Digital Imaging Receptors Flashcards
Film screen radiology (FSR)
Also called “flat films”
Flat panel detectors
What are reasons film is being replaces with digital? (5)
- Less retakes
- Lower long term costs
- Storing images is easier & less costly
- Electronically send images
- Images can be manipulated to show other pathology
Two types of digital imaging receptors
- CR - Computed radiography
- DR - Direct digital radiography
What is the difference with DR and film?
It’s the image receptor!
Computer radiography (CR): Cassette info
- CR contains a phosphor plate in it’s cassette instead of a film sheet like analog.
- The CR receptor includes a cassette w/imaging plate (IP)
- IP absorbs transmitted x-rays to produce the latent image
- During absorption, a luminescence is released as part of the photoelectric effect
- Phosphor layer is composed of barium fluorohalide crystals doped with europium
- This layer receives transmitted x-rays & holds the latent image until it’s processed
Photoelectric effect (3)
- X-ray photons usually carry enough energy to ionize an atom in their path.
- Ionization means that an atom has temporarily released an orbiting electron.
- This atom is now a positive ion. The ejected electron is held in a higher energy state until it’s released through processing.
What is PACS as an acronym?
PACS
- Picture - viewing at workstations
- Archiving - images short/long term
- Communication - local or wide area networks
- System - use with HIS, other equipment
What does PACS do? (3)
- Once an image is made, it’s sent to PACS
- Image is also sent elsewhere as offsite storage - Then image can be pulled up & viewed
- Method that allows storing, retrieving, distributing throughout your hospital or the internet
What is DICOM acronym?
Digital Imaging and Communications in Medicine
What does DICOM do?
- Imaging standard that allows multiple pieces of medical equipment to communicate
- Essentially all PACS and almost all equipment speak to DICOM now
- DICOM doesn’t effect image quality!
Computed radiology:
Once a scan is complete from the cassette, how does it get “wiped?”
- The imaging plate (IP) is exposed to a bright light before it’s returned into the cassette and ready for more services
- This erases any excess energy left in the IP after the previous exposure
T/F: Digital rad has a wide latitude
True!
T/F: kVp has no effect on image quality with DR
True
T/F: DR can get both bone and soft tissue in the same exposure
True