Automated quality control in computed radiography

PURPOSE: The purpose of this paper is to describe the automation of quality control procedures on photo-stimulable imaging plates by means of an image-processing tool providing automatic reading of the images and automatic calculation of the quality parameters monitored. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Quality-control procedures were performed according to the main available guidelines. The quality assurance programme was applied to several Kodak and Philips devices in four radiological departments. The automatic image-processing tool was developed using public domain software (Java-based ImageJ software) and contains both reading and computation procedures. RESULTS: The quality checks and algorithms described were successfully applied, proving useful for identification of defective plates and for implementation of the quality assurance programme. The use of automation allowed significant savings in the time required for quality checks. CONCLUSIONS: Completely automated image reading allows substantial economic and human resources savings, as it eliminates much of the transfer, reproduction, processing and filing procedures.