New Frontiers in X-Ray Imaging

Nonionizing imaging modalities such as optical, magnetic resonance, and ultrasound imaging are consistently being investigated as alternatives to x-ray imaging for deep-tissue applications. However, none of these modalities can match the full slate of important advantages provided by x-rays, which include deep penetration, low cost, high resolution, system reliability, ease of operation and robustness. Given these advantages, the use of x-rays for clinical imaging looks to continue for the foreseeable future. Thus improving x-ray based contrast and detection mechanisms have the potential for high impact. Current x-ray imaging techniques use a simple absorption based contrast mechanism and energy integrating detectors as it has been for more than a century. In this talk I will describe some of the latest advances in the field of x-ray imaging such as x-ray phase contrast imaging and development of spectral detectors which has the potential to transform the current radiological imaging.