Fundamental performance and clinical usefulness of a new AEC-equipped flat panel detector for dose optimization

The demand for bedside radiography is increasing due to critical clinical needs, including infection control and the limited mobility of severely ill patients. However, radiation dose adjustment in these settings remains heavily reliant on the expertise and experience of radiographers. To address this issue, a novel flat panel detector (FPD) integrated with an automatic exposure control (AEC) system has been developed. This study aims to experimentally evaluate the fundamental performance of this system and clarify its clinical utility, including its potential limitations. The dependency of the AEC performance on object thickness and tube voltage was investigated using acrylic phantoms. To simulate clinical scenarios, the AEC response was examined using a chest phantom. Additionally, the effects of source-to-image distance and oblique X-ray incidence on the AEC performance were also evaluated using a quality-control test device. Our results elucidated the behavior of the exposure index (EI) and image quality under varying tube voltage and object thickness. In clinical conditions, the introduction of the AEC system significantly reduced EI, confirming its potential for effective dose management. Multiple factors were identified that influence both the AEC response and image quality, such as sensor positioning, imaging distance, and beam angle. These findings demonstrate that the AEC-equipped FPD system maintains consistent image quality while effectively reducing the radiation dose under various simulated imaging conditions. Our results also underscore the importance of accounting for environmental factors that affect dose control and image characteristics, highlighting the need for practical adjustment in routine clinical operation.