This book first provides readers with an introduction to the underlying physics and state-of-the-art application of photon counting detectors for X-ray imaging. The authors explain that a photon-counting imaging detector can realize quantitative analysis because the detector can derive X-ray attenuation information based on the analysis of intensity changes of individual X-ray. To realize this analysis, it is important to consider the physics of an object and detector material. In this book, the authors introduce a novel analytical procedure to create quantitative X-ray images for medical diagnosis.
About the Author: Hiroaki Hayashi worked for two years as an assistant professor working for the radioisotope research center at Nagoya University (2005-2011). He specialized in nuclear physics, and his research theme for his doctorate degree was atomic mass measurement by detecting radiations emitted from radioisotopes. After receiving his Ph.D., he moved to Tokushima University as an assistant professor, and changed his research area to radiation physics in medicine (2011-2017). He then moved to Kanazawa University as an associate professor, and has continued to carry out work in the research area (2017-present). His current specialty is radiation physics concerning dosimetry and development of next-generation-type imaging detectors. The physics-based analytical methods described in this book largely depend on his ideas.
Natsumi Kimoto has been performing research with the main theme "development of novel plain X-ray imaging system", since she was an undergraduate student at Tokushima University. After receiving Bachelor's (2016) and Master's (2018) degrees at Tokushima University she moved to a doctorate course at Kanazawa University (2018-present). To extend the use of our method to clinical environments, she has been analyzing several issues using an actual proto-type detector. The knowledge which was acquired through experimentation and simulation studies were presented at various authoritative international conferences such as IEEE and RSNA. At RSNA 2019, her research was awarded a "Certificate of Merit".
Takashi Asahara earned a Bachelor's degree in 2017 from Tokushima University. He has been participating in Dr. Hayashi's Lab since then. After graduation and receiving Bachelor's degrees in 2017, he entered a Master's course at Tokushima University. He also started working as a radiological technologist at Okayama University Hospital (2018-present). After earning a Master's degree in 2019, he entered a doctoral course at Kanazawa University (2019-present). His current research theme is concerning the development of a novel dosimeter. He is good at performing Monte-Carlo calculations, and response functions used in this book are based on his research.
Takumi Asakawa was enrolled in the undergraduate course of Kanazawa University (2015-2019). He received a radiological technologist license in 2019. His Bachelor's research theme was to simulate a photon-counting detector's response to various semiconductor materials. After receiving a Bachelor's degree (2019), he entered the Master course of Kanazawa University (2019-present). The analysis of linear attenuation coefficient described in this book was largely due to his contribution. His current research theme is to optimize detector settings toward medical diagnostic applications.
Cheonghae Lee is a fourth-year undergraduate student at Kanazawa University. This year, she has belonged to Dr. Hayashi's Laboratory (2020-present). Thanks to her great contribution, we were able to complete the writing of this book by creating many easy-to-understand drawings. Her research theme is concerning the improvement of the medical image which is obtained with a photon counting detector.
Akitoshi Katsumata obtained a Ph.D. degree in 1993 from Asahi University. Since then, he has specialized in the fields of radiology and dentistry. He became a lecturer in 1995, an associate professor in 1998, and a professor in 2011. He has a dentist's license and has a great deal of clinical experience. His research has been the development of photon counting technology based on dental diagnostic devices, including panoramic and intraoral radiography.
