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| 2. |
- Fredenberg, Erik, PhD, 1979-, et al.
(author)
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A low-absorption x-ray energy filter for small-scale applications
- 2009
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In: Optics Express. - : The Optical Society. - 1094-4087. ; 17:14, s. 11388-11398
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Journal article (peer-reviewed)abstract
- We present an experimental and theoretical evaluation of an x-ray energy filter based on the chromatic properties of a prism-array lens (PAL). It is intended for small-scale applications such as medical imaging. The PAL approximates a Fresnel lens and allows for high efficiency compared to filters based on ordinary refractive lenses, however at the cost of a lower energy resolution. Geometrical optics was found to provide a good approximation for the performance of a flawless lens, but a field-propagation model was used for quantitative predictions. The model predicted a 0.29 ΔE/E energy resolution and an intensity gain of 6.5 for a silicon PAL at 23.5 keV. Measurements with an x-ray tube showed good agreement with the model in energy resolution and peak energy, but a blurred focal line contributed to a 29% gain reduction. We believe the blurring to be caused mainly by lens imperfections, in particular at the periphery of the lens.
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| 3. |
- Fredenberg, Erik, PhD, 1979-, et al.
(author)
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A Tunable Energy Filter for Medical X-Ray Imaging
- 2008
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In: X-Ray Optics and Instrumentation. - : Hindawi. - 1687-7632 .- 1687-7640. ; 2008
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Journal article (peer-reviewed)abstract
- A multiprism lens (MPL) is a refractive X-ray lens, and its chromatic properties can be employed in an energy filtering setup to obtain a narrow tunable X-ray spectrum. We present the first evaluation of such a filter for medical X-ray imaging. The experimental setup yields a 6.6 gain of flux at 20 keV, and we demonstrate tunability by altering the energy spectrum to center also around 17 and 23 keV. All measurements are found to agree well with ray-tracing and a proposed geometrical model. Compared to a model mammography system with absorption filtering, the experimental MPL filter reduces dose 13–25% for 3–7 cm breasts if the spectrum is centered around the optimal energy. Additionally, the resolution is improved 2.5 times for a 5 cm breast. The scan time is increased 3 times but can be reduced with a slightly decreased energy filtering and resolution.
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| 4. |
- Fredenberg, Erik, PhD, 1979-, et al.
(author)
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Contrast-enhanced dual-energy subtraction imaging using electronic spectrum-splitting and multi-prism x-ray lenses
- 2008
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In: Medical Imaging 2008 - Physics of Medical Imaging. - San Diego, CA, USA : SPIE. - 9780819470973 ; , s. 91310-91310
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Conference paper (peer-reviewed)abstract
- Dual-energy subtraction imaging (DES) is a method to improve the detectability of contrast agents over a lumpy background. Two images, acquired at x-ray energies above and below an absorption edge of the agent material, are logarithmically subtracted, resulting in suppression of the signal from the tissue background and a relative enhancement of the signal from the agent. Although promising, DES is still not widely used in clinical practice. One reason may be the need for two distinctly separated x-ray spectra that are still close to the absorption edge, realized through dual exposures which may introduce motion unsharpness. In this study, electronic spectrum-splitting with a silicon-strip detector is theoretically and experimentally investigated for a mammography model with iodinated contrast agent. Comparisons are made to absorption imaging and a near-ideal detector using a signal-to-noise ratio that includes both statistical and structural noise. Similar to previous studies, heavy absorption filtration was needed to narrow the spectra at the expense of a large reduction in x-ray flux. Therefore, potential improvements using a chromatic multi-prism x-ray lens (MPL) for filtering were evaluated theoretically. The MPL offers a narrow tunable spectrum, and we show that the image quality can be improved compared to conventional filtering methods.
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| 5. |
- Fredenberg, Erik, PhD, 1979-, et al.
(author)
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Prism-array lenses for energy filtering in medical X-ray imaging
- 2007
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In: Medical Imaging 2007: Physics of Medical Imaging. - BELLINGHAM : SPIE-INT SOC OPTICAL ENGINEERING. - 9780819466280 ; , s. U270-U281
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Conference paper (peer-reviewed)abstract
- Conventional energy filters for x-ray imaging are based on absorbing materials which attenuate low energy photons, sometimes combined with an absorption edge, thus also discriminating towards 'photons of higher energies. These filters are fairly inefficient, in particular for photons of higher energies, and other methods for achieving a narrower bandwidth have been proposed. Such methods include various types of monochromators, based on for instance mosaic crystals or refractive multi-prism x-ray lenses (MPL's). Prism-array lenses (PAL's) are similar to MPL's, but are shorter, have larger apertures, and higher transmission. A PAL consists of a number of small prisms arranged in columns perpendicular to the optical axis. The column height decreases along the optical axis so that the projection of lens material is approximately linear with a Resnel phase-plate pattern superimposed on it. The focusing effect is one dimensional, and the lens is chromatic. Hence, unwanted energies can be blocked by placing a slit in the image plane of a desired energy. We present the first experimental and theoretical results on an energy filter based on a silicon PAL. The study includes an evaluation of the spectral shaping properties of the filter as well as a quantification of the achievable increase in dose efficiency compared to standard methods. Previously, PAL's have been investigated with synchrotron radiation, but in this study a medical imaging setup, based on a regular x-ray tube, is considered.
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| 7. |
- Shastri, S D, et al.
(author)
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High-energy X-ray optics with silicon saw-tooth refractive lenses
- 2007
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In: Journal of Synchrotron Radiation. - 0909-0495 .- 1600-5775. ; 14:part 2, s. 204-211
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Journal article (peer-reviewed)abstract
- Silicon saw-tooth refractive lenses have been in successful use for vertical focusing and collimation of high-energy X-rays (50-100 keV) at the 1-ID undulator beamline of the Advanced Photon Source. In addition to presenting an effectively parabolic thickness profile, as required for aberration-free refractive optics, these devices allow high transmission and continuous tunability in photon energy and focal length. Furthermore, the use of a single-crystal material (i.e. Si) minimizes small-angle scattering background. The focusing performance of such saw-tooth lenses, used in conjunction with the 1-ID beamline's bent double-Laue monochromator, is presented for both short (1:0.02) and long (1:0.6) focal-length geometries, giving line-foci in the 2 µm-25 µm width range with 81 keV X-rays. In addition, a compound focusing scheme was tested whereby the radiation intercepted by a distant short-focal-length lens is increased by having it receive a collimated beam from a nearer (upstream) lens. The collimation capabilities of Si saw-tooth lenses are also exploited to deliver enhanced throughput of a subsequently placed small-angular-acceptance high-energy-resolution post-monochromator in the 50-80 keV range. The successful use of such lenses in all these configurations establishes an important detail, that the pre-monochromator, despite being comprised of vertically reflecting bent Laue geometry crystals, can be brilliance-preserving to a very high degree.
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