X-Ray Image Detector Developed for Interventional Angiography Applications

A new digital imager has been specifically designed for interventional angiography procedures.

Varian Medical Systems, Inc. (Palo Alto, CA, USA) X-Ray Products, a developer of X-ray tubes and supplier of the PaxScan line of digital X-ray image detectors for filmless X-rays, has introduced the imager. "With speeds up to 30 frames per second, the PaxScan 3030+ allows the physician to monitor interventional procedures, including the placement of catheters within blood vessels, in real-time,” said Carl LaCasce, vice president, imaging products at Varian. "The PaxScan 3030+ provides highly detailed images with excellent contrast and spatial resolution, while delivering a low X-ray dose to the patient.”

In addition to interventional angiography systems, the new PaxScan 3030+ multi-modality panel is designed for use in cardiovascular imaging systems and surgical C-arms. The panel's compatible interfaces and software simplify integration into existing systems. It is specially designed for equipment incorporating three-dimensional cone-beam CT (CBCT) capabilities.

"Distortion-free imaging is critical for cone beam CT applications,” said Mr. LaCasce. The detector incorporates a 194-micron pixel pitch, which results in a high signal-to-noise ratio, yielding high quality images with enhanced contrast resolution and no distortion anywhere in the imaging area. The panel also features an efficient cesium iodide (CsI) scintillator optimized for scanning at 40-150 kilovolts (kV) in order to minimize the X-ray dose to the patient. "The panel has already been designed into a diagnostic imaging system made by a major medical imaging manufacturer,” he added.

Developed by Varian's engineers in their Silicon Valley (CA, USA) research center, the system comes with a command processor interface, making the PaxScan 3030+ a complete real-time multi-imaging mode solution. The digital image detectors from Varian's PaxScan line are also used for surgery, gastrointestinal imaging, general radiography, dental imaging, and veterinary medicine, as well as in industrial systems for non-destructive testing.

Varian X-Ray Products is a supplier of X-ray tubes and digital detectors for X-ray imaging in medical, dental, veterinary, scientific, and industrial applications. X-Ray Products is a business unit of Varian Medical Systems, Inc. Varian is a world-leading manufacturer of medical devices and software for treating cancer and other medical conditions with radiotherapy, radiosurgery, proton therapy, and brachytherapy.

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