Imaging skins: stretchable Gd2O2S:Tb X-ray detectors for image-guided surgery.

Area of Science:

• Medical Imaging
• Materials Science
• Biomedical Engineering

Background:

• Conventional rigid X-ray detectors limit applications requiring conformity to curved surfaces.
• There is a growing need for flexible X-ray detectors to improve spatial resolution, reduce radiation exposure, and enable new imaging modalities.

Purpose of the Study:

• To develop and characterize flexible and stretchable X-ray imaging skins for advanced medical imaging applications.
• To evaluate the performance and mechanical properties of Gd2O2S:Tb-elastomer scintillator films for X-ray detection.

Main Methods:

• Fabrication of flexible and stretchable Gd2O2S:Tb-elastomer scintillator films (imaging skins).
• Integration of imaging skins into an indirect X-ray imaging system.
• Characterization of X-ray imaging performance (spatial resolution, contrast) and mechanical properties (stretchability).

Main Results:

• Achieved spatial resolution of 1.05 to 2.18 lp/mm at 10% contrast using low X-ray energy, comparable to clinical CT.
• Demonstrated high stretchability (255%) maintained with up to 50% Gd2O2S:Tb loading.
• Confirmed clinical suitability of the imaging skin system for X-ray detection.

Conclusions:

• The developed imaging skins provide a foundation for integrating flexible detectors in clinical settings.
• Potential applications include real-time intraoperative image guidance for minimally invasive surgery.
• Future research will focus on dynamic/tomographic imaging, deployment strategies, and deformation effects on image quality.