Computed radiography: user-programmable features and capabilities

Digital or computed radiography (CR) using photostimulable storage phosphor plate technology is becoming increasingly popular in certain clinical applications, such as bedside radiography, where it possesses clear advantages over conventional screen-film imaging. The majority of CR systems in clinical use have been manufactured by Fuji Medical Systems USA, Inc (Stamford, CT) and provide a surprising degree of flexibility. Fuji CR units are delivered with preset menus, hardcopy format, and image-processing parameters for each examination. Of practical importance is that users may change the exam menu and printed film format as well as the image-processing parameters for each examination. There is, however, a lack of documentation describing these features and how they are programmed. This paper addresses these issues. Examples are given on how to change: 1) the printed film format, 2) the contrast and gray-scale processing, 3) spatial frequency enhancement, and 4) the appearance of the operator interface menus.