Low dose exposure diagnosis with a transXend detector aiming for iodine-marked cancer detection

The energy resolved computed tomography (CT), which had advantage over conventional CT (twofold higher CT value for iodine contrast agent and being free from beam hardening effect), was shown practical by employing the transXend detector: it measured X-rays as electric current and gave energy distribution of incident X-rays after analysis. This article shows a new application of the transXend detector for estimating the thicknesses of acrylic, iodine, and aluminum in a phantom. For this purpose, the responses of the segment detectors in the transXend detector are changed intentionally with inserting filters. With previously obtained two-dimensional maps for acrylic–iodine and acrylic–aluminum thicknesses, which are shown by the ratios of electric currents measured by the segment detectors, the thickness of materials on the path of the X-rays are obtained by a transmission measurement.     

Computed tomography reconstruction from two transmission measurements for iodine-marked cancer detection

The authors invented the transXend detector, which measures X-rays as electric currents, and then gives the energy distribution of the X-rays after an unfolding process. In a previous paper, it was shown that the material thickness distributions can be estimated with the transXend detector by using reference points plotted from the electric current ratios, such as the I ₂/I ₁ ? I ₃/I ₁ graph, where I_i denotes the electric current measured by the i-th segment of the transXend detector. In this paper, the tomographic images of iodine, aluminum, and the acrylic those surround the other two materials are reconstructed from their material thickness distributions, which are estimated from two X-ray incidence directions. The X-ray event ratios are also used to estimate the material thickness distributions.     

Two-dimensional “transXend” detector for third-generation energy-resolved computed tomography

The “transXend” detector measures X-rays as electric currents and provides the energy distribution of the measured X-rays after analysis. Capabilities of material distinction, effective atomic number measurement, and low-dose exposure computed tomography (CT) with high K-edge contrast agent from the use of the transXend detector in energy-resolved CT have been demonstrated via the first-generation CT measurements. For application of the principle of the transXend detector to the third-generation CT for human subjects in future work, a method for fabrication of a two-dimensional transXend detector is proposed and demonstrated using a commercial two-dimensional detector and two kinds of strip absorbers. The energy-resolved CT is performed by placing a proposed absorber system in front of a two-dimensional detector, which is used for conventional current measurement CT.     

Measurement of effective atomic numbers using energy-resolved computed tomography

For ion radiation therapy, the measurement of effective atomic numbers, Z_eff, is necessary to know the material distribution in a human body; the range of ions entering the human body is influenced by the material distribution along their paths. Z_eff, however, cannot be measured at hospitals because monochromatic X-rays with different energies are necessary and are used only at synchrotron facilities. To make Z_eff measurements at hand, we propose energy-resolved computed tomography (CT) using a “transXend detector”. By assigning two narrow energy ranges in the unfolding process of the data obtained by the transXend detector, Z_eff for acrylic and aluminum can be estimated by energy-resolved CT. The estimated Z_eff are compared with those obtained by dual-energy and monochromatic X-ray CT.     

Energy-resolved computed tomography measurements of iron solution and adipose as a simulation for estimating the iron concentration in the human liver

To measure the iron concentration in the human liver, which comprises soft tissue and adipose as well as iron, energy-resolved computed tomography (CT) is applied using a transXend detector. The transXend detector measures X-rays as electric current and gives an energy distribution after analysis. Energy-resolved CT clearly separates iron solution from acrylic, a substitute for soft tissue, whereas conventional current-measurement CT cannot. Using CT values obtained in two different energy ranges, a two-dimensional map of iron, adipose and soft tissue is plotted. With this map, the components in the liver can be identified.     

Response function estimation with fine energy bins for the energy-resolved computed tomography using a transXend detector

A new ‘transXend’ detector system has been developed for energy-resolved computed tomography (CT). It consists of several segmented detectors that measure X-rays as electric currents. Response functions of segmented detectors are estimated using component materials of a body under inspection to unfold X-ray spectra. To avoid material-dependent measurements, response functions inherent to segmented detectors are evaluated by Monte Carlo calculations. CT was performed for a phantom consisting of five resins and was analyzed by the estimated response functions. The linear attenuation coefficients for the five resins have excellent agreement with database values.     

