Computed Color Radiography Expressing an Energy Dependence of X-ray Attenuation Coefficients

Abstract

Three radiographs taken at different tube voltages were digitally processed to make a color image of the subject. In this image the energy dependence of the attenuation coefficient (μ) of the subject material was expressed by hue and the thickness was expressed by brightness. This method differentiates materials of different chemical composition irrespective of their thicknesses. Actually different hues were obtained for water and paraffin. A preliminary application to living tissues resulted in good discrimination between bone and soft tissues.