Development of a direct-conversion-type flat-panel detector for radiography and fluoroscopy

This paper describes the X-ray flat-panel detector technology which will be able to take the place of all conventional X-ray detector technologies. Hospitals are rapidly changing from handling information with analogue systems to using digital systems, accompanying the advances being made in this digital information age. The X-ray flat-panel detector will convert 2D distribution of X-ray intensity to digital image data instantly. Until now, there has not been an X-ray flat-panel detector that can completely take the place of analogue X-ray films with screens (S-F) and can acquire high-speed dynamic X-ray images with high image quality, but we have realized this by developing a direct-conversion-type flat-panel detector. The latest research result confirmed the increase of X-ray absorption capability, spatial resolution which exceeded a regular type of S-F and images without distortion in a large field of view. This detector is a compact size, just like an X-ray cassette, and can be used for both radiography and fluoroscopy, which can take the place not only of S-F but also Imaging Intensifier (I.I.) -TV. The X-ray flat-panel detector will cause dramatic changes to all X-ray systems and we can say specially that the direct-type flat-panel detector has proven to be a step toward the coming era of real full-digital hospitals. (author)