• Journal of radiological science and technology
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• v.45 no.5
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• pp.397-405
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• 2022

Computed radiography (CR) systems, which convert an analog signal recorded on a cassette into a digital image, combine the characteristics of analog and digital imaging systems. Compared to digital radiography (DR) systems, CR systems have presented difficulties in evaluating system performance because of their lower detective quantum efficiency, their lower signal-to-noise ratio (SNR), and lower modulation transfer function (MTF). During the step of energy-storing and reading out, a baseline offset occurs in the edge area and makes low-frequency overestimation. The low-frequency offset component in the line spread function (LSF) critically affects the MTF and other image-analysis or qualification processes. In this study, we developed the method of baseline correction using mathematical morphology to determine the LSF and MTF of CR systems accurately. We presented a baseline correction that used a morphological filter to effectively remove the low-frequency offset from the LSF. We also tried an MTF evaluation of the CR system to demonstrate the effectiveness of the baseline correction. The MTF with a 3-pixel structuring element (SE) fluctuated since it overestimated the low-frequency component. This overestimation led the algorithm to over-compensate in the low-frequency region so that high-frequency components appeared relatively strong. The MTFs with between 11- and 15-pixel SEs showed little variation. Compared to spatial or frequency filtering that eliminated baseline effects in the edge spread function, our algorithm performed better at precisely locating the edge position and the averaged LSF was narrower.

• The Journal of the Korea Contents Association
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• v.10 no.6
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• pp.329-335
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• 2010

Digital imaging detectors can use a variety of detection materials to convert X-ray radiation either to light or directly to electron charge. Many detectors such as amorphous silicon flat panels, CCDs, and CMOS photodiode arrays incorporate a scintillator screen to convert x-ray to light. The digital radiography systems based on semiconductor detectors, commonly referred to as flat panel detectors, are gaining popularity in the clinical & hospital. The X-ray detectors are described between a-Silicon based indirect type and a-Selenium based direct type. The DRS of detectors is used to convert the x-ray to electron hole pairs. Image processing is described by specific image features: Latitude compression, Contrast enhancement, Edge enhancement, Look up table, Noise suppression. The image features are tuned independently. The final enhancement result is a combination of all image features. The parameters are altered by using specific image features in the different several hospitals. The image in a radiological report consists of two image evaluation processes: Clinical image parameters and MTF is a descriptor of the spatial resolution of a digital imaging system. We used the edge test phantom and exposure procedure described in the IEC 61267 to obtain an edge spread function from which the MTF is calculated. We can compare image in the processing parameters to change between original and processed image data. The angle of the edge with respect to the axes of detector was varied in order to determine the MTF as a function of direction. Each MTF is integrated within the spatial resolution interval of 1.35-11.70 cycles/mm at the 50% MTF point. Each image enhancement parameters consists of edge, frequency, contrast, LUT, noise, sensitometry curve, threshold level, windows. The digital device is also shown to have good uniformity of MTF and image parameters across its modality. The measurements reported here represent a comprehensive evaluation of digital radiography system designed for use in the DRS. The results indicate that the parameter enables very good image quality in the digital radiography. Of course, the quality of image from a parameter is determined by other digital devices in addition to the proper clinical image.

• Progress in Medical Physics
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• v.23 no.1
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• pp.26-32
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• 2012

