X-ray camera

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An X- ray camera is a film camera or electronic camera optimized for use in fluoroscopy . In contrast to normal cameras, the optics are designed to photograph the images that are created on the surface of a fluorescent screen ( scintillator ) by converting X-rays into visible light.

Since the X-ray images contain relatively important information down to the smallest areas, high-resolution camera systems are used, which also have to be extremely sensitive due to the losses caused by distance and optics. Until a few years ago, analog tube cameras were superior to digital systems due to their higher resolution and lower noise. Because of their better optical properties (distortion, focusing), high-resolution digital sensors are now preferred. Often several CMOS or CCD chips are assembled into a unit in a camera in order to obtain higher light intensities and resolutions.

Common resolutions

  • 2048 × 2048 pixels / 12-16 bits
  • 3072 × 3072 pixels / 12-16 bits
  • 4096 × 4096 pixels / 14-16 bits

Since the light from the scintillator is monochrome (mostly in the green range with a wavelength of 550 nm), only single-color images are generated but with high grayscale values.

Trends

Today, X-rays are increasingly being archived digitally (see PACS , DICOM ), which suggests the use of a digital camera or a solid-state panel. Since solid-state and panel technology benefits from the development of LCD TFT screens, the flat panels are becoming more and more affordable and they will replace the complex CCD camera production with its high space requirements due to the optics required in this area.

swell

  • Th. Laubenberger, J. Laubenberger: Technology of medical radiology . German Doctors-Verlag Cologne, 7th edition, 1999, ISBN 3-7691-1132-X