Low-dose exposure energy-resolved X-ray computed tomography using a contrast agent with a high-energy K-edge

X-ray computed tomography (CT) with iodine contrast agent is widely employed to locate cancers. However, this method has shortcomings such as high-radiation dose exposure, iodine side effects, and a beam hardening effect. We have been working on the energy-resolved CT measurement method using a novel X-ray detection system, the “transXend” detector, which measures X-rays as electric currents and gives the energy distribution of incident X-rays after analysis. In the present study, we propose a method for low-dose exposure CT that involves the combination of the energy-resolved CT method, which is free from the beam hardening effect, and a harmless contrast agent with high-energy K-edge absorption, such as gold nanoparticles expected as a future contrast agent. Comparisons of radiation dose exposures as functions of aluminum filter thickness at the exit aperture of an X-ray tube and the K-edge energies of contrast agents are described.     

A Current-Mode Detector for Unfolding X-ray Energy Distribution

To turn the advantage of energy measurement in x-ray transmission diagnosis into practice, we propose a novel detector for the estimation of x-ray energy distribution. This detector consists of several segment detectors arrayed in the direction of x-ray incidence. Each segment detector measures x-rays as current. With unfolding measured currents, the x-ray energy distribution is obtained. The practical application of this detector was verified by estimating the iodine thickness in an acryl phantom.     

Evaluation of K X-ray escape and crosstalk in CdTe detectors andmulti-channel detectors

The simple structure of CdTe semiconductor detectors facilitates their downsizing, and their possible application to radiographic sensors has been studied. The escape of K X-rays from these detectors increases with reduction of their dimensions and affects the measurements of X- and gamma-ray spectra. K X-rays also produce crosstalk in multi-channel detectors with adjacent channels. Therefore, K X-rays which escape from the detector elements degrade both the precision of energy spectra and spatial resolution. The ratios of escape peak integrated counts to total photon counts for various sizes of CdTe single detectors were calculated for gamma rays using the Monte Carlo method. Also, escape and crosstalk ratios were simulated for the CdTe multi-channel detectors. The theoretical results were tested experimentally for 59.54-keV gamma rays from a ²⁴¹Am radioactive source. Results showed that escape ratios for single detectors were strongly dependent on element size and thickness. The escape and crosstalk ratios increased with closer channel pitch. Our calculated results showed a good agreement with the experimental data. The calculations made it clear that K X-rays which escaped to neighboring channels induced crosstalk more frequently at smaller channel pitch in multi-channel detectors. A radiation shielding grid which blocked incident photons between the boundary channels was also tested by experiment and by calculation. It was effective in reducing the probability of escape and crosstalk     

基于广义最小二乘法原理的中子能谱解谱程序开发及验证

中子能谱是反应堆的一项重要参数,为验证理论计算,常使用阈探测器活化法对中子能谱进行实际测量。为解决由于活化片数量小于能群数量而引起的解谱问题并获得较高的解谱精度,基于广义最小二乘法原理开发了解谱程序NSAGLS。使用IAEA给出的例题进行了验证,结果表明该程序能够得到正确的解谱结果。该程序可用于反应堆中子能谱的解谱,并能够考虑输入谱、核反应截面及测量活度不确定度信息对解谱结果的影响。     

