New Software to Reduce Effects of Scatter Radiation

The software has been awarded US FDA 510(k) clearance, enhances image quality, and reduces the need for technologists to place grids over detectors.

The SmartGrid software was developed by Carestream Health for their DRX Family of room-based, and portable Digital Radiography (DR) Systems, as well as the DRX-1 retrofit kit which converts Computed Tomography (CR) systems to DR. The SmartGrid image processing software is intended for use with adult patients, for Antero-Posterior (AP) chest, abdomen, spine, pelvis, and hip exams.

Scatter radiation creates haze in images reducing image detail and contrast, and can occur when the collimator is too far away from the anatomy of interest, or when imaging thicker anatomy. To counter this, a heavy anti-scatter grid can be placed over a detector, but this can make positioning and alignment more difficult, and requires a higher radiation dose.

The SmartGrid enhancement algorithm can estimate and remove low-frequency scatter in an image, and can accommodate for factors such as the thickness and size of the object, the energy spectrum of the beam, and collimation.

Research Associate, Lori Barski, in Carestream's Image Processing and Analysis Group, said, “Once installed, a technologist can utilize SmartGrid software on Carestream DRX systems whenever it is needed. And because this feature is easy to use, it can help boost image quality throughout an organization.”