From tubes to panels: The shift to flat panel detectors in imaging
Written by Milja Kurkela, Application Engineer at Detection Technology | 4 August 2025
Why flat panel detectors are gaining ground?
Unlike image intensifiers, which rely on vacuum tube technology and analog signal processing, flat panel detectors are solid-state devices that convert X-rays or light directly into digital signals. This shift in architecture brings several practical benefits:
- Improved image quality and resolution
- Faster image acquisition
- Easier integration with digital systems
- Sleek form factors
These advantages are not just theoretical. In real-world settings, flat panel detectors are helping clinicians make more accurate diagnoses, enabling manufacturers to detect defects more reliably, and supporting security teams with clearer and more consistent imaging.
Applications across industries
In healthcare, flat panel detectors are replacing image intensifiers in angiography and fluoroscopy, where they enhance diagnostic accuracy and patient safety. In industrial imaging, particularly in non-destructive testing and component inspection, flat panel detectors offer higher resolution and better defect detection. In security screening and explosive ordnance disposal, they provide faster, clearer imaging and integrate seamlessly with digital systems, improving reliability and operational efficiency.
What about low-dose imaging?
One area where image intensifiers have traditionally held an edge is low-dose imaging. Their electron amplification and high signal gain have made them effective in dose-sensitive applications. However, recent advancements in flat panel detector technology are closing that gap. With optimized system design, even cost-effective flat panel detectors can now deliver acceptable performance in many low dose scenarios.
Looking ahead
The transition from image intensifiers to flat panel detectors is more than a hardware upgrade. It is a strategic move toward better diagnostics, streamlined operations, and future-ready imaging systems. While image intensifiers still have a place in specific use cases, the momentum is clearly shifting toward flat panel technology. To explore the technical comparisons, performance benchmarks, and real-world insights in more detail, download the full application note.