Chest radiography using patient-specific digitally-prepared compensating filters

We have used a prototype digital beam attenuator (DBA) system to generate patient-specific digitally-prepared compensating filters for chest radiography of a human subject. The compensated radiographs demonstrate substantially more information in areas such as the mediastinum and upper abdomen which normally are underpenetrated in conventional chest radiographs. The compensated image was acquired with high contrast, high speed film-screen receptors improving the visibility of pulmonary parenchymal detail while minimizing patient radiation exposure. Currently we are limited by a two-hour preparation time and position the attenuator manually. We are developing a second generation DBA system featuring fast (15 second) fabrication times and automatic positioning of the attenuator. We expect that these features will relieve some of the misregistration errors present in our initial examination. © 1985 SPIE.

Duke Scholars

Author James T. Dobbins III Radiology