吸收法在强激光与固体靶所致脉冲X射线能谱测量中的研究进展北大核心CSCD

脉冲X射线能谱测量,对于强激光装置中的物理诊断以及辐射防护具有重要意义。脉冲X射线具有脉冲时间短、注量大、能谱范围宽等特点,常规脉冲测量技术往往受到探测器死时间、堆积效应的限制而无法适用。目前多个国家都建立了强激光装置的研究平台,并开展X射线能谱测量相关研究。本文首先介绍了基于吸收法原理且适用于中低能脉冲X射线的测量方法:Ross Pair法和衰减法。然后针对这两种方法从5个方面(探测器结构、滤片材料、探测介质选择、散射控制以及解谱方法)综述了脉冲X射线吸收谱仪的研究进展,并分析了各自的适用性。目前激光装置中脉冲X射线能谱的测量还面临着能量分辨率不理想、结果不确定度无法量化和被动式能谱测量操作不便等问题。随着激光装置的不断升级,脉冲X射线注量以及打靶频次将不断增加,对探测器的耐辐照性能以及响应速度提出了更高的要求。     

Dual detector system for PIXE measurement covering a wide element range

Two different type of X-ray detectors were used for simultaneous PIXE measurement over a wide element range. One is a pure-Si detector with a thin Be-window, which is to keep high sensitivity for the detection of low Z element. The other is a CZT detector with a thick Be window of 250 μm. It has almost 100% detection efficiency for the X-rays with high energy of up to about 80 keV. By using the CZT detector that was arranged to have a large solid angle, the detection sensitivity of the high energy X-rays of around 30 keV was enhanced by about two orders of magnitude than that by the pure-Si detector. A pair of small permanent magnet was used to sweep away the back-scattered protons from the detector. With this magnet system, the background level in the spectrum of the pure-Si detector was significantly reduced.     

单球中子谱仪的能量响应模拟及解谱方法研究

本文阐述了单球中子谱仪的原理,介绍了基于单慢化球和19对⁶Li-⁷Li闪烁体探测器构成的单球中子谱仪的结构及解谱方法,使用蒙特卡罗中子输运程序模拟了单球中子谱仪的中子响应函数。计算结果表明,该谱仪具有较好的空间对称性,能根据谱仪中各探测器的计数对源的大致方位进行判断;模拟了单球谱仪在²⁴¹Am-Be源照射下各探测器的计数,使用Unfolding with Maxed and Gravel (UMG)解谱程序在不同解谱算法以及初始谱的情况下对模拟数据进行解谱计算,在使用最大熵散发以及与源项相同的预置谱的情况下,解谱结果最为准确,验证了响应函数的准确性。     

贝叶斯理论在脉冲裂变中子能谱诊断中的应用

本文建立了以贝叶斯理论为基础的脉冲裂变中子能谱的数值迭代计算方法,解决了脉冲裂变中子能谱测量的技术难题。对脉冲裂变中子空间输运、物质衰减、探测器灵敏度等进行了分析,将脉冲裂变中子能谱在空间传输中的飞行展宽时间谱理解为出壳时间谱在不同测点的概率分布函数,脉冲中子在不同测点的信号强度分布是出壳时间谱和脉冲中子能谱飞行展宽时间谱的卷积信号,将物质衰减、探测器灵敏度响应等转换环节对中子能谱的影响因子进行了分别处理,消除了通道物质对中子能谱衰减和探测器非线性灵敏度等因素对脉冲裂变中子能谱解谱的影响。研究结果表明,对距辐射源5 m和10 m处的中子波形进行数值处理,均能获得理想的脉冲裂变中子能谱,当考虑传输系统响应函数对中子波形影响时,仍能获得较理想的中子能谱。     

Performance improvement of the filter-type ‘transXend’ energy-resolving detector by considering noise sensitivity

The filter-type ‘transXend’ detector is an energy-resolving X-ray detector consisting of an energy-integrating flat-panel detector and multiple filters. In our previous studies, we have shown the effectiveness of the transXend detector, but the filters used were not optimized. To obtain better performance, the filters, especially their thickness and material, should be considered. In this paper, we present a method that can preliminarily estimate filter performance by comparing their noise sensitivity before carrying out numerous experiments. Two kinds of filter sets, Cu–Sn and W–Ag, with various thicknesses were evaluated. The results suggest that to image a 20-cm-thick object with 120-kV X-rays, an unfiltered channel and a channel filtered with 0.5-mm-thick Sn or 0.4-mm-thick Ag may be the best combination. The optimal filter thickness will be smaller if the object is thinner and the tube voltage is lower. For applications that require a wide dynamic range of detector response, a channel with a W filter may be better than an unfiltered channel. To verify the calculation results, computed tomography imaging experiments with a 3-cm-diameter phantom were also performed, and the experimental results showed good agreement with the calculation results.     

