Scintillator Phosphors for Medical Imaging

Scintillators are high density luminescent materials that convert X-rays to visible light. These materials have been used since the turn of the century to dramatically enhance the sensitivity of film cartridges used in medical diagnostics. Coupling scintillators to photodiodes, charge coupled devices (CCDs), and photomultiplier tubes (PMTs) is an efficient way to convert X-rays to electrical signals.