Simple x-ray computed tomography system utilizing a cadmium telluride detector

A simple x-ray computed tomography (CT) system utilizing a cadmium telluride detector and its application to enhanced iodine K-edge angiography are described. The CT system is of the first generation type and consists of an x-ray generator, a turn table, a translation unit, a motor drive unit, a cadmium telluride detector, an interface unit for the detector, and a personal computer (PC). Tomography was performed by the repetition of the translation and rotation. Narrow-photon-energy bremsstrahlung x-rays with a peak photon energy of approximately 35 keV is very useful for performing enhanced K-edge angiography because these rays are absorbed effectively by iodine-based contrast media with a K-edge of 33.2 keV. The tube voltage, the tube current, and the aluminum filter thickness were 60 kV, 1.5 mA, and 3.0 mm, respectively. Holes filled with iodine media in phantoms are visible with high contrasts, and the CT system can be applied to photon-counting and fluorescent x-ray CT systems.