Computer simulation of image intensifier‐based computed tomography detector: Vascular application

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Abstract
This present study reports the results of a computer simulation whose aim was to predict the low‐contrast imaging performance of which a conventional x‐ray image intensifier with charge coupled device (CCD) camera would be capable if incorporated into a computed tomography (CT) volume imager. A vascular imaging task was modeled in our simulation. The effects of detector noise, x‐ray exposure levels, analog‐to‐digital conversion (ADC) precision and residual levels of detected x‐ray scatter were considered. The results of this simulation indicate that the low‐contrast imaging performance of an image intensifier‐based CT system was most limited by the CCD detector readout noise. Given this limitation the detection of greater than about 100 000 detected photons/pixel/projection gave marginal improvement in low‐contrast resolution. At these exposures 12 bit ADC precision resulted in little additional image noise. The effects of detecting scattered x rays are twofold; decreasing the signal‐to‐noise ratio associated with our modeled artery and introducing a cupping artifact. Based on the results from the simulation, it appears that an image intensifier‐based CT system is a feasible concept from a noise viewpoint, if the anticipated imaging task is intravenous angiography.

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