Methods and apparatus for extended low contrast detectability for radiographic imaging systems

A device comprising:

• a least one data processor associated with at least one radiographic image acquisition system;
• an input operable to receive base relationship data representative of a mathematical relationship derived from a plurality of flux levels of a plurality of radiographic phantom images;
• the at least one data processor operable to associate image quality metrics correspondingly with flux levels in accordance with the base relationship data;
• a memory operable to store the base relationship data;
• an input operable to receive image quality selection data corresponding to at least one selected image quality metric;
• the at least one data processor further operable to calculate a unique dose control signal at least one radiographic imaging operation in accordance with application of the image quality selection data to corresponding, pre-associated relationship data;
• and
• an output operable to relay each dose control signal to an associated one of the one or more radiographic imagers.

A method for evaluating dose performance of a radiographic imaging system with respect to image quality using a phantom and a model observer method comprising:

• scanning and producing images for a plurality of sections of the phantom using the radiographic imaging system, wherein the plurality of sections represents a range of patient sizes and doses and wherein the plurality of sections of the phantom contain objects of measurable detectability;
• analyzing the images to determine observability for one or more of the objects within the images of the plurality of sections of the phantom, wherein said analyzing comprises using a model observer;
• and
• outputting a continuous image quality performance measurement function using determined observability results.

A radiographic imaging system wherein imaging system performance of a first radiographic imaging system is reproduced in a second radiographic imaging system imaging comprising:

• an input operable to receive base relationship data representative of a mathematical relationship derived from a plurality of flux levels of a plurality of radiographic phantom images from a first radiographic imaging system;
• an input operable to receive base relationship data representative of a mathematical relationship derived from a plurality of flux levels of a plurality of radiographic phantom images from a second radiographic imaging system;
• a processor configured to translate at least one image quality measure value at a flux index value of the first radiographic imaging system to at least one image quality measure value at a flux index value of a second radiographic imaging system using at least one performance measurement function of both the first radiographic imaging system and the second radiographic imaging system;
• and
• the processor configured to calculate a dose control signal to produce said imaging performance on the second radiographic imaging system using at least one flux index value of the second radiographic imaging system.