Characterization of Detector Scintillator Effect on Interventional Device Visualization in X-ray Fluoroscopy

Flat panel detectors have a large number of parameters that affect fluoroscopy image quality. Scintillator thickness is very important and can be readily changed in fabrication. With increasing thickness, there is a degradation of MTF with spatial blurring but improved conversion efficiency. This design trade-off should be optimized for visualization. Using quantitative experimental and techniques, we simulated three detector models, including a direct detector and two indirect detectors with different scintillator thickness and investigated their effects on visualization of stent and guidewire. Detection performance was improved with the increasing scintillator thickness, especially at low exposure. With an idealized MTF, a direct detector performed fared better for stent detection as compared to guide wire detection