Abstract
A phosphor opto-coupled monochrome CMOS image sensor with a slit diaphragm was used to investigate focal spot characteristics. Images were captured during x-ray exposure with a triggered frame grabber and subsequently enhanced. Dimensions of the focal spot width (1.39mm) and length (1.92mm) were determined from the focal spot intensity profiles and their corresponding Full Width at Half Maxima (FWHM) in two orthogonal orientations. The CMOS image sensor measurements demonstrated differences in the measured width and length dimensions when compared to film measurements. The obtained nominal focal spot values however showed that image-sensor determined focal spot dimensions agreed with the direct film and film-screen methods when based on the AS/NZS defined nominal focal spot values. The CMOS image sensor tested appears to lack the measurement accuracy required for the measurement of small focal spot sizes due in part to its limited camera sensitivity.
Similar content being viewed by others
References
Lu, T., Udpa, S. S. and Udpa, L.Tomographic reconstruction using optoelectronic architecture, IEEE Volume 4, 1991.
Muirhead, I. T.,Developments in CMOS camera technology, IEE. 1994.
Lake, D.,Why CMOS imagers are the rage: A revolution in the making, Advanced Imaging Magazine, 12–18, 1995.
Fossum, E. R.,CMOS image sensors: Electronic camera on a chip, IEEE 1995.
Denyer, P. B., Renshaw, D., Wang Guoyu and Lu Mingying,A single chip sensor and image processor for fingerprint verification, Proceedings of IEEE Custom Integrated Circuits Conference, San Diego, California, May 9–12, 1993.
Speller, R. D., Martinez-Davalos, A., and Farquharson, M.,A CCD based focal spot camera, Phys. Med. Biol. 40, 315–321, 1995.
Rong, X. J., Krugh, K. T., Shepard, S. J. and Geiser, W. R.Measurement of focal spot size with slit camera using computed radiography and flat-panel based digital detectors, Med. Phys. 30(7): 1768-75, 2003
Everson, J. D. and Gray, J. E.,Focal spot measurement: Comparison of slit, pinhole and star resolution pattern techniques, Radiology, 165, 261–264, 1987.
Australian/New Zealand Standard (AS/NZS),X-ray tube assemblies for medical diagnosis-Characteristics of focal spots, AS/NZS 4274, 1995.
Nickoloff, E. L., Donnelly, E., Eve, L. and Atherton, J.V.,Mammographic resolution: Influence of focal spot intensity distribution and geometry, Med. Phys., 17(3),436–4477, 1990.
Schiabel, H., Ventura, A. and Frere, A. F.,A formal study of lateral magnification and its influence on mammographic imaging sharpness, Med. Phys., 21(2), 271–276, 1994.
Yaffe, M. J., and Rowlands, J. A.,X-ray detectors for digital radiography, Phys. Med. Biol. 42, 1–39, 1997.
Kandarakis, I., Cavouras, D., Panayiotakis, G., Agelis, T., Nomicos, C. D., Giakoumakis G. E,X-ray induced luminescence and spatial resolution of La 2O2 S:Tb phosphor screens, Phys. Med. Biol, 41, 297–307, 1996.
Giakoumakis, G.E., Nomicos, C.D., Yiakoumakis, E.N., Katsarioti, M.C., Kalikatsos, J.A., Rovithi, M., Panayiotakis, G. S., Evangelou, E. K.,Y 2O2 S:Eu phosphor screens evaluation, Med. Phys. 20(1), 79–83, 1993.
Giakoumakis, G. E., Nomicos, C. D., and Sandilos, P. X.,Absolute efficiency of Gd 2O2 S:Tb screens under fluoroscopy conditions, Phys. Med. Biol, 34, 673–8, 1989.
Giakoumakis, G. E. and Nomicos, C. D.,Absolute efficiency of Y 2O2 S:Tb screens under fluoroscopy conditions, J.Appl.Phys. 58(7), 2742–2745, 1985.
Russ, J.,The image processing handbook, 2nd Ed., CRC Press, Boca Raton, Florida, 1994.
Bankman, I. N.,Handbook of Medical Imaging, Academic Press, San Diego, California, 2000.
de Graff, C. N., and Viergever, M.A.,Information processing in medical imaging, Plenum
Press, New York, 1988.
Frei, W.,Image enhancement by image hyperbolization, Comp. Graph. Image Process, 6, 286–294, 1977.
Hall, E. H.,Almost uniform distributions from image enhancement, IEEE Trans. Comp. C-23(2), 207–208, 1974.
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Corresponding author
Rights and permissions
About this article
Cite this article
Tuchyna, T., Paix, D. A CMOS image sensor method of focal spot size measurement. Australas. Phys. Eng. Sci. Med. 27, 63 (2004). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF03178378
Received:
Accepted:
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF03178378