The magnification technique has recently become popular in bone radiography, mammography and other diagnostic examination. However, because of the finite size of X-ray focal spot, the magnification influences various imaging properties with resolution, noise and contrast. The purpose of study is to investigate the influence of magnification and focal spot size on digital imaging system using eDQE (effective detective quantum efficiency). Effective DQE is a metric reflecting overall system response including focal spot blur, magnification, scatter and grid response. The adult chest phantom employed in the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) was used to derive eDQE from eMTF (effective modulation transfer function), eNPS (effective noise power spectrum), scatter fraction and transmission fraction. According to results, spatial frequencies that eMTF is 10% with the magnification factor of 1.2, 1.4, 1.6, 1.8 and 2.0 are 2.76, 2.21, 1.78, 1.49 and 1.26 lp/mm respectively using small focal spot. The spatial frequencies that eMTF is 10% with the magnification factor of 1.2, 1.4, 1.6, 1.8 and 2.0 are 2.21, 1.66, 1.25, 0.93 and 0.73 lp/mm respectively using large focal spot. The eMTFs and eDQEs decreases with increasing magnification factor. Although there are no significant differences with focal spot size on eDQE (0), the eDQEs drops more sharply with large focal spot than small focal spot. The magnification imaging can enlarge the small size lesion and improve the contrast due to decrease of effective noise and scatter with air-gap effect. The enlargement of the image size can be helpful for visual detection of small image. However, focal spot blurring caused by finite size of focal spot shows more significant impact on spatial resolution than the improvement of other metrics resulted by magnification effect. Based on these results, appropriate magnification factor and focal spot size should be established to perform magnification imaging with digital radiography system.

• Progress in Medical Physics
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• v.21 no.3
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• pp.239-245
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• 2010

The purpose of this study is to comprehensively compare and evaluate the characteristics of image quality for digital mammography systems which use a direct and indirect conversion detector. Three key metrics of image quality were evaluated for the direct and indirect conversion detector, the modulation transfer function (MTF), normalized noise power spectrum (NNPS), and detective quantum efficiency (DQE), which describe the resolution, noise, and signal to noise performance, respectively. DQE was calculated by using a edge phantom for MTF determination according to IEC 62220-1-2 regulation. The contrast to noise ratio (CNR) was evaluated according to guidelines offered by the Korean Institute for Accreditation of Medical Image (KIAMI). As a result, the higher MTF and DQE was measured with direct conversion detector compared to indirect conversion detector all over spatial frequency. When the average glandular dose (AGD) was the same, direct conversion detector showed higher CNR value. The direct conversion detector which has higher DQE value all over spatial frequency would provide the potential benefits for both improved image quality and lower patient dose in digital mammography system.

• Journal of radiological science and technology
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• v.38 no.4
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• pp.365-374
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• 2015

The regular quality assurance (RQA) of X-ray images is essential for maintaining a high accuracy of diagnosis. This study was to evaluate the modulation transfer function (MTF), the noise power spectrum (NPS), and the detective quantum efficiency (DQE) of a computed radiography (CR) system for various periods of use from 2006 to 2015. We measured the pre-sampling MTF using the edge method and RQA 5 based on commission standard international electro-technical commission (IEC). The spatial frequencies corresponding to the 50% MTF for the CR systems in 2006, 2009, 2012 and 2015 were 1.54, 1.14, 1.12, and $1.38mm^{-1}$, respectively and the10% MTF for 2006, 2009, 2012, and 2015 were 2.68, 2.44, 2.44, and $2.46mm^{-1}$, respectively. In the NPS results, the CR systems showed the best noise distribution in 2006, and with the quality of distributions in the order of 2015, 2009, and 2012. At peak DQE and DQE at $1mm^{-1}$, the CR systems showed the best efficiency in 2006, and showed better efficiency in order of 2015, 2009, and 2012. Because the eraser lamp in the CR systems was replaced, the image quality in 2015 was superior to those in 2009 and 2012. This study can be incorporated into used in clinical QA requiring performance and evaluation of the performance of the CR systems.

