Characterization of a novel microCT detector for small animal computed tomography (CT)

Samta C. Thacker; Vivek V. Nagarkar; Hongjie J. Liang; Valeriy Gaysinskiy; Stuart Miller; Simon R. Cherry

doi:10.1117/12.709736

14 March 2007 Characterization of a novel microCT detector for small animal computed tomogaphy (CT)

Samta C. Thacker, Vivek V. Nagarkar, Hongjie J. Liang, Valeriy Gaysinskiy, Stuart Miller, Simon R. Cherry

Proceedings Volume 6510, Medical Imaging 2007: Physics of Medical Imaging; 65103L (2007) https://doi.org/10.1117/12.709736
Event: Medical Imaging, 2007, San Diego, CA, United States

Abstract

The development of new small animal imaging techniques such as high-speed microCT and low-dose microCT often requires investigating optimal detector parameters and imaging techniques. This paper presents an approach to develop a low-dose microCT detector based on a novel, back-thinned, back-illuminated electron multiplying CCD (EMCCD) coupled to a high performance microcolumnar CsI scintillator via a fiberoptic taper. Our goal is to achieve high DQE(0) for X-ray energies typically used in small animal imaging (40 to 80 kVp), providing high quality imaging at substantially reduced dose. Towards achieving this goal we have developed a novel EMCCD camera fitted with a fiberoptic window. To enhance the imaging area we fabricated additional fiberoptic tapers measuring 3:1 and 6:1 in demagnification ratio, mechanically coupled to the EMCCD. The high sensitivity and internal gain of the EMCCD is further exploited in our system design by the use of a thick CsI screen. These screens not only provide higher absorption for 40 to 80 kVp X-rays, but even at ~200 &mgr;m thickness maintain a high resolution of up to 11 lp/mm. This paper outlines the quantitative performance of each detector component and the detector as a whole. While the detector demonstrated the potential for achieving the targeted DQE performance, it also showed that mechanical coupling of the tapers to the CCD results in unacceptable light loss, and that direct CCD-to-taper bonding and using new versions of large-area EMCCD chips would be better options.

Citation Download Citation

Samta C. Thacker, Vivek V. Nagarkar, Hongjie J. Liang, Valeriy Gaysinskiy, Stuart Miller, and Simon R. Cherry "Characterization of a novel microCT detector for small animal computed tomogaphy (CT)", Proc. SPIE 6510, Medical Imaging 2007: Physics of Medical Imaging, 65103L (14 March 2007); https://doi.org/10.1117/12.709736

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