The main objective of every X-ray medical imaging modality is to provide excellent quality images and thus facilitate an effective diagnosis. This will ultimately boost the radiologist’s confidence and also reassure the patient. Precision and high-quality imaging results from the core of each X-ray imaging machine—the detector.
Spectral Efficiency
DECTRIS is renowned for manufacturing next-generation Hybrid Photon Counting (HPC) detectors for both synchrotrons and scientific purposes. DECTRIS has now introduced a new detector performance quantity known as spectral efficiency and applies this theory towards progressive spectral medical imaging techniques.
Traditional detectors used in medical radiology till date can be compared to black and white photography. Hence, the quality of a black and white medical image is assessed based on how effectively it repeats the anatomical structure of interest. However, even in the case of a flawless black and white image, color is one important piece of information that is missing.
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The mission of DECTRIS is to effectively provide the future of clinical spectral X-ray imaging detectors with single-shot material decomposition features. A better understanding of several overlapping physical procedures and parameters are is needed to design and enhance spectral detectors for various medical applications. In addition, a quantity is needed to evaluate the spectral performance of the detector.
This new quantity is called spectral efficiency. Energy is present in each photon, and it is the spectral efficiency that defines the fraction of photons detected at their true energy. The article published by DECTRIS in Medical Physics briefs the exceptional agreement between simulations and measurements for quantities such as count rate, spectral efficiency, and quantum efficiency using a prototype HPC detector with 75 x 75 µm2 as illustrated in the following figure.
The custom DECTRIS Monte Carlo simulation accurately replicates the quantified spectra even at maximum count rates by including pile-up effects. Through the experience of DECTRIS’ product development team as well as Spectral Efficiency, the company improves the future of its imaging detectors to match spectral imaging application.
![Measured and simulated spectral efficiency of a 75 x 75 µm2 pixel as a function of the photon energy [P. Trueb et al. (http://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1002/mp.12323/full)]](https://d12oja0ew7x0i8.cloudfront.net/image-handler/picture/2018/5/ImageForArticle_15816(1).jpg)
Figure 1. Measured and simulated spectral efficiency of a 75 x 75 µm2 pixel as a function of the photon energy [P. Trueb et al. (http://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1002/mp.12323/full)]. Image credit: Dectris Ltd.
Original publication
Trueb P, Zambon P, Broennimann C. Assessment of the spectral performance of hybrid photon counting x-ray detectors. Med Phys. 44(9), 2017. e207-e214.
This information has been sourced, reviewed and adapted from materials provided by Dectris Ltd.
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