Improved MTF Measurement of Medical Flat-Panel Detectors Based on a Slit Model

In the development, evaluation, and application of medical flat-panel detectors, the modulation transfer function (MTF) is crucial, as it reflects the device’s ability to restore detailed information. Medical flat-panel detectors encompass both image data acquisition and digitization processes, and detectors with varying pixel sizes exhibit differing capabilities for observing details. Accurately quantifying MTF is a critical challenge. The complexity of MTF calculation, combined with unclear principles and details, may result in erroneous outcomes, thereby misleading research and decision-making processes. This paper presents an improved MTF oversampling method based on the slit model. MTF testing is conducted under various sample conditions and using different focal spot diameters of the X-ray tube to analyze the impact of focal spot size. High-precision tungsten plates and fixtures are designed and fabricated, and MTF results with varying line spread function (LSF) sampling intervals are compared. The results demonstrate that the improved slit model offers distinct advantages, with MTF measurements achieving 92.4% of the ideal value. Compared to traditional tungsten edge and point (aperture) model testing methods, the accuracy of the proposed method is improved by 5–13%. The optimal sampling interval is approximately 1/29 of the pixel pitch, offering a more accurate method for evaluating detector performance.