Grants and Contributions:

Grant or Award spanning more than one fiscal year (2017-2018 to 2018-2019).

Direct conversion x-ray detectors opened a new era in radiation medical imaging. Indeed, state-of-the-art directx000D
conversion mammographic detectors offer supreme detectability of small breast lesions not achievable withx000D
other methods. Currently, mammographic direct conversion detectors employ a layer of amorphous seleniumx000D
(a-Se) to convert x-rays into measurable signal. Although a-Se offers probably unbeatable performance forx000D
mammographic applications, it is a "soft" (i.e. low atomic number Z) material and suffers from suboptimalx000D
absorption of energetic X-rays, used in general radiography. To extend diagnostic capabilities of the directx000D
conversion detectors over radiographic and fluoroscopic energy range, a-Se has to be replaced with high Zx000D
material, which can efficiently stop energetic X-rays. The applicant, Dr. Alla Reznik and her research group atx000D
Lakehead University recently synthesized an amorphous lead oxide (a-PbO) which became one of the mostx000D
promising candidates for this purpose, due to high Z of Pb, high theoretical X-ray-to-signal conversionx000D
efficiency, adequate photoconductive properties and technological compatibility with flat panel detectorx000D
technology. Although very promising, a-PbO layers are still experimental and require technological advancesx000D
for practical utilization. Intlvac Inc., a Canadian leader in oxide deposition technology and currently looking tox000D
enter the market of radiation-sensitive coatings. Intlvac is interested in commercial success of PbO and willx000D
collaborate with Dr. Reznik to make detector-grade a-PbO layers. We believe that utilization of a-PbO has ax000D
potential to create the most powerful x-ray diagnostic imaging systems to the benefit of healthcare in Canadax000D
and worldwide by allowing the dose reduction or improvement of image quality at typical exposures.