Notebook #4 PSP indirect capture imaging cassette- Protective layer: tube side, protects cassette. . Phosphor layer: photostimuable phosphors emit light in all directions when struck by photons. Light emitted is then stored indirectly. 3. Conductor layer: reduces static electricity (which would be seen as artifacts on processed image) from built up charge and ionization. 4, Support layer: base layer that gives strength to cassette, 5. Light shield layer prevents light from shining through. 6. Backing layer: protects back of the cassette from light or backscatter radiation. Pp CR processor- Laser output Cathode Helium-neon gas reservoir Laser bore tube Glass envelope Anode High reflector Laser Beam shaping optics 10. Beam deflector 11. Cassette Creation of a digital image on an imaging plate: A. Latent image is produced first. 1. Photons emitted from the tube hit the phosphor layer (this is the active layer within the plate that absorbs x-rays and isotropically redirects light towards the film. Itis also directly related to the speed of the screen) and are absorbed by photoelectric absorption (low energy incident photon interacts with an electron in the phosphor layer and removes it from its shell, energy is transferred). 2. The electrons will then either drop back to their original orbital shell, which causes florescence, or remain in the electron trap creating the latent image (image on plate prior to processing). B. Latent image is then loaded into the processor for processing. 1. The cassette is scanned by a red laser beam from inside the processing machine. 2. The laser beam excites the phosphors within the phosphor layer to emit the stored image via PSL (photosimulated luminescence). 3. The light from the latent image is emitted in all directions once stimulated from the laser beam and collected in the linear charged coupled device (CCD) or via the photomultiplier (PM). These devices convert the collected light form the latent image and turn it into an electric signal in analog form (continuous signal). SPN Ae eh4, In order for the computer to read and work with the signal, it must first be converted (once more) into a readable digital signal. This is accomplished by the ADC (analog to digital converter). 5. The signal is altered by photodetectors for reading and any residual image is erased or wiped off of the plate by an intense high frequency light. The cassette is then “clean” and the process s ready to begin again. 6. Data from processing is sent to the computer and image can then be manipulated via histograms, windowing, etc. and read for diagnostic purposes.