Photostimulable Phosphor Plate
Pronunciation: foh-toh-STIM-yoo-lah-bul FOS-for playt
Also written as: PSP — Photostimulable Phosphor Plate
A flexible, film-like indirect digital radiographic receptor that stores a latent X-ray image and releases it as visible light when scanned with a laser.
Full Definition
Photostimulable phosphor plates (PSPs), also known as storage phosphor plates or imaging plates, represent one of the two major categories of digital dental receptors alongside solid-state sensors. After X-ray exposure, the energy is stored in the phosphor layer until the plate is read by a dedicated laser scanner, which causes photostimulated luminescence. The emitted light is captured and converted to a digital image. PSPs have flexible housings similar to conventional film and can be used in the same cassette holders, making them advantageous for posterior placements. Editors should recognise that PSP images require an additional scanning step between exposure and viewing—this has implications for workflow descriptions in clinical protocols and research methods.
Usage
Usage note: Expand to full form on first use; abbreviate as PSP thereafter. Do not describe as 'film' even though its form factor resembles conventional film.
In Context
- "The study protocol specified the use of size-2 photostimulable phosphor plates scanned at 20 µm resolution to achieve high spatial resolution for root fracture detection." — In vitro radiographic study methods
- "Unlike direct digital sensors, photostimulable phosphor plates must be erased with white light after scanning to prepare them for reuse." — Dental radiography training manual