Digital X-Ray System

Origin	Korea
Model Number	DDR Inventor-V

Introduction of DDRInventor-V

1.       High image quality and Low dose irradiation – Perfect detector

Digital radiography system, Scan-DR, adopts MIC(Multi-channel Ionization Chamber) detector which has intrinsic features of high efficiency by direct conversion of incident X-ray to electric signal, high fill factor without dead zone and without dead pixel and adopts scanning system which can prevent scattered radiation with fan beam. These characteristics of MIC detector provide merit of high image quality with low dose irradiation against patient.

2.       Convenient & Compatible Software

DR-Works, based on DICOM, is completely compatible with HIS(Hospital Information System). The hospitals even without PACS can manage patient information and images independently of its own viewer and database.

3.       Economic Operation

Scan-DR is an economic solution, since MIC detector has long lifetime due to its non-sensitivity to temperature, humidity, vibration, and treatment. Also, JSB can provide a full-coverage of customer service in short time, since it has its own technology on core parts and keeps sufficient inventory.

4.       Advantages of Long Image

DDRInventor-V has arbitrary image size of maximum 16”X39” image. And it does not need a long-size cassette for whole spine or long bone. Therefore, it has great efficiency on chiropractic study(1:1 scale of vertical direction).

A Comparison to Computed Radiography with Respect to Image Quality and Radiation Dose

1.       From January 2003 to March 2007, Samsung Medical Center compared the slot-scan digital radiography(SSDR) of the lower extremity region and the computed radiography(CR) method with respect to the image quality and radiation exposure. To obtain an SSDR image, they used DDRInventor-V.

2.       The result was that the SSDR method demonstrated a better image resolution and contrast when compared against the SAPL of the CR method. The overall scores for the SSDR method, for all levels, were significantly higher than those obtained by the CR method. And the entrance skin dose of the SSDR method was less than half of the entrance dose of the SAPL for the CR method at the level of the hip and knee, but was similar at the level of the ankle. Similarly, it is also lower(much lower in some cases) for the comparison of the entrance skin dose for SSDR method compared to the SL and the SAPL and SL combined of the CR method.

3.       In conclusion, the data suggest that the SSDR method can provide a better image quality than the CR method in the lower extremity region, as evidenced by a more detailed anatomy in the medullary bone and soft tissue of the lower extremity region. In addition, the SSDR method, for the most part, exposes the patient to a lower entrance skin dose, especially for imaging at the level of the hip and knee.

About MIC Detector

1.       Direct conversion

Most of the digital radiography systems which are based on charge-coupled device(CCD) and amorphous silicon(a-Si) are indirect conversion type that uses scintillator to convert incident X-ray into visible light. That is, they need two-step process to get electronic signal for digital image and that image quality is significantly affected by scintillator.

On the other hand, MIC detector is direct conversion type. The X-ray irradiation which passed through the patient penetrates into the space between the electrodes. And the gas filled in the chamber is ionized to generate charges on the corresponding electrodes. The induced charges are read directly by electronics.

2.       High Fill Factor and No Dead Pixel

MIC detector has no loss of effective sensing area because most of all ions are captured between the electrodes. Above all, MIC detector has nearly no dead pixel by its intrinsic characteristics.

3.       High Reliability

The MIC detector has strong durability on operating environment such as surrounding temperature (-10℃~45℃), humidity, vibration and treatment. This feature provides users with benefit on the maintenance for economic operation.

Advantages of scanning method

1.       No Scattering of Irradiation

Scattered X-ray photons can contribute very significantly to the exposure of the image. In screen-film or flat panel type radiography, scattered radiation causes a reduction of contrast of the image. The main effect of scattered radiation is to increase the noise of image. Grids are used to reduce scattered radiation, but can also produce artifacts on the image.

In the case of scan type, the fan beam by collimator reduces scattered radiation from patient and linear structure of detector also prevents incident scattered ray from patient. Therefore, there is no need of severe image processing to remove the noise from scattered radiation and image processing speed is very fast.

2.       Low Dose

Normal exposure time of conventional screen-film radiography for chest is about 0.01~0.05 sec. In the case of Scan-DR, exposure time per line depends on scanning speed and is under 0.005 sec. at normal scan speed. Therefore, effective exposure time of Scan-DR is shorter than that of other radiography systems. In addition, characteristics of MIC detector related to high image quality such as direct conversion, low scattered radiation and high fill factor contribute to low radiation dose on patients.

3.       Low Distortion

The film-screen and flat plate type detector cannot avoid the image distortion in vertical and horizontal directions. Scan-DR shows real size of image in the vertical direction.