An image intensifier based high resolution X-ray imaging system for mammography

The authors present the design specs of a digital X-ray imaging system for mammography. The imaging system is based on the concept of microfluoroscopy in which the maximum image intensifier spatial resolution is matched to the TV camera's resolution by a zoom lens optically coupled to the output phosphor of the detector. The system uses an image intensifier with a beryllium window for soft X-ray detection. Furthermore, the system also employs a unique dual anode X-ray tube that will have tungsten/molybdenum for target material. The authors' results obtained by simulation show that by combining the higher detection efficiency of a mammographic image intensifier with the improved X-ray production capability of the W-anode tube, in conjunction with the sensitivity and linearity of current CCD and digital technology, one should be able to reduce the dose to the breast, retain high spatial resolution over a large field of view while simultaneously shortening the exposure time. The X-ray mammography system presented in the current work should be able to detect smaller structures with improved spatial resolution due to the shorter exposure times to be used while also reducing the dose to the patient.