Cassette-Type Digital Radiography Detector Designed to Reduce Waiting Times

With the rapid progress of information technology (IT) in the field of medical information in recent years, DR detectors that can directly obtain radiography images have been gaining acceptance. Konica Minolta, since 2011, has been marketing AeroDR wireless cassette-type DR detectors that enable wireless transfer of image data. The products have been well received by healthcare professionals due to excellent handling derived from their lightweight and robust characteristics, and AeroDR has greater dose efficiency comparing to the company’s computed radiography (CR) system.

Cassette-type DR detectors such as the AeroDR are frequently used to perform radiography in patients’ rooms. Radiographers frequently have to handle the cassette-type DR detector with one hand while supporting the patient with the other during exposure. For this reason, a lightweight product is required so that even female radiographers can handle it with ease. Furthermore, Konica Minolta has received many other requests for lighter AeroDR to reduce the burden on radiographers in a range of situations. To meet these requests, Konica Minolta reviewed the housing and component designs to develop the AeroDR Premium, which is approximately 10% lighter than traditional AeroDR 1417HQ series.

In addition to X-ray rooms where the detectors are most frequently used, Konica Minolta has received more requests for heavy-duty features following the expansion of locations in which the detectors are being used, such as operating rooms, emergency care sites, and disaster areas. To meet these requirements, Konica Minolta has improved the product’s resistance to load and drop impact, and has enhanced robustness by creating a waterproof design.

Furthermore, the cycle time between exposures has been drastically reduced to approximately half the time required by conventional AeroDR1417HQ series. This reduces the time required to carry out the exposure process and therefore, reduces the burden on patients. Consequently, the reduced exposure process time reduces the time during which orthopedic patients have to wait for several exposures on the same body part while holding a posture that may cause pain, or the time during which groups of radiography examinees have to wait before they are treated.

In response to requests received from many customers who seek more lightweight detectors, Konica Minolta has successfully developed a 14×17-inch wireless DR device weighing 2.6 kg including the built-in battery—the world’s lightest in this product category. Konica Minolta thoroughly reviewed the housing and component designs, and thereby achieved an approximately 10% weight reduction as compared to conventional AeroDR 1417HQ series, while also providing excellent handling ability.

To improve the product’s drop impact resistance, Konica Minolta improved the rigidity and shock absorption capabilities of the corners, which are likely to be subject to impact. When the new detector is propped by its two opposing sides, it withstands approximately twice as much load as a conventional AeroDR 14×17-inch size series.

The cycle time between exposures has been approximately reduced by 50% as compared to conventional AeroDR 14×17-inch series. This improves the efficiency of radiography processes, shortens the time required to carry out exposure, and reduces patient waiting time.

By increasing the capacity of the built-in lithium-ion capacitor and enhancing the power-saving function, the battery life has been increased to allow users to take approximately 1.5 times more images than that of a conventional AeroDR 14×17-inch size series. This provides a stress-free operating environment where users may forget that they are using a battery-powered detector because they do not need to replace or recharge the battery even when using the detector while doing the rounds in a large number of rooms.

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