A team of researchers from the University of Surrey have developed a new material that enables it to act like human tissue, thus making it easier to scan an object due to its flexibility. Not only will it improve the accuracy of detection, but it will also make it safer when putting patients under the X-ray, for example, when trying to scan for tumors or administering radiotherapy.
Common materials used for X-ray detectors are silicon or germanium, but their rigidity limits the scope of what the devices can do, so alternatives called organic semiconductors made up of hydrogen and carbon were considered as more flexible means for detection, but they cannot capture detailed X-ray images as the traditional ones. However, the new device, developed by Dr. Prabodhi Nanayakkara and her team, are made with low quantities of high atomic number elements added to an organic semiconductor. With it, live dosimetry becomes possible, and makes the process safer and easier.
(Image credit: University of Surrey)