MARCH 15--Two hospitals in Sweden have installed Eastman Kodak Co. (Rochester, NY; www.kodak.com) DirectView DR 5000 and DR 9000 digital radiography (DR) systems. The Hospital of Helsingborg (Helsingborg, Sweden) installed a Kodak DirectView DR 5000 system for direct digital capture of chest images. Radiology administrators and technologists can review images within 10 seconds of exposure. Rapid digital processing and automatic image routing to the required destination simplifies workflow and saves time.
The Hudiksvall Hospital (Hudiksvall, Sweden) installed a Kodak DirectView DRI9000 system because of its image quality and productivity. The hospital performs general radiology exams and emergency exams in the same room. Therefore, the hospital needed a DR system that was fast, easy to use, and flexible to accommodate all types of exams. The Kodak DR 9000 system�s U-arm design allows the performance of a range of diagnostic procedures such as head, skeletal, extremity, abdomen, and chest.
Both digital radiography systems use direct amorphous selenium technology for high image quality. Direct detectors automatically convert x-ray photons into electronic signals. Indirect detectors must add an extra step; they must first convert x-rays into light and then convert the light into electronic signals. During this process, light scatter tends to degrade the signal profile and resolution.
The Kodak DirectView DR 9000 system comprises five major components: a direct x-ray capture system, operator console, ceiling-mounted U-arm subsystem, high-frequency x-ray generator and x-ray tube, and patient support tables. The Kodak DirectView DR 5000 system comprises a direct x-ray capture subsystem, operator console, chest and detector stand, high-frequency x-ray generator, and x-ray tube.