1.

Principles of
Computed
Radiography

Group 1
 1.1 COMPUTED
RADIOGRAPHY
Computed Radiography Computed
radiography, or cassette-based DR, is the
digital acquisition modality that uses
storage phosphor plates to produce
projection images. CR can be used in
standard radiographic rooms just like
film/screen
The storage phosphor plates are very
similar to our current intensifying screens.
The biggest difference is that the storage
phosphors can store a portion of the
incident x-ray energy in traps within the
material for later readout
The picture illustrates the basic components of the CR image receptor plate which is inserted into
the cassette. It is about one millimeter in thickness and somewhat flexible.
However, the phosphor plate must be designed so as not to reflect the particular color of light
used by the laser beam in scanning the plate for processing.
It is not necessary for the CR cassette which holds the phosphor plate to be light-tight as with film-
based systems. The cassette is made of aluminum or plastic usually with a low-absorbing carbon
fiber front. The back panel of the cassette may include a thin sheet of lead foil to reduce
backscatter x-radia- tion from reaching the plate.
 1. History

The fundamental innovation in the

development of CR was by Kodak (Luckey 1975)
who conceived the storage of an x-ray image
in a phosphor screen. It required significant
technical steps and conceptualization of the
application by Fuji (Kotera et al 1980) to
produce the first medical x-ray images. Fuji, the
main developer of CR in the eighties, used
BaFBr: Eu2+phosphor and a cassette-based
approach. During this time, Agfa and Kodak
performed research and development on the
same method but were constrained from
commercialization by patent issues and
ambivalence due to the fear of damaging their
installed base of screen–film, respectively.
 In this era the storage effect was also being observed in screen–film
applications where it caused the unwanted effect of print through,i.e. a
ghost image of a prior exposure to the screen that appears on a
subsequent film exposed in the same cassette. The storage effectis
related to the phenomenon of thermally induced luminescence of
irradiated materials, i.e. thermo luminescence. Both photoluminescence
and thermo luminescence have a long history that can be traced back to
1603 (McKeever 1985, Kato 1994, Seibert 1997) and forward to present day
applications in medicine (e.g. radiation dosimetry), biology (e.g. readout
of radioactively tagged electrophoresis gels) and elsewhere (e.g.
archaeological dating)
 2.3. Energy
release and 2.3. Energy release and digitalization Computed
radiography (CR) is the most common method of

digitalization producing digital radiographic images and the first

technology that was commercially available. CR uses a
storage phosphor that requires light input to release the
trapped energy in the form of light that is proportional to
the X-ray intensity. When the plate is scanned with a red
laser beam, stored energy is released as visible light. The
emitted light is detected by a photomultiplier tube and
converted to electric signals. These electrical signals are
processed and converted to a digital image.
 2.4. Reuse
The computed radiography plate is exposed to a small, high-intensity laser
resulting in the previously trapped electrons to return to their respective
valence bands, letting off violet light. Using a white light, the computed
radiography plate can be 'reset', thus they can be reused repeatedly if carefully
handled.
3. FILM AND COMPUTED
RADIOGRAPHY COMPARISON
3.1 Exposure Medium
 3.2 Processing
•There are 3 different broad approaches to digital processing for images.
Depending on which method is chosen there will be various kinds of operations
can be used to alter the image.
•
•These 3 different approaches are called:
•Spatial Domain
•Intensity Domain
•Frequency Domain
 •Evaluation of Films:
•Film Viewer - It is an X-ray wall-mounted
viewer or illuminator is used to visualize
created X-ray films in the Radiology
department.

 Evaluation of CR
Workstation (Computers) –
On a processing server, the digitized picture
data is processed and shown on a monitor.
Digitizers - A high-powered laser is used to
scan the plate after it is put into the
digitizer. The energy stored in the storage
phosphors is released in the form of blue
light as a result of the laser light.

 •Archiving of Films
•The recommended minimum time limits for
medical records, including radiographs,
should be kept for;
•Ultrasound – 25 years
•Pediatric- 8 years after last visit if longer.
•All others – 7 years. So large storage space
is required.

 •Archiving of CR
•Remote network server:
• PACS (Picture Archiving and
Communication System)
- Revolutionized the access, storage and
management of radiographic images.
Provides long-term archival storage, allows
retrieval of the images for viewing on
television-type monitors, and allows
transmission of the images to remote
clinical sites and hospitals.

•Availability for CR
•You can access it
anytime and
anywhere with
unlimited copies of
the image.

•Availability of
Films
•Unique master
copy

•Availability for CR
•You can access it
anytime and
anywhere with
unlimited copies of
the image.

 Meet the Team

Jan Aldrin Alcantara Joedy Mark Kian Alvarez

Jonald Kurt Cruz Miguel Andrew Calvadores
Ann Krissy Azucena

RADIOLOGIC TECHNOLOGY
Jose Emmanuelle Alvarez