PACS) for future reference and comparison.
Digital Radiography
Advantages of Digital Radiography:
• Faster image acquisition.
• Lower radiation dose to patients (depending on the system).
• Image manipulation for improved visualization.
• Efficient storage and retrieval of images.
Digital radiography has become the standard in many healthcare

settings due to its numerous advantages over traditional film-based
radiography. It has revolutionized the way medical images are acquired,
processed, and interpreted.
Discrete Digital Detectors
Discrete digital detectors are a type of digital imaging technology

used in digital radiography (DR) systems to capture X-ray images.
There are two main types of flat panel discrete digital detectors:
1. Direct Detector
• amorphous silicon (a-Si) detectors and
• amorphous selenium (a-Se) detectors.
2. Indirect Detector
Discrete Digital Detectors - Amorphous Silicon (a-Si) Detectors
Photodiode Array: An a-Si detector consists of an array of small

photodiodes, with each photodiode corresponding to a pixel in the image.
Thin-Film Transistor (TFT) Array: Each photodiode is coupled to a TFT,

which acts as a switch to control the flow of charge.
Discrete Digital Detectors - Amorphous Selenium (a-Se) Detectors
Photoconductive Layer: An a-Se detector consists of a layer of amorphous

selenium that directly converts X-ray photons into electrical charges.
TFT Array: Similar to a-Si detectors, a TFT array is used to read and
digitize the charge information.
• Discrete digital detectors play a crucial role in modern digital radiography,
offering high-quality images with efficient image acquisition and
processing capabilities.
• Their design allows for flexibility in system integration and contributes to
advancements in diagnostic imaging.
• A conventional X-ray system captures less than 40 percent of the original
image information. By adding a digital detector to digital X-ray imaging, it is
possible to capture more than 80 percent of the original image information
and use a wide range of post-processing tools to further improve the image .
Film Scanning Imaging (Digitization of Conventional Films)
In some scenarios, existing analog X-ray films can be digitized for digital
storage and viewing.
1. Film Scanning: Analog X-ray films are scanned using a film digitizer
or scanner. The scanner captures the optical density variations on the film
and converts them into digital information.
2. Digital Image Conversion: The digitized image is converted into a

digital format using an analog-to-digital converter (ADC). The resulting
digital image is stored electronically.
3. Image Processing and Display: Similar to CR systems, digital

processing algorithms can be applied for image enhancement. The digital
image is displayed on a computer monitor for diagnostic purposes.
Advantages:
• Allows the digitization of existing analog X-ray films for archiving
and sharing.
• Suitable for institutions with a large archive of conventional films
transitioning to digital.
Digital Radiography vs Film scanning
Both storage phosphor imaging (CR) and film scanning imaging

offer pathways to digital radiography, with CR being more prevalent in
new installations, while film scanning serves as a solution for digitizing
existing analog film archives.
Reference
Khandpur R.S, “Handbook of Biomedical Instrumentation”, Tata
McGraw – Hill, New Delhi, 2003
• Pages: (578-582)
• Topic: Section 19.9 (19.9.1, 19.9.2)

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MEDICAL IMAGING SYSTEMS

• The difference between digital radiography and conventional

• With respect to physical principles, there is not much difference

• Patient Exposure: The patient is positioned between the X-ray source

– Flat-Panel Detectors (FPD): These are solid-state detectors that

– Computed Radiography (CR): Uses a storage phosphor plate that

• Image Formation: In the case of flat-panel detectors, when X-rays

• Analog-to-Digital Conversion: The analog signals generated by the

• Display and Storage: The processed digital image can be displayed on a

Digital radiography has become the standard in many healthcare

Discrete digital detectors are a type of digital imaging technology

Photodiode Array: An a-Si detector consists of an array of small

Thin-Film Transistor (TFT) Array: Each photodiode is coupled to a TFT,

Photoconductive Layer: An a-Se detector consists of a layer of amorphous

2. Digital Image Conversion: The digitized image is converted into a

3. Image Processing and Display: Similar to CR systems, digital

Both storage phosphor imaging (CR) and film scanning imaging

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