Digital autoradiography using CCD and CMOS imaging technology

CCD and CMOS imaging technologies can be applied to thin tissue autoradiography as potential imaging alternatives to using conventional film. In this work, we compare two particular devices; a CCD operating in slow scan mode and a CMOS-based active pixel sensor, operating at near video rates. Both imaging sensors have been operated at room temperature with images produced from calibrated microscales and radio-labelled tissue samples. We also compare these digital imaging technologies with the use of conventional film. We show first comparative results obtained with ¹⁴C calibrated microscales and ³⁵S radiolabelled tissue sections. We also present first results of ³H images produced under direct irradiation of a CCD sensor operating at room temperature. Compared to film, silicon-based imaging technologies exhibit enhanced sensitivity, dynamic range and linearity.