Image quality evaluation of imaging skins, a novel stretchable X-ray detector for intraoperative tumour imaging

Abstract This paper presents the development of a novel X-ray detector composed of silicone elastomer and GOS:Tb, which we refer to as imaging skins. These detectors were integrated into a custom X-ray system to convert radiation into visible light. Our study focused on how fabrication parameters su...

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Main Authors: Solène Dietsch, Harry Allan, Lukas Lindenroth, Robert Moss, Agostino Stilli, Danail Stoyanov
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Nature Portfolio 2025-04-01
Series:Scientific Reports
Subjects:
Online Access:https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-025-96768-z
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author Solène Dietsch
Harry Allan
Lukas Lindenroth
Robert Moss
Agostino Stilli
Danail Stoyanov
author_facet Solène Dietsch
Harry Allan
Lukas Lindenroth
Robert Moss
Agostino Stilli
Danail Stoyanov
author_sort Solène Dietsch
collection DOAJ
description Abstract This paper presents the development of a novel X-ray detector composed of silicone elastomer and GOS:Tb, which we refer to as imaging skins. These detectors were integrated into a custom X-ray system to convert radiation into visible light. Our study focused on how fabrication parameters such as thickness and concentration impact sensor linearity, considering their potential application directly on the skin or organs to identify tumour margins during surgery. In addition, we examined how the stretching capabilities of these detectors influenced the image quality. Our imaging detection stack demonstrated consistent linearity across various fabrication parameters with the coefficient of determination ( $$R^2$$ ) more than 0.99998, showing that the silicone elastomer does not affect the conversion of the X-ray into light. We achieved a spatial resolution of 1.16–1.42 lp/mm at 10% of the Spatial Frequency Response using a 0.5-mm thick sensor. This study represents a first step towards integrating stretchable X-ray detectors into clinical settings, particularly on curved surfaces, to unlock their full potential in complex surgical configurations. It also highlights the need for a deeper understanding of the interactions between X-rays and detector materials to fully interpret the observed effects.
format Article
id doaj-art-82a13ea5f4134668bf7cbc0acb937459
institution OA Journals
issn 2045-2322
language English
publishDate 2025-04-01
publisher Nature Portfolio
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spelling doaj-art-82a13ea5f4134668bf7cbc0acb9374592025-08-20T02:17:13ZengNature PortfolioScientific Reports2045-23222025-04-0115111410.1038/s41598-025-96768-zImage quality evaluation of imaging skins, a novel stretchable X-ray detector for intraoperative tumour imagingSolène Dietsch0Harry Allan1Lukas Lindenroth2Robert Moss3Agostino Stilli4Danail Stoyanov5Wellcome/EPSRC Centre for Interventional and Surgical Sciences, University College LondonDepartment of Medical Physics and Biomedical Engineering, University College LondonSchool of Biomedical Engineering & Imaging Sciences, King’s College LondonDepartment of Medical Physics and Biomedical Engineering, University College LondonWellcome/EPSRC Centre for Interventional and Surgical Sciences, University College LondonWellcome/EPSRC Centre for Interventional and Surgical Sciences, University College LondonAbstract This paper presents the development of a novel X-ray detector composed of silicone elastomer and GOS:Tb, which we refer to as imaging skins. These detectors were integrated into a custom X-ray system to convert radiation into visible light. Our study focused on how fabrication parameters such as thickness and concentration impact sensor linearity, considering their potential application directly on the skin or organs to identify tumour margins during surgery. In addition, we examined how the stretching capabilities of these detectors influenced the image quality. Our imaging detection stack demonstrated consistent linearity across various fabrication parameters with the coefficient of determination ( $$R^2$$ ) more than 0.99998, showing that the silicone elastomer does not affect the conversion of the X-ray into light. We achieved a spatial resolution of 1.16–1.42 lp/mm at 10% of the Spatial Frequency Response using a 0.5-mm thick sensor. This study represents a first step towards integrating stretchable X-ray detectors into clinical settings, particularly on curved surfaces, to unlock their full potential in complex surgical configurations. It also highlights the need for a deeper understanding of the interactions between X-rays and detector materials to fully interpret the observed effects.https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-025-96768-zX-ray detectorSoft materialsStretchable sensorScintillatorImage quality
spellingShingle Solène Dietsch
Harry Allan
Lukas Lindenroth
Robert Moss
Agostino Stilli
Danail Stoyanov
Image quality evaluation of imaging skins, a novel stretchable X-ray detector for intraoperative tumour imaging
Scientific Reports
X-ray detector
Soft materials
Stretchable sensor
Scintillator
Image quality
title Image quality evaluation of imaging skins, a novel stretchable X-ray detector for intraoperative tumour imaging
title_full Image quality evaluation of imaging skins, a novel stretchable X-ray detector for intraoperative tumour imaging
title_fullStr Image quality evaluation of imaging skins, a novel stretchable X-ray detector for intraoperative tumour imaging
title_full_unstemmed Image quality evaluation of imaging skins, a novel stretchable X-ray detector for intraoperative tumour imaging
title_short Image quality evaluation of imaging skins, a novel stretchable X-ray detector for intraoperative tumour imaging
title_sort image quality evaluation of imaging skins a novel stretchable x ray detector for intraoperative tumour imaging
topic X-ray detector
Soft materials
Stretchable sensor
Scintillator
Image quality
url https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-025-96768-z
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