scholarly journals Fluorescent X-ray Scan Image Quality Prediction

2019 ◽  
Vol 4 (1) ◽  
pp. 13-23
Author(s):  
Peter B. Weichman ◽  
Eugene M. Lavely

AbstractThis paper summarizes approaches to image quality prediction in support of an effort under the IARPA RAVEN program to demonstrate a non-destructive, tabletop X-ray microscope for high-resolution 3D imaging of integrated circuits (ICs). The fluorescent X-rays are generated by scanning an electron beam along an appropriately patterned target layer placed in front of the sample and are then detected after passing through the sample by a high-resolution (in both solid angle and energy) backside sensor array. The images are created by way of a model-based tomographic inversion algorithm, with image resolution depending critically on the electron beam scan density and diversity of sample orientations. We derive image quality metrics that quantify the image point spread function and noise sensitivity for any proposed experiment design. Application of these metrics will guide final system design when physical data are not yet available.

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Md Inzamam Ul Haque ◽  
Abhishek K Dubey ◽  
Jacob D Hinkle

Deep learning models have received much attention lately for their ability to achieve expert-level performance on the accurate automated analysis of chest X-rays. Although publicly available chest X-ray datasets include high resolution images, most models are trained on reduced size images due to limitations on GPU memory and training time. As compute capability continues to advance, it will become feasible to train large convolutional neural networks on high-resolution images. This study is based on the publicly available MIMIC-CXR-JPG dataset, comprising 377,110 high resolution chest X-ray images, and provided with 14 labels to the corresponding free-text radiology reports. We find, interestingly, that tasks that require a large receptive field are better suited to downscaled input images, and we verify this qualitatively by inspecting effective receptive fields and class activation maps of trained models. Finally, we show that stacking an ensemble across resolutions outperforms each individual learner at all input resolutions while providing interpretable scale weights, suggesting that multi-scale features are crucially important to information extraction from high-resolution chest X-rays.


Author(s):  
A.N. Broers ◽  
J. Cuomo ◽  
J. Harper ◽  
W. Molzen ◽  
R. Laibowitz ◽  
...  

Recent work on electron beam lithography has centered on improving overlay precision, reducing cost per exposure and perfecting electron resists and processes for the fabrication of silicon integrated circuits. These efforts have produced experimental integrated circuits with higher density than had previously been possible, and have led to cost reductions in manufacturing environments where quick turn-around is essential. High resolution (linewidths < 0.25 /jm) has not been of direct interest although its pursuit has given information about electron scattering effects which influence resist profiles and give rise to proximity effects. Both of these effects can still be important at larger dimensions particularly when linewidth control is of primary importance. In the last two years, new interest in high resolution has arisen because it has become possible to make useful structures with dimensions of a few tens of nanometers. These nanostructures can be handled readily and it is possible to make electrical contact to them. They are of interest in exploring the physical nature of electrical conductivity especially in superconducting structures exhibiting Josephson effects. It should also be possible to use similar techniques to make optical elements for soft x-rays such as zone plates and pinholes.


Author(s):  
W. Brünger

Reconstructive tomography is a new technique in diagnostic radiology for imaging cross-sectional planes of the human body /1/. A collimated beam of X-rays is scanned through a thin slice of the body and the transmitted intensity is recorded by a detector giving a linear shadow graph or projection (see fig. 1). Many of these projections at different angles are used to reconstruct the body-layer, usually with the aid of a computer. The picture element size of present tomographic scanners is approximately 1.1 mm2.Micro tomography can be realized using the very fine X-ray source generated by the focused electron beam of a scanning electron microscope (see fig. 2). The translation of the X-ray source is done by a line scan of the electron beam on a polished target surface /2/. Projections at different angles are produced by rotating the object.During the registration of a single scan the electron beam is deflected in one direction only, while both deflections are operating in the display tube.


Sensors ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 21 (13) ◽  
pp. 4554
Author(s):  
Ralph-Alexandru Erdelyi ◽  
Virgil-Florin Duma ◽  
Cosmin Sinescu ◽  
George Mihai Dobre ◽  
Adrian Bradu ◽  
...  

