Monochromatic Mammographic Imaging Using X-Ray Polycapillary Optics
Abstract
Monochromatic parallel beam imaging can produce greater contrast, higher resolution and lower patient absorbed dose. Currently, monochromatic imaging has been restricted to specialized research sources such as synchrotrons. Collimating polycapillary x-ray optics can efficiently collimate the beam from a practical conventional laboratory x-ray source, which will allow monochromatic imaging in a clinical setting. To verify the optics capability, a molybdenum x-ray point source was used to characterize the collimating polycapillary optic. The transmission is about 39% at 17.5 keV. The measurements agree quite well with simulations. Monochromatic imaging was performed using this optic with two different sources, a rotating anode copper source and a low power molybdenum source. The copper source was used for verifying the contrast and resolution off three crystals with different bandwidths: silicon, mica and graphite. The contrast enhancement was 5-6 at 8 keV for both step phantoms and for phantoms containing multiple types of plastic. The angular resolution was measured with the silicon crystal and was found to be more than adequate. The molybdenum x-ray source was also used to measure the contrast. The contrast enhancement was 2 at 17.5 keV for a 45-mm thick phantom containing the usual multiple holes of different depths.
Document Details
- Document Type
- Technical Report
- Publication Date
- Jun 01, 2001
- Accession Number
- ADA396343
Entities
People
- Carolyn Mcdonald
- Frannieoa Surgiro
Organizations
- State University of New York at Albany