A Method to Assess Collimator Integrity

Abstract

Objective: In this paper we evaluate a new method for assessing the structural integrity of parallel-hole collimators.

Methods: Images of various collimators were acquired using a dual-energy, x-ray bone densitometry unit.

Results: X-ray images of collimators acquired by this method were of high quality and revealed delaminations, hole misalignments, denting and other damage or structural collimator deformities.

Conclusion: The bone densitometry unit x-ray beam is parallel, while the beam from a conventional x-ray unit is divergent. X-ray imaging of collimators with a parallel-beam bone densitometry unit is a convenient, inexpensive and technically superior means of assessing collimator integrity.