A laser-based multiformat camera for medical imaging.

The spatial resolution and contrast resolution required of a multiformat camera (MFC) for medical imaging are discussed. A typical cathode-ray tube (CRT) MFC and a prototype laser MFC are compared based on the following measured quantities: line spread function and associated contrast transfer function, noise characteristics, intensity transfer function (dynamic range), large-area contrast, and film irradiance. The laser MFC is found to provide significantly better performance than the CRT MFC in all of these areas.