Wireless, Cassette-Size Digital Radiography Detector Developed

Carestream Health (Rochester, NY, USA) demonstrated the industry's first wireless, cassette-sized DR detector, the Carestream DRX-1 system, at the European Congress of Radiology (ECR), held in Vienna, Austria, in March 2009. The company also presented a new generation of image-processing software for its computed radiography (CR) and DR platforms, and a new long-length imaging system for its DR 7500 system.

As part of a series of worldwide trade trials of the DRX-1, Frankfurt University Hospital (Germany) has been testing and optimizing the system in a clinical environment. Since this new detector can be employed in all applications where a 35 x 43 cm X-ray cassette would be used, it can be easily integrated into all types of radiology environments and does not require modification of existing rooms.

"We are convinced that, with the new system, we are in a position to speed up the workflow and improve image quality, precisely because we can immediately see what pictures were taken. In addition to this, we anticipate that there will be more time and greater safety for the patient," said Prof. Dr. Thomas J. Vogl, director of the Institute for Diagnostic and Interventional Radiology at Frankfurt University Hospital.

The DRX-1 system will provide high-quality preview images in about five seconds and its compact size and light weight further enhance convenience and throughput. The Carestream DRX-1 system will be available in Europe in the first half of 2009.

The company also showed at ECR new operating software for its CR and DR range of systems that contains Kodak Directview EVP Plus, which provides more consistent image presentation and allows for simple and independent control of brightness, latitude, detail contrast, and other parameters. Moreover, a new tool available with EVP Plus allows for images to be calibrated to radiologist preferences, which optimizes image presentation and reduces the need for reprocessing. The software also supports a virtually unlimited number of body parts and projections.

The new software's interface protocols facilitate the communication of images and information to the picture archiving and communication systems (PACS); ensure the simple and easy processing of patient studies and demographic information; and provide consistent images in soft copy and hard copy formats. As with the company's past software versions, a similar user interface for CR and DR platforms improves technologist productivity and reduces the need for training.

Carestream Health also demonstrated its new long-length imaging system for the Kodak Directview DR 7500 platform that uses a tube-tilting method to improve image alignment and reduce space requirements. This system provides efficient, automatic acquisition and stitching of up to five exposures and can produce images that are 43 cm wide and up to 164 cm in length. The fully automated software eliminates the need to orient or align images and incorporates basic orthopedic measurement tools.

Carestream Health is a leading provider of dental and medical imaging systems and healthcare information technology (IT) solutions; molecular imaging systems for the life science research and drug discovery/development market segments; and X-ray film and digital X-ray products for the non-destructive testing market.

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