• Journal of the Institute of Electronics and Information Engineers
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• v.50 no.2
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• pp.203-209
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• 2013

Digital Radiography (DR) has improved a quality of resolution based on a wide dynamic range, high detective quantum efficiency (DQE), and modulation transfer function (MTF), compared with film/screen(F/s). Unlike expectation that a low level of radiation can be used in examination, high level of signal to noise ratio(SNR) due to over-exposure caused increase of exposed dose to patients. Also, the auto exposure control (AEC) using Kilovolage(kVp) in F/S can cause over-exposure. Hence, in this study, we proposed a proper method for using DR, in which effect of tubing Kilovolage on device's image, DR MTF measurement with changes of tubing current (mA), and the quantitative evaluation of skull phantom captured images' PSNR were evaluated. Changes of contrast with tubing Kilovolage can be improved by retouching, and MTF changes according to tubing current(1.41~1.39 lp/mm in 50% area, and 3.19~2.8 lp/mm in 10% area) does not influence on resolution of image. As a result, high tubing Kilovoltage, and tubing current will be suitable to use of DR.

• Journal of radiological science and technology
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• v.43 no.4
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• pp.251-257
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• 2020

This study was purpose to quantitative evaluation of edge method of modulation transfer function(MTF) and physical image characteristics of by obtain the optimal edge image by using magnetic resonance imaging(MRI). The MRI equipment was used (MAGNETOM Vida 3.0T MRI, Siemense healthcare system, Germany) and the head/neck matrix shim MR coil were 20 channels(elements) receive coil. The MTF results of showed the best value of 0.294 based on the T2 Nyquist frequency of 1.0 mm^-1. The MTF results of showed that the T1 image is 0.160, the T1 CE image is 0.250, T1 Conca2 image is 0.043, and the T1 CE (Concatenation) Conca2 image is 0.190. The T2 image highest quantitatively value for MTF. The physical image characteristics of this study were to that can be used efficiently of the MRI and to present the quantitative evaluation method and physical image characteristics of 3.0T MRI.

• Korean Journal of Optics and Photonics
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• v.4 no.4
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• pp.373-380
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• 1993

A five mirror system with a reduction magnification(M=+1/5) is designed for DUV optical lithography. Initially, numerical solutions of all zero 3rd order aberrations and zero 5th order spherical aberration are obtained for the spherical mirror system. Next, by the optimization method, the aspherization is carried out to the two spherical mirrors to obtain a system that has as less residual aberrations, higher NA and improved MTF as possible. We have finally obtained the system of which NA is 0.45 and the resolution is about 500 cycles/mm at the 50% MTF value criterion and the depth of focus of $1.0{\mu}m$ for the nearly incoherent illumination$({\sigma}=1.0)$ and the wavelength of 0.248 m(KrF excimer laser line).

• Korean Journal of Optics and Photonics
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• v.28 no.5
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• pp.241-249
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• 2017

This paper presents the design and evaluation of the optical system for an uncooled thermal-imaging camera. The operating wavelength range of this system is from $7.7{\mu}m$ to $12.8{\mu}m$. Through optimization, we have obtained a LWIR (Long Wave Infrared) optical system with a focal length of 5.44 mm, which consists of four aspheric surfaces and two diffractive surfaces. The f-number of the optical system is F/1.2, and its field of view is $90^{\circ}{\times}67.5^{\circ}$. The hybrid lens was used to balance the higher-order aberrations, and its diffraction properties were evaluated by scalar diffraction theory. We calculated the polychromatic integrated diffraction efficiency, and the MTF drop generated by background noise. We have evaluated the thermal compensation of a LWIR fixed optical system, which is optically passively athermalized to maintain MTF performance in the focal depth. In conclusion, these design results are useful for an uncooled thermal-imaging camera.

• Korean Journal of Optics and Photonics
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• v.8 no.1
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• pp.7-13
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• 1997

This paper describes the automation of an object generator and an image analyser in a knife scan OTF equipment to enhance the accuracy of OTF measurement. Pinholes and slits of various size in the object generator are used as an objects. A fishtail edge is mounted to the image analyzer and is translated to the direction of 45 degree angle with the horizontal to measure MTF simultaneously in the radial and tangential azimuths. The stepping motor control unit and software for the image analyzer are modified and the accuracy of this equipment is evaluated by measuring the OTF of SIRA group 50 mm standard lens.