Dexela Flat Panel CMOS X-ray Detectors
Fast, Low Dose X-Ray Imaging
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The Dexela family of flat panel CMOS X-ray detectors is based on an innovative CMOS sensor design that makes possible unprecedented speed and superior image quality.
The detectors are suitable for a range of applications including mammography and tomosynthesis, breast CT, dental CBCT, fluoroscopy, cardiology and angiographic imaging, bone densitometry, scientific instrumentation and non-destructive testing.
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Key Features:- High Speed: 26 – 86 fps
- High resolution: 75 - 300 µm pixel pitch
- Superior image quality: high DQE 0.7 at 0.5 lp/mm, high contrast, high dynamic range
- Reduced image lag
- Fiber optic plate increases lifetime and improves DQE
- Ready-to-run software and drivers
- Flexible, reliable, stable and robust
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Advantages of detectors based on CMOS technology
The Dexela flat panel CMOS X-ray detector family employs an innovative CMOS sensor design to provide a new level of performance and reliability for OEMs operating in Mammography, Fluoroscopy, Cone Beam CT and projection radiography markets in medical, dental and industrial X-ray.
The major advantages of the technology are: high frame-rate, low noise, high reliability, absence of image lag and high spatial resolution. The clinical benefits in medical applications are lower radiation dose to the patient combined with superior image quality when compared with flat panels based on amorphous Silicon sensor technology. This is because the crystalline Silicon of the CMOS sensor used in the Dexela detectors is inherently superior to competing amorphous Silicon sensor technology, which uses thin-film transistors (TFT) as switches in reading out the detector. These TFTs are much like the switches used in active-matrix liquid crystal displays and are inferior to the CMOS transistors used in the innovative Dexela design. Dexela uses the flexibility, speed and low noise of CMOS technology to create detectors that are flexible, faster, more sensitive, higher resolution and more stable than TFT based flat panel detectors.
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A new CMOS detector design
The Dexela detector family’s main components are: CMOS image sensor, scintillator (structured CsI or Gadox), control electronics, readout electronics and communications with the workstation.
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The Dexela CMOS image sensor consists of a photodiode array with a pixel size of 75µm. The sensor has very low dark current and read noise, with high linearity and consistency of response. The detector is capable of multi-resolution readout with pixels binned 1x2, 2x2, 1x4, 2x4 and 4x4. The frame rate ranges from 30fps at full resolution to 86 frames per second at 300x300 (µm) over the whole active area.
The Dexela CMOS X-ray detectors are highly flexible and the detector resolution and gain can be changed dynamically during an acquisition sequence, whether this is for 3D or dynamic imaging. The detectors also have a special ‘dose sampling’ mode in which a subset of pixels distributed across the detector can be read out non-destructively at 20,000 frames per second.
The high fill factor, efficiency and low noise of the sensor combined with low noise analogue to digital conversion produce a high DQE of 0.70 at 1 lp/mm 28 kVp at a dose of 280µGy. This results in lower patient dose and superior image quality.
The Dexela CMOS X-ray detectors all operate at low-voltage requiring +/-6V and +4V. They all have a wide storage temperature range and are resilient to shock and vibration. These properties are consequences of the CMOS technology used.
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Detector models
The Dexela family of CMOS X-ray detectors is built from a highly modular technology platform that allows Dexela to produce detectors of different dimensions using the same basic building blocks. Sizes currently offered are: 12x7, 15x12, 23x15, 23x21 and 29x23 (cm). A 35x29 detector is planned for 4Q10.
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| Model | Active area, mm | Clinical applications | | 1207 | 115 x 65 | Small field mammography, CBCT | | 1512 | 115 x 145 | Small field mammography, CBCT, mini C-arm fluoroscopy | | 2315 | 230 x 145 | Interventional radiology, CBCT, mobile C-arm, fluoroscopy, bone densitometry | | 2321 | 230 x 210 | Interventional radiology, CBCT, mobile C-arm, fluoroscopy, bone densitometry | | 2923 | 290 x 230 | Mammography and tomosynthesis, CBCT, fluoroscopy |
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Breast Imaging: FFDM, tomosynthesis and breast CT
Dexela possesses extensive experience in breast imaging and especially in breast tomosynthesis. The 2923MAM is specially designed for full-field breast imaging applications: FFDM, tomosynthesis and breast CT. The 2923MAM has an enclosure specially optimised for FFDM and tomosynthesis:
- Detector is wedge shaped at the chest wall to aid patient positioning for Craniocaudal views
- Distance from active area to edge of enclosure is <2mm to aid patient positioning for MLO views
The small distance from the active imaging area to chest wall is also important in breast CT. Breast CT and tomosynthesis both benefit enormously from the high speed, high spatial resolution, high DQE and low read noise of the 2923MAM in its specially designed low noise mode. These technical features combine to provide these clinical benefits:
- minimise the incidence of re-takes and blurring in tomosynthesis caused by patient motion
- reduce the radiation dose of breast imaging procedures
- enable small structures such as spiculations and micro-calcifications to be seen
- allow additional views to be acquired in a very short time to enhance tomosynthesis image quality
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Scintillator options
The Dexela flat panel X-ray detectors can be used in a range of applications employing different X-ray energy ranges. This is achieved by offering a choice of scintillators: 150µm structured CsI or fine Gadox screen for mammography, 500µm structured CsI for dental CBCT and fluoroscopy, and DRZ screens for high energy industrial applications. The scintillator can be customised for specific OEM applications.
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Interface options
Interface options include high speed Camera Link (full configuration for the 2923, medium configuration for the 2315 and basic configuration for the 1512) and USB2.0. The Gigabit Ethernet standard for camera interfaces, GigE Vision, will be offered in 2010. Images are displayed instantaneously on a user-supplied workstation fitted with the appropriate frame-grabber or a standard USB port. The aluminium housing is shock and vibration resistant. The detector is highly robust with a storage temperature range of -5 to +50 (C) and an operating temperature range +10 to +40 (C).
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Optional accessories
Dexela can supply these optional accessories with its detectors:
- Detector power supply unit (PSU)
- Camera Link interface card and cables
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