The most common imaging technique for dental diagnoses and treatment monitoring is X-ray imaging, which evolved from the first intraoral radiographs to high-quality three-dimensional (3D) Cone Beam Computed Tomography (CBCT). Other imaging techniques have shown potential, such as Optical Coherence Tomography (OCT). We have recently reported on the boundaries of these two types of techniques, regarding. the dental fields where each one is more appropriate or where they should be both used. The aim of the present study is to explore the unique capabilities of the OCT technique to optimize X-ray units imaging (i.e., in terms of image resolution, radiation dose, or contrast). Two types of commercially available and widely used X-ray units are considered. To adjust their parameters, a protocol is developed to employ OCT images of dental conditions that are documented on high (i.e., less than 10 μm) resolution OCT images (both B-scans/cross sections and 3D reconstructions) but are hardly identified on the 200 to 75 μm resolution panoramic or CBCT radiographs. The optimized calibration of the X-ray unit includes choosing appropriate values for the anode voltage and current intensity of the X-ray tube, as well as the patient’s positioning, in order to reach the highest possible X-rays resolution at a radiation dose that is safe for the patient. The optimization protocol is developed in vitro on OCT images of extracted teeth and is further applied in vivo for each type of dental investigation. Optimized radiographic results are compared with un-optimized previously performed radiographs. Also, we show that OCT can permit a rigorous comparison between two (types of) X-ray units. In conclusion, high-quality dental images are possible using low radiation doses if an optimized protocol, developed using OCT, is applied for each type of dental investigation. Also, there are situations when the X-ray technology has drawbacks for dental diagnosis or treatment assessment. In such situations, OCT proves capable to provide qualitative images.


1998 ◽  
Vol 5 (3) ◽  
pp. 515-517 ◽  
Author(s):  
M. Frank ◽  
C. A. Mears ◽  
S. E. Labov ◽  
L. J. Hiller ◽  
J. B. le Grand ◽  
...  

Experimental results are presented obtained with a cryogenically cooled high-resolution X-ray spectrometer based on a 141 × 141 µm Nb-Al-Al2O3-Al-Nb superconducting tunnel junction (STJ) detector in an SR-XRF demonstration experiment. STJ detectors can operate at count rates approaching those of semiconductor detectors while still providing a significantly better energy resolution for soft X-rays. By measuring fluorescence X-rays from samples containing transition metals and low-Z elements, an FWHM energy resolution of 6–15 eV for X-rays in the energy range 180–1100 eV has been obtained. The results show that, in the near future, STJ detectors may prove very useful in XRF and microanalysis applications.


2007 ◽  
Vol 130 ◽  
pp. 7-14 ◽  
Author(s):  
Andrew N. Fitch

The highly-collimated, intense X-rays produced by a synchrotron radiation source can be harnessed to build high-resolution powder diffraction instruments with a wide variety of applications. The general advantages of using synchrotron radiation for powder diffraction are discussed and illustrated with reference to the structural characterisation of crystalline materials, atomic PDF analysis, in-situ and high-throughput studies where the structure is evolving between successive scans, and the measurement of residual strain in engineering components.


1991 ◽  
Vol 01 (03) ◽  
pp. 251-258 ◽  
Author(s):  
M. TERASAWA

K, L, and M X-rays in the wavelengths between 6Å and 130Å generated by the bombardment of 200 keV protons and other heavy ions were measured by means of a wavelength dispersive Bragg’s spectrometer. The X-ray peak intensity was fairly high in general, while the background was very low. The technique was favorably applied to a practical analysis of several light elements (Be, B, C, N, O, and F). Use of moderate-energy heavy ions considering the wavelength selectivity in X-ray generation was effective for the element analysis. The high-resolution spectrometry in the analytical application of ion-induced X-ray generation was found to be useful for the study of fine electronic structure, e.g. satellite and hypersatellite X-ray study, and of the chemical state of materials.


