X-ray computed radiography (CR) X-ray computed radiography (CR)

X-ray computed radiography (CR)

X-ray image acquisition using photostimulable phosphor plate

Computed radiography (CR) is a digital imaging technique widely used for dental, medical, and veterinary diagnostics. Instead of a conventional X-ray film, CR uses a special X-ray sensitive, photo-stimulable phosphor plate also known as an imaging plate (IP). CR reader or IP reader machines are typically designed to process and digitize X-ray images in a short time with high image quality.

 

When X-rays are irradiated onto the imaging plate, electrons are released within the storage phosphor material and stored in higher energy states. A laser beam then scans the plate creating an image from the blue fluorescent light emitted by the plate in proportion to the input amount of X-ray exposure. A high sensitivity, wide dynamic range photomultiplier tube (PMT) is then used to convert the emitted weak visible light into electronic signals. These signals are then digitally processed to reconstruct a high contrast image of the original object that was exposed to X-rays.

 

For medical and veterinary imaging applications large format imaging plates are often used, such as 8”x10” up to 17”x17” size. For such large format plates, CR reader machine designers often employ either a large format lens to collect emitted light from the entire plate to one PMT, or a group of smaller lenses coupled to an array of PMTs.

 

PMTs employed in CR reader machines should have a large active area, high sensitivity to blue light, excellent linearity over a wide operating range, and good uniformity in order to produce the highest quality images. Our PMTs incorporate all of these features, and Hamamatsu has the widest selection of PMTs available on the market today. Please see the recommended products section below for more details.

Recommended Products

PMTs for CR

These PMTs have high sensitivity at the phosphor's emission wavelength.

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