BACKGROUND: Technologies employing digital X-ray devices are
developed for mobile settings.
OBJECTIVE: To develop a mobile digital X-ray fluoroscopy (MDF) for
intraoperative guidance, using a novel flat panel detector to focus on
diagnostics in outpatient clinics, operating and emergency rooms.
METHODS: An MDF for small-scale field diagnostics was configured
using an X-ray source and a novel flat panel detector. The imager enabled
frame rates reaching 30 fps in full resolution fluoroscopy with maximal
running time of 5 minutes. Signal-to-noise (SNR), contrast-to-noise (CNR),
and spatial resolution were analyzed. Stray radiation, exposure radiation
dose, and effective absorption dose were measured for patients.
RESULTS: The system was suitable for small-scale field diagnostics.
SNR and CNR were 62.4 and 72.0. Performance at 10% of MTF was 9.6 lp/mm
(53 μ m) in the no binned mode. Stray radiation at 100 cm and 150 cm from
the source was below 0.2 μ Gy and 0.1 μ Gy. Exposure radiation in
radiography and fluoroscopy (5 min) was 10.2 μ Gy and 82.6 mGy. The
effective doses during 5-min-long fluoroscopy were 0.26 mSv (wrist), 0.28
mSv (elbow), 0.29 mSv (ankle), and 0.31 mSv (knee).
CONCLUSIONS: The proposed MDF is suitable for imaging in operating
rooms.