Some of these could also be operated in the energy range above lOMeV for experiments designed to determine at which energy level radioactivity can be induced in the irradiated medium. A linac with a maximum energy of 25 MeV was commissioned for the U.S. Army Natick Research and Development Labora­ tories in 1963. Its beam power was 6.5 kW at an electron energy of 10 MeV, 18 kW at 24 MeV. Assuming 100% efficiency, a 1-kW beam can irradiate 360 kg of product with a dose of 10 kGy/h. The efficiency of electron accelerators is higher than that of gamma sources because the electron beam can be directed at the product, whereas the gamma sources emit radiation in all directions. An efficiency of 50% is a realistic assumption for accelerator facilities. With that and 6.5 kW beam power an accelerator of the type built for the Natick laboratories can process about 1.2t/h at 10 kGy. In Odessa in the former Soviet Union, now in the Ukraine, two 20-kW accelerators with an energy of 1.4 MeV installed next to a grain elevator went into operation in 1983. Each accelerator has the capacity to irradiate 200 t of wheat per hour with a dose of 200 Gy for insect disinfestation. This corresponds to a beam utilization of 56% (9). In France, a facility for electron irradiation of frozen deboned chicken meat commenced operation at Berric near Vannes (Brittany) in late 1986. The purpose of irradiation is to improve the hygienic quality of the meat by destroying salmonella and other disease-causing (pathogenic) microorganisms. The electron beam accelerator is a 7 MeV/10 kW Cassitron built by CGR-MeV (10). An irradiation facility of this type is shown in Figure . Because of their relatively low depth of penetration electron beams cannot be used for the irradiation of animal carcasses, large packages, or other thick materials. However, this difficulty can be overcome by converting the electrons to x-rays. As indicated in Figure 9, this can be done by fitting a water-cooled metal plate to the scanner. Whereas in conventional x-ray tubes the conversion of electron energy to x-ray energy occurs only with an efficiency of about %, much higher efficiencies can be achieved in electron accelerators. The conversion efficiency depends on the material of the converter plate (target) and on the electron energy. Copper converts 5-MeV electrons with about 7% efficiency, 10-MeV electrons with 12% efficiency. A tungsten target can convert 5-MeV electrons with about 20%, 10-MeV electrons with 30% efficiency. (Exact values depend on target thickness.) In contrast to the distinct gamma radiation energy emitted from radionuclides and to the monoenergetic electrons produced by accelerators, the energy spectrum of x-rays is continuous from the value equivalent to the energy of the bombarding electrons to zero. The intensity of this spectrum peaks at about one-tenth of the maximum energy value. The exact location of the intensity peak depends on the thickness of the converter plate and on some other factors. As indicated in Figure

1995 ◽  
pp. 40-40

2016 ◽  
Vol 23 (6) ◽  
pp. 1462-1473 ◽  
Author(s):  
Sebastian Cartier ◽  
Matias Kagias ◽  
Anna Bergamaschi ◽  
Zhentian Wang ◽  
Roberto Dinapoli ◽  
...  

MÖNCH is a 25 µm-pitch charge-integrating detector aimed at exploring the limits of current hybrid silicon detector technology. The small pixel size makes it ideal for high-resolution imaging. With an electronic noise of about 110 eV r.m.s., it opens new perspectives for many synchrotron applications where currently the detector is the limiting factor,e.g.inelastic X-ray scattering, Laue diffraction and soft X-ray or high-resolution color imaging. Due to the small pixel pitch, the charge cloud generated by absorbed X-rays is shared between neighboring pixels for most of the photons. Therefore, at low photon fluxes, interpolation algorithms can be applied to determine the absorption position of each photon with a resolution of the order of 1 µm. In this work, the characterization results of one of the MÖNCH prototypes are presented under low-flux conditions. A custom interpolation algorithm is described and applied to the data to obtain high-resolution images. Images obtained in grating interferometry experiments without the use of the absorption grating G2are shown and discussed. Perspectives for the future developments of the MÖNCH detector are also presented.


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