High‐rate x‐ray spectroscopy in mammography with a CdTe detector: A digital pulse processing approach

Abbene, L.; Gerardi, G.; Principato, F.; Sordo, S. Del; Ienzi, R.; Raso, G.

doi:10.1118/1.3512804

Cited by 34 publications

(22 citation statements)

References 36 publications

(40 reference statements)

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“…In order for a PCA to be clinically practical for diagnostic imaging, the pixels would be required to handle input x-ray count rates (in units of mega-counts per second per mm 2 ) on the order of 1 to 50 Mcps/mm 2 (Abbene et al , 2010; Taguchi et al , 2011). By comparison, PCAs based on c-Si have reported maximum count rate capabilities ranging from 1 to 600 Mcps/mm 2 (Taguchi and Iwanczyk, 2013).…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Performance of in-pixel circuits for photon counting arrays (PCAs) based on polycrystalline silicon TFTs

et al. 2016

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Photon counting arrays (PCAs), defined as pixelated imagers which measure the absorbed energy of x-ray photons individually and record this information digitally, are of increasing clinical interest. A number of PCA prototypes with a 1 mm pixel-to-pixel pitch have recently been fabricated with polycrystalline silicon (poly-Si) — a thin-film technology capable of creating monolithic imagers of a size commensurate with human anatomy. In this study, analog and digital simulation frameworks were developed to provide insight into the influence of individual poly-Si transistors on pixel circuit performance — information that is not readily available through empirical means. The simulation frameworks were used to characterize the circuit designs employed in the prototypes. The analog framework, which determines the noise produced by individual transistors, was used to estimate energy resolution, as well as to identify which transistors contribute the most noise. The digital framework, which analyzes how well circuits function in the presence of significant variations in transistor properties, was used to estimate how fast a circuit can produce an output (referred to as output count rate). In addition, an algorithm was developed and used to estimate the minimum pixel pitch that could be achieved for the pixel circuits of the current prototypes. The simulation frameworks predict that the analog component of the PCA prototypes could have energy resolution as low as 8.9% FWHM at 70 keV; and the digital components should work well even in the presence of significant TFT variations, with the fastest component having output count rates as high as 3 MHz. Finally, based on conceivable improvements in the underlying fabrication process, the algorithm predicts that the 1 mm pitch of the current PCA prototypes could be reduced significantly, potentially to between ~240 and 290 μm.

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Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Performance of in-pixel circuits for photon counting arrays (PCAs) based on polycrystalline silicon TFTs

et al. 2016

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“…As shown in our previous works [32,33], we also implemented a pulse shape discrimination (PSD) technique to minimize peak pile-up events, i.e. , overlapped preamplified pulses within the peaking time that are not detectable through the “ fast ” shaping operation.…”

Section: Methodsmentioning

confidence: 99%

Direct Measurement of Mammographic X-Ray Spectra with a Digital CdTe Detection System

Abbene

Gerardi

Principato

et al. 2012

Sensors

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In this work we present a detection system, based on a CdTe detector and an innovative digital pulse processing (DPP) system, for high-rate X-ray spectroscopy in mammography (1–30 keV). The DPP system performs a height and shape analysis of the detector pulses, sampled and digitized by a 14-bit, 100 MHz ADC. We show the results of the characterization of the detection system both at low and high photon counting rates by using monoenergetic X-ray sources and a nonclinical X-ray tube. The detection system exhibits excellent performance up to 830 kcps with an energy resolution of 4.5% FWHM at 22.1 keV. Direct measurements of clinical molybdenum X-ray spectra were carried out by using a pinhole collimator and a custom alignment device. A comparison with the attenuation curves and the half value layer values, obtained from the measured and simulated spectra, from an ionization chamber and from a solid state dosimeter, also shows the accuracy of the measurements. These results make the proposed detection system a very attractive tool for both laboratory research, calibration of dosimeters and advanced quality controls in mammography.

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“…At higher counting rates, the direct digitization of the preamplifier output pulses (DPP approach) is a very appealing solution, as reported in several works [7][8][9][10][11][12][13][14][15][16][17]. These systems showed good spectroscopic performance up to photoncounting rates of approximately 100 kcps, a limit due to the finite width of the shaped pulses and the difficulties on baseline restoration.…”

Section: Pulse-processing Electronics: Analog and Digital Approachesmentioning

confidence: 99%

Silicon Photomultipliers for High-Performance Scintillation Crystal Readout Applications

Abbene¹,

Gerardi²,

Principato³

2017

Analog Electronics for Radiation Detection

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High‐rate x‐ray spectroscopy in mammography with a CdTe detector: A digital pulse processing approach

Abstract: These results make the proposed detection system a very attractive tool for both laboratory research and advanced quality controls in mammography.

Cited by 34 publications

References 36 publications

Performance of in-pixel circuits for photon counting arrays (PCAs) based on polycrystalline silicon TFTs

Performance of in-pixel circuits for photon counting arrays (PCAs) based on polycrystalline silicon TFTs

Direct Measurement of Mammographic X-Ray Spectra with a Digital CdTe Detection System

Silicon Photomultipliers for High-Performance Scintillation Crystal Readout Applications

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