Matrix-addressed x-ray detector arrays

Amorphous silicon (a-Si:H) technology has created a successful manufacturing business for large area active matrix arrays, of which liquid crystal displays (AMLCD) are the best known, and image sensors are an emerging technology for medical x-ray imaging. The large area, flat plate, format is the key feature of the technology that sets it apart from other digital imaging approaches. The principal requirements for medical imaging are sensitivity and high dynamic range. A-Si:H detectors have already proved to perform at least as well as x-ray film for radiographic applications and comparable to image intensifiers for fluoroscopy. There are several approaches to improving the performance of the image sensors is order to achieve higher sensitivity and higher spatial resolution. This paper describes some of these approaches.