Which component is not typically a part of computed radiography (CR) systems?

• A. Imaging plate reader
• B. Imaging plate
• C. Developer
• D. Protective layer

Answer: (D)

In computed radiography the workflow centers on a reusable imaging plate that stores the latent image and a dedicated reader that scans the plate to convert that stored energy into a digital image. There is no chemical development step in CR—the image is read by a laser, light is emitted from the phosphor, and that light is captured to form the digital image, after which the plate is erased and ready to be used again. The imaging plate reader and the imaging plate itself are essential parts of the system, and the protective layer is a surface layer that protects the sensitive phosphor layer and is considered part of the plate assembly. Because of this, the component that is not typically part of CR systems is the chemical developer used in traditional film-screen radiography.