Bryan O’Neal
Portland High School
Biology, Physical Science

Ed Donnelly, MD, PhD, - Medical Imaging Lab

This summer I along with another RET participant, Frank Freeman, had the privilege of working with Dr. Ed Donnelly and Dr. Ron Price on obtaining and processing data on the edge effect in x-ray images.   The edge effect is a phenomenon that appears on the edge of images taken by x-ray under certain conditions. It is visible because there is a distinct line or edge between the light and dark parts of the x-ray rather than the blurred gray region that often occurs. Using the Faxitron, a cabinet x-ray machine, we x-rayed hundreds of different objects at different amounts and lengths of exposure looking for the perfect edge from which to obtain our data. We then processed those images using Image J software.  This involved manipulating the color contrast of the images, rotating the images so that the good edges were vertical so we could run plot profiles of the edges. The plot profiles our useful because they display the edge effect graphically. Using Image J, we also stacked images that were taken at successive angles so that we could run a tomo-synthesis program on the stacks that allow us to find edges on different planes. We were able to shoot a lot of images and process a lot data that will aid the lab’s efforts in ultimately enhancing this edge effect in x-ray images to aid in surgery and diagnosis.

I plan on incorporating this research in my physical science classroom by relating wave behavior and the creation of the edge effect.