Affiliations: INSERM, Lyon, France | Université de Lyon, Lyon, France | Laboratoire Vibrations Acoustique LVA, INSA-Lyon,
Villeurbanne Cedex, France | Photonic Science, St Etienne de St Geoirs,
France
Note: [] Corresponding author: Hélène Follet, INSERM UMR1033,
Faculté de Medecine Lyon Est -Domaine Laennec-7-11, rue G. Paradin, 69372
Lyon Cedex 08, France. Tel.: +33 4 7878 5726; Fax: +33 4 7877 8663; E-mail:
helene.follet@inserm.fr
Abstract: In order to simplify bone mineralization measurements, a system
using radiographic films has been updated with a digital detector. The
objective of this paper was to validate this new device. Technologies and
physical phenomena involved in both systems (radiographic films and digital
detector) are different. The methodology used to compare the two systems was
based on image quality and assessed on two main parameters: contrast to noise
ratio and spatial resolution. Results showed that the contrast to noise ratio
was similar between the two systems, provided that acquisition parameters were
optimized. With regard to spatial resolution, a magnification factor of at
least 4 or more was required to achieve the same resolution as films. A final
validation was also shown on a real image of a bone sample. The results showed
that both systems have similar image quality performances, and the system using
digital detector has several advantages (easier to use than films, no
consumables and faster acquisition time).
Keywords: Mineralization of bone, quantitative microradiography, digital detector, spatial resolution, contrast to noise ratio
