Final answer:
In a direct-capture flat panel image receptor plate (FPIR) fluoroscopy system, the latent analog image is stored in the 3. thin film transistor (TFT)/capacitor array.
Step-by-step explanation:
In a fluoroscopy system that utilizes a direct-capture flat panel image receptor plate (FPIR), the latent analog image is stored in what component of the system? The correct answer is in the thin film transistor (TFT)/capacitor array. In these systems, x-rays are absorbed by the detector material, such as amorphous selenium in direct conversion detectors, which then converts the x-ray photons directly into an electrical charge.
This charge is subsequently stored in the TFT/capacitor array, which is an integral part of the flat panel image receptor that captures the image. The stored charge corresponds to the image's pixel data, which can then be read out and processed to create a visible image for the radiologist to review. The TFT/capacitor array's function is akin to an array of tiny batteries, each storing an electrical charge proportional to the amount of radiation absorbed.