The development and clinical applications of large area flat-panel imagers in medical x-ray imaging.
Abstract: In this talk, I will review the state-of-the-art detector technologies in medical x-ray imaging, and outline the clinical need and technical challenges for the next generation detector development in different applications. I will discuss the impact of detector design and material properties on two types of flat-panel images: direct detection using photoconductors, and indirect detection using scintillators. I will present several new detector concepts under development that involve avalanche amorphous selenium photoconductors: the detector physics, prototype development and evaluation.
Bio: Dr. Wei Zhao received her BEng in Biomedical Engineering from Tsinghua University, and MSc and PhD degrees in Medical Physics from the University of Toronto. She is a Professor of Radiology and Biomedical Engineering at the State University of New York at Stony Brook. She has been working on the development and advanced clinical applications of large area x-ray flat-panel imagers for more than 20 years. She serves on the board of associate editors for Medical Physics, the study sections of NIH, and as reviewer for other major journals in medical imaging. Her research is focused on: 1. Develop amorphous selenium direct detection technology for digital breast tomosynthesis; 2. Develop low dose image sensor using avalanche amorphous selenium; 3. Investigate the intrinsic imaging performance of structured scintillators and optimize detector design for cone-beam computed tomography. She has authored more than 100 research articles, 5 book chapters and 10 patent applications. Her research work has been funded by the NIH, DOD CDMRP, Whitaker Foundation and industry.
