Notebook 4

Photostimulable Phosphor (PSP) imaging plate (IP)

-A PSP imaging plate is a rigid sheet with several layers that are designed to record and enhance
transmission of the image from a beam of ionizing radiation.

-6 layers make up the PSP imaging plate (Image on last page)

1. Protective layer- insulates IP from any trauma

2. Phosphor layer- holds photostimulable phosphor (active component)

3. Support layer (polyester)- base where other layers are coated

4. Conductor layer- eliminates electrostatic problems and absorbs light to increase sharpness

5. Lightshield layer- prevents light from erasing data on IP and leaking through the backing
which decreases spatial resolution

- Common phosphors used bromide (85%) and iodides (15%)

-The use of appropriate kVp, collimation, and masking is important because the imaging plate will
absorb more low-energy scatter. This makes the IP more sensitive to scatter before and after exposure.

Creation of digital image on PSP

Acquisition

-Positioning rules are the same for CR

-Proper technique is important because radiation exposure causes fluorescence of IP. Some of energy
form the beam is stored in the IP which is what energy is used to create an image in reading and
processing.

1. Electrons excited by absorbed energy are trapped in the crystal structures of the phosphors
(bromide/iodide) which is the latent image.

3. Latent images are created by an energy transfer during photoelectric interactions.

4. Photoelectrons are produced and then they excite the low-energy electrons creating holes in the
crystal phosphor.

5. Some of the electron holes will recompose and emit light photons but the other electrons will be
trapped by fluorohalides at the europium sites. Europium sites are the actual latent image.

-latent image will lose 25% of energy in 8 hours. Process image ASAP!

6. Load cassette into an image reader device (IRD) where it is scanned by helium-neon laser beam.

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7. This causes phosphors to emit stored latent image in form of light photons, detected by
photosensitive receptors, and converted to electrical signal, in-turn , converted to a unique digital value
for that level of luminescence.

8. Once IP is read, latent image is erased. If overexposure occurs the latent image does not erase
completely creating a ghosting artifact to the next image.

Reading CR data

-Involves finely focused red laser beam that will free the trapped electrons so they can return to low-
energy state. Known as photostimulable luminescence (PSL)

-Electrons moving from high-energy state to low-energy state release blue-purple light photons in
proportion to absorbed radiation.

9. Laser beam directed to IP through series of light guides.

Intensity of beam is monitored because intensity of blue
light from IP is dependent on power of laser beam.

10. Scanning occurs in a raster pattern which is method

which data is collected from the IP

- left to right like a book

11. Light liberated from imaging plate emitted isotropically and collected by optical system which then
directs it to one or more photodetectors or photomultiplier (PM) tubes sensitive to blue light.

12. Photodetectors convert visible light to electronic signal. The output is in analog form.

13. Analog form converted to digital signal before computer works with image information by the
analog-to-digital (ATD) converter.

14. Photodetectors adjust output signal range to be optimally handled during digitization process.

-dual sided PSPs are used to speed process while obtaining more information

-reading can be done is a single processor unit or a larger unit with multiple processors

- mobile units can also have processors

15. The laser beam correlates to the pixel stitch which is the distance between pixels

-measured from center to center

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 - dependent on sampling frequency

-the more the signal is sampled the more information and the smaller the pixels (pixels/mm)

Digital Imaging Characteristics

-digital images are recorded as multiple numeric values and divided into small elements which process
in different ways

-pixel size is smallest element in digital image. They make up a matrix which is a square arrangement of
numbers in a in columns and rows

-bigger matrix means a smaller pixel sizes and vice versa

-pixel bit depth is number of bits within a pixel

CR processor

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 References

1. Carlton, R. R., Adler, A. M., & Frank, E. D. (2006). Principles of radiographic imaging: an art and a
science. Clifton Park, NY: Thomson Delmar Learning.
2. Carter, C. E., & L., V. B. (2014). Digital radiography and PACS. Maryland Heights, MO:
Elsevier/Mosby.
3. Experience with a computed radiograpic mammography system and comparison with other
systems - Figures. (n.d.). Retrieved February 06, 2017, from
http://www.appliedradiology.org/courses/1394/html/idm_experience_fig.html
4. Fundamentals of Digital Radiology George David Medical College of Georgia. Retrieved February
06, 2017, from http://slideplayer.com/slide/6634021/

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