Project Title:

Compact, Digital, Flash X-Ray Imager for Quantitative Physiological Studies in Space

92-1-12.01-8492                                                   NAS09-18867
Compact, Digital, Flash X-Ray Imager for
     Quantitative Physiological Studies in Space
Vehicles
Advanced Optical Technologies, Inc.
141 Davis Road
Storrs, CT  06268
Yong-Sheng Chao                                      (203-429-8492)

Abstract:

     Continuous and progressive bone loss is a major health hazard
in prolonged manned-space flight. Internal body organs, especially
the heart, lungs, and blood vessels of brain, also experience
complicated adaptations to weightlessness. Therefore, systematic
research is necessary to understand these adaptations and to
identify possible countermeasures. An accurate, fully automated,
dual-energy, digital, flash x-ray imaging system will be developed
for the quantitative monitoring of bone mineral content (BMC) and
for anatomical imaging of the internal body organs of humans or
animals in space. A recently developed, large format (8" x 11"),
integrated, amorphous-silicon, photodiode array is used with most
efficient scintillators (CsI(Tl) and BGO) for energy-selective, x-
ray image detection. The novel x-ray imager is designed to have
its key imaging quality parameters comparable with those of
computed radiography. The imager has an accuracy of better than 1
percent in BMC determination and can ensure distinctive separation
of bone and internal body organs for monitoring physiological
change under weightless conditions. A compact, flash x-ray source
with microsecond pulse-width, synchronized with the selected
action of the imaged objects, will precisely find the imaged
object without requiring the immobilization of animals in space
vehicles.

Potential Commercial Application:

Potential Commercial Applications:  This device can be used in the
clinical diagnosis of osteoporosis and in portable x-ray imaging.

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