New X-ray imaging method cuts radiation dose by over 99%

Researchers have demonstrated an X-ray imaging technique that achieves megapixel resolution using less than 0.5% of the typical radiation dose, potentially enabling safer medical diagnostics.

This article was drafted with AI assistance from multiple sources and was reviewed and approved by a human editor before publication.

A team led by Tiqiao Xiao at the Shanghai Advanced Research Institute, part of the Chinese Academy of Sciences, has developed an X-ray imaging approach that drastically reduces the amount of radiation required. The method, known as ultra-low-light X-ray ghost imaging, was described in a study published in the journal Optica.

The technique splits an X-ray beam into two components using a crystal: one weak beam that interacts with the sample and a stronger reference beam. Two detectors are used to capture data from each beam — one optimized for faint signals and the other for fine spatial details. A synthetic-aperture algorithm then reconstructs an image from the measurements.

According to the study, the researchers produced X-ray images with a resolution of 1,992 × 944 pixels, nearly 2 megapixels, while using only 0.48% of the X-ray photons typically required. The team also reported reaching the maximum CNR attainable with standard methods using 100 times fewer photons.

The experiments were conducted at the BL09B X-ray test beamline of the Shanghai Synchrotron Radiation Facility. Xiao noted that further development is needed before the technique can be used in clinical settings. “We were able to show the low-dose potential of this approach by achieving megapixel radiology with ultra-low-light,” he said.

Xiao added that the technology could eventually be integrated into existing hospital imaging equipment. “Our technology could be combined with routine hospital imaging equipment such as chest X-rays and CT scans,” he said. “It would make medical X-ray imaging safer, which is especially important for children, pregnant patients and people needing frequent scans.”

Looking ahead, the team plans to test the method with laboratory X-ray sources, such as X-ray tubes, a key step toward practical medical applications. “Together, these advances balance three key performance indicators simultaneously: a large field of view, ultra-low photon consumption and high imaging resolution,” Xiao said.