Demonstration of enhanced K-edge angiography using a cerium target x-ray generator.
The cerium target x-ray generator is useful in order to perform enhanced K-edge angiography using a cone beam because K-series characteristic x rays from the cerium target are absorbed effectively by iodine-based contrast mediums. The x-ray generator consists of a main controller, a unit with a Cockcroft-Walton circuit and a fixed anode x-ray tube, and a personal computer. The tube is a glass-enclosed diode with a cerium target and a 0.5-mm-thick beryllium window. The maximum tube voltage and current were 65 kV and 0.4 mA, respectively, and the focal-spot sizes were 1.0 x 1.3 mm. Cerium Kalpha lines were left using a barium sulfate filter, and the x-ray intensity was 0.48 microC/kg at 1.0 m from the source with a tube voltage of 60 kV, a current of 0.40 mA, and an exposure time of 1.0 s. Angiography was performed with a computed radiography system using iodine-based microspheres. In coronary angiography of nonliving animals, we observed fine blood vessels of approximately 100 microm with high contrasts.
Sato
Eiichi
E
Department of Physics, Iwate Medical University, Morioka 020-0015, Japan. dresato@iwate-med.ac.jp
Tanaka
Etsuro
E
Mori
Hidezo
H
Kawai
Toshiaki
T
Ichimaru
Toshio
T
Sato
Shigehiro
S
Takayama
Kazuyoshi
K
Ido
Hideaki
H
D000792:Angiography / Q000295:instrumentation* / Q000379:methods; D000818:Animals; D002563:Cerium; D017023:Coronary Angiography / Q000295:instrumentation / Q000379:methods; D004867:Equipment Design; D019544:Equipment Failure Analysis; D005240:Feasibility Studies; D019047:Phantoms, Imaging; D011817:Rabbits; D011856:Radiographic Image Enhancement / Q000295:instrumentation* / Q000379:methods; D015203:Reproducibility of Results; D012680:Sensitivity and Specificity
D002563:Cerium