by
Kathy Mahdoubi, Senior Correspondent | April 30, 2010
Direct-capture technologies are just one of the options available. The majority of those interviewed and surveyed said CR accounted for the lion's share of upgraded X-ray technologies, and some very large teaching hospitals have implemented CR and have no interest in going to direct-capture technology any time soon.
"The original wireless cassette was CR," says Maier. "There was this suggestion that you're also going to need the flexibility of the cassette. It was a natural evolution over to a portable-type detector."
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Both Fujifilm and Konica Minolta offer flat-panel technology, as well. At RSNA 2009, Fujifilm debuted the FDR D-EVO detector, pending FDA approval, and Konica Minolta introduced the company's Xpress DR system with both fixed and portable detector options.
Wild about wireless
Much of recent research and development in direct-capture technologies is in the wireless realm. Wireless systems are getting a lot of attention, but there is still a lot of work to be done before long-range wireless DR becomes a reality.
"Most big hospitals are getting very crowded in terms of wireless traffic," says Burkhart. "There are any number of ambulatory monitors and systems and things going on, and this is medical data. You don't want to mess it up or have it corrupted."
The CARESTREAM DRX-1
System can be
used with existing
X-ray systems and
enables facilities to
convert from film
or CR systems.
Philips phase I wireless technology works within a lead-lined room that keeps the signal contained from plate to console and within the confines of the X-ray room, but Burkhart says the future may be in wireless DR that connects straight into the hospital information system.
"When you start to go into the hospital network then you get into the relays and switches and routers and all of these other layers of handoffs have to happen and they need to be controlled. There's a lot of know-how involved."
Still, this kind of technology may be less than two years off, says Burkhart. "Just think-how quickly did we assimilate wireless into our personal lives with the cell phone? Once we got it and once the network was able to do all the handoffs, it worked quite well. I think it's the same issue in the hospital. The only difference is you are dealing with life science and people's lives and liability. You just can't afford to make a mistake."
