title: Demonstration of megavoltage and diagnostic x-ray imaging with hydrogenated amorphous silicon arrays.
abstract: Flat-panel imagers consisting of the first large area, self-scanning, pixelated, solid-state arrays made with hydrogenated amorphous silicon (a-Si:H) are under development by the authors for applications in diagnostic x-ray and megavoltage radiotherapy imaging. The arrays, designated by the acronym MASDA for multi-element amorphous silicon detector array, consist of a two-dimensional array of a-Si:H photodiodes and thin-film transistors and are used in conjunction with scintillating materials. Imagers utilizing MASDA arrays offer a variety of advantages over existing technologies. This article presents initial megavoltage and diagnostic-quality x-ray images taken with several such arrays including the first examples of anatomical-phantom images. The external readout electronics and imaging techniques required to obtain such images are outlined, the construction, operation, and advantages of the arrays briefly reviewed, and the future potential of this new technology discussed.
authors.affiliation: Department of Radiation Oncology, University of Michigan Medical Center, Ann Arbor 48109.
authors.forename: L E
authors.initials: LE
authors.lastname: Antonuk
authors.forename: J
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Boudry
authors.forename: W
authors.initials: W
authors.lastname: Huang
authors.forename: D L
authors.initials: DL
authors.lastname: McShan
authors.forename: E J
authors.initials: EJ
authors.lastname: Morton
authors.forename: J
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Yorkston
authors.forename: M J
authors.initials: MJ
authors.lastname: Longo
authors.forename: R A
authors.initials: RA
authors.lastname: Street
mesh_terms: D003952:Diagnostic Imaging / Q000295:instrumentation / Q000379:methods*; D006801:Humans; D006865:Hydrogenation; D008961:Models, Structural; D011882:Radiotherapy, High-Energy; D012825:Silicon
chemical_list: D012825:Silicon