Final answer:
Image intensifiers in medical imaging replaced photographic film or glass plates, offering more efficient imaging with enhanced diagnostics and reduced irradiation exposure.
Step-by-step explanation:
The image intensifier was developed principally to replace photographic film or glass plates. In the field of astronomical and medical imaging, photographic plates with light-sensitive chemicals were once widely used to capture images. However, these were quite inefficient, capturing only about 1% of the light that fell upon them. With the advent of image intensifiers in medical imaging, such as those used in an Anger camera, the process became more efficient. These devices use scintillators to convert light output into an electrical signal, which a computer then uses to construct an image. This advancement allows for more effective medical imaging, enabling better diagnostics while also reducing exposure to irradiation for patients and operators.