Development and characterization of the efficient portable X-ray imaging device based on Raspberry Pi camera

TL;DR

This paper presents a portable X-ray imaging device built with Raspberry Pi components, achieving high spatial resolution suitable for scientific and medical applications.

Contribution

The study introduces a compact, efficient X-ray imaging platform with optimized camera settings and validated resolution, comparable to clinical systems.

Findings

Achieved MTF20 of 68 lp/mm under ambient light

Achieved MTF20 of 25 lp/mm under X-ray irradiation at 50 and 70 kV

Validated modularity with different scintillation screens

Abstract

This study reports the development and characterization of an efficient portable X-ray imaging device built from Raspberry Pi components, including a high-quality 12.3-megapixel camera configured for indirect detection with a Gd2O2S:Tb scintillation screen. The device was evaluated under both ambient light and X-ray exposure conditions. Initial characterization under ambient light ensured proper optical focusing; subsequently, camera settings (ISO and exposure time) were evaluated and optimized for X-ray imaging performance. Spatial resolution of the developed device was quantified using the Slanted-Edge method to derive the Modulation Transfer Function (MTF). Besides the low-noise feature, the device achieves MTF20 values of 68 lp/mm under ambient light and 25 lp/mm under X-ray irradiation (50 and 70 kV). Moreover, the modularity of the developed device was confirmed by conducting the tests with LYSO:Ce and GAGG:Ce screens. The results demonstrate that this efficient, scientific-grade, compact platform achieves spatial resolution comparable to that of clinical radiography systems, highlighting its potential for applications in scientific, educational, and medical contexts where efficient and portability are critical considerations.