Computed Radiography (CR)

Computed Radiography (CR) uses very similar equipment to conventional radiography except that in place of a film to create the image, an imaging plate made of photo-stimulable phosphor is used.  The imaging plate is housed in a special cassette and placed under the body part or object to be examined and the x-ray exposure is made.  Hence, instead of taking an exposed film into a darkroom for developing in chemical tanks or an automatic film processor, the imaging plate is run through a special laser scanner, or CR reader, that reads and digitizes the image.  he digital image can then be viewed and enhanced using software that has functions very similar to other conventional digital image-processing software, such as contrast, brightness, filtration and zoom.