Application of CR-39 Track Detector to Neutron Spectrum Measurement

A new technique for estimating the neutron energy spectrum with CR-39 track detectors has been proposed for application to a singly pulsed neutron field where prevailing counters cannot operate properly. The CR-39 sample exposed to neutrons was intermittently etched, then the major and minor radii of respective etch pits were measured for each etching stage and the growth curve was obtained. The analysis method of growth curves was also designed, with which both the energy and the angle of recoil protons could be evaluated and converted into the energy of neutrons incident normally.

The neutron irradiation experiments were carried out with the 46 MeV electron linear accelerator at the Research Reactor Institute, Kyoto University. It was confirmed from comparing with the reference spectrum measured by the neutron time-of-flight method that the present growth-curve method is useful for the estimation of the neutron energy distribution between about 0.3 and 2 MeV. Moreover, we have experimentally examined the unfolding method suggested by Matiullah and Durrani in order to extend the application of CR-39 detector to higher energies.     

超薄窗Si（Li）探测器在实验中的应用

用超薄窗Ｓｉ（Ｌｉ）探测器测量低能Ｘ射线，将传统的ＰＩＸＥ谱测量范围推广到如Ｓｉ、Ａｌ、Ｎａ等低原子序数元素。还对超薄窗Ｓｉ（Ｌｉ）探测器的具体应用作了描述。     

碳化硅与硅探测器辐射探测性能比较

碳化硅(SiC)材料因其禁带宽度大、晶体原子离位能高等物理特性,而被视为制作耐高温和抗辐射器件极具潜力的宽带隙半导体材料。本文采用Geant4模拟得到了30μm厚的SiC和Si材料对不同能量的电子、质子、α粒子以及X射线的响应,并对SiC和Si探测器器件的I-V特性和能谱测量结果进行了比较。仿真及试验结果证明,SiC粒子阻挡本领及X射线探测效率与Si探测器相当,SiC与Si探测器对带电粒子的能谱分辨率也没有明显差别。     

逆滤波器法在能谱测量中的应用

由于传统测量能谱的方法是采用单道、多道的方法,其有一定的分辨时间,并且无法克服相近脉冲的叠加效应,提出了采用逆滤波器法测量能谱的方法。该方法将探测器系统看作具有某一传递函数的线性系统,对探测器系统的输出进行采样,构造系统的离散逆系统,使采样信号通过逆系统,即可取得原始入射粒子的能量与入射时间。仿真结果表明,采用该方法不仅能准确测量原始入射射线的能量,并能测出其入射时间,克服了传统单道、多道进行能谱测量的一些缺点。     

基于6LiF/ZnS(Ag)和闪烁光纤的宽能谱中子探测技术研究

为了解决传统中子探测器在狭窄空间、强电磁干扰、远距离传输等复杂环境下探测中子时存在的不足,本研究将6LiF/ZnS(Ag)混合材料和闪烁光纤相结合,设计了一种可用于宽能谱中子测量的新型闪烁体光纤中子探测器。基于蒙特卡罗粒子输运计算程序FLUKA对该新型光纤中子探测器的中子探测性能进行了模拟研究,完成了闪烁体光纤探头的优化设计。结果表明,当入射中子的能量在0.01~10 eV和0.5~10 MeV范围时,该新型中子探测器具有较高的中子探测效率,可用于热中子-快中子宽能谱范围中子的探测;通过对比脉冲幅度的差异,该新型中子探测器能够实现n-γ信号的甄别。