Visual evaluation and usefulness of medical high-resolution liquid-crystal displays with use of independent sub-pixel driving technology

Radiol Phys Technol. 2011 Jul;4(2):128-33. doi: 10.1007/s12194-011-0111-8. Epub 2011 Feb 17.

Abstract

Liquid-crystal displays (LCDs) used for medical imaging, such as luminance characteristics and panel surface processing, have been developed as a medium substituting for film. There are various models of and specifications for display, but those compatible with high-resolution radiographic diagnostic images have been required with the recent progression of high-resolution modalities. Displays are necessary for faithful presentation of radiographic diagnostic images acquired by X-ray systems. In independent sub-pixel driving (ISD) technology, aiming at high-resolution display, three sub-pixels contained in one pixel of the LCD independently display images, which increases the threefold resolutions in direction of the sub-pixels, facilitating faithful image display with less curtailed pixels. This is a new display technology which may improve the diagnostic performance with regard to reading of medical images. We evaluated the characteristics of ISD technology and performed a visual evaluation of phantom images to investigate its usefulness. After confirming the physical properties of LCDs, we performed a visual evaluation of CDMAM phantom images employing the calculated image quality figure (IQF). The detectability of 15 mega-sub-pixel (15 MsP) significantly improved despite the specification being 5 mega-pixel (5 MP), and that of 9 MsP was higher than that of 5 MP despite the specification being 3 MP. The usefulness of ISD for 6 MsP was also confirmed. Therefore, ISD technology was useful for all LCDs. ISD technology markedly advanced the LCD display performance for medical use.

Publication types

  • Evaluation Study
  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Data Display*
  • Diagnostic Imaging / instrumentation
  • Diagnostic Imaging / methods*
  • Humans
  • Liquid Crystals / chemistry*
  • Mammography / instrumentation
  • Mammography / methods
  • Phantoms, Imaging
  • Radiographic Image Enhancement / instrumentation
  • Radiographic Image Enhancement / methods
  • Reproducibility of Results
  • Sensitivity and Specificity
  • Technology, Radiologic