Why does JPI Healthcare Solutions include a grid with every medical DR sold?

For most of the history of x-ray systems,  anti-scatter grids were produced to work in a film-based environment. This meant that they were designed to be used in a reciprocating bucky – a motorized case that would move the grid during the x-ray, blurring out grid lines and artifacts. Many grids in those days were produced with a grid line rate tolerance of 8-10%.  A 103-line-per-inch grid could actually be 92-113 lines, and with reciprocating buckies the difference was rarely noticeable.  

Flat Panels are more sensitive so grid lines and artifacts are more visible in digital x-ray images. Most importantly however is that the electromagnetic noise created by the motor in a reciprocating bucky can cause unpredictable artifacts in flat panel detectors. This means that grids for flat panels should be stationary, and will not be blurred out by movement. Grid lines (visible usually as a moire pattern on the image) and grid artifacts are extremely obvious in digital x-ray images.

The ideal grid for DR applications is a high line grid, typically 200-230 (LPI) lines per inch depending on the detector resolution, that is nearly invisible because of how fine the grid lines are.  By using the correct high-line grid, there is no need for software manipulation and possible data loss by removing those lines from the image. The leading OEMs, who are able to charge premium rates for their systems, recognized this very quickly and adopted and continue to use high-line grids. Unfortunately, high-line grids are very expensive to manufacture and tend to be cost-prohibitive for many applications. 

Prior to digital imaging, the most common grid used by all x-ray manufacturers was the 103 LPI grid.  Over 80% of the grids in x-rays currently installed are 103 LPI grids. To avoid the higher cost of 200-230 LPI grids, many imaging software companies developed grid suppression. These algorithms remove the lines in the image produced by the grid and were often specifically designed for 103lpi grids. High-quality grids, such as JPI grids, are produced with a less than 2% tolerance (101-105 lines per inch). With these grids, grid suppression works well. When a lower quality grid is used, which could be anything from 92-113 LPI, grid suppression can fail.  

Since most systems installed in the field have a 103 LPI grid, most technicians will enable grid suppression. Many installs will be fine, having a high-quality and properly installed grid already.  However, many others have grid line artifacts and other artifacts in the image. Technicians can spend a lot of time on site trying to fix this problem, looking for problems with the detector or software not realizing it’s the quality of the grid. This can waste hours or even require return visits without resolving the problem.  Hundreds or even thousands of dollars in man-hours can be spent by the installer prior to identifying the root cause as the grid. Even after identifying the problem, few installation companies keep spare high-end grids with them, so there will be no solution except to order, ship, and return another day to install a new anti-scatter grid.

This is why we at JPI decided that every digital medical sale will include a JPI anti-scatter grid.  Ever since we implemented this, our technical support calls related to grid line artifacts have disappeared and many installs that would have been difficult have gone quickly and easily. If you know what to look for, the signs of having the wrong or low-quality grid in your system are obvious to see. JPI makes sure that, when the problem does occur, you have the tools to fix it.

In everything that we do, at JPI Healthcare Solutions, our goal is to help our partners succeed. This is just one of the ways we do this!

To find out more about JPI Grids and anti-scatter grids in general, please click here.

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What are the benefits of moving to digital radiography?

Making more Money! Since 2013, Medicare has been lowering the reimbursement for x-rays taken on film or CR and other insurance companies have followed. Ten years later in 2023, you’ll make 10% less on CR and 20% less on film for every x-ray you take.

Optimizing image quality and dose. The improved image quality and lower exposures possible with DR support greater diagnostic capability and confidence, further enhancing the role of radiology as the hub of patient care.

Improving Workflow. The workflow improvements and automation possible with DR enable hospitals and imaging facilities to care for more patients without increasing staff levels. Increases in productivity are critical to helping healthcare organizations handle ever-larger numbers of patients while enhancing patient satisfaction, balancing staffing requirements, and successfully providing value-based care. 

Lowering radiation doses. Digital radiography also helps facilities move closer to Low As Reasonably Achievable Radiation Doses for all patients’ safety.

Maximizing investments. From an investment point of view, the cost of DR continues to decrease, while the costs of not having DR increase. As departmental productivity has increased with DR, the return on investment (ROI) has also improved. Modern DR detectors can be shared between rooms, devices, and operational units, allowing the healthcare enterprise to creatively maximize investments. 

Modern DR Panels work with any x-ray generator. DR detectors may be integrated into select generators, but they no longer need to be. Automatic Exposure Detection means that DR panels work no matter what generator they are used with, even easily being moved between facilities or rooms. 

DR detectors eliminate delays in seeing images during your exam. CR machines require digitizing the image in a CR reader, a process that takes over a minute per x-ray. Instead, a scintillator in the DR panel immediately converts the X-rays into visible light that is then converted into a digital image. The image appears on the DR workstation in just a few seconds. 

Today, there is a broad range of DR units to fit the needs and budget of every imaging facility. Retrofit DR panels, which come in different sizes and features, enable “Instant DR” by upgrading analog film or CR-based X-ray systems to DR. DR rooms are available with integrated x-ray generators and many possible room configurations. Mobile DR units enable imaging to be done at the patient’s bedside in critical care units or even houses. Analog mobile units can also be retrofitted with DR to extend their useful life.

DR uses flat panel detectors to capture images. First, X-rays are absorbed in a phosphor screen layer, inside the flat panel detector. The X-rays are then converted into visible light. A photodiode converts this light into photo- charges that are collected via the active matrix TFT sensor of the flat panel detector, creating a signal from each pixel. These signals are amplified, digitized, processed, and sent to the acquisition workstation. From the DR acquisition station, they are sent to a display, distribution, and archival system (commonly referred to as a picture archive and communication system, or PACS). The digital image can be displayed on a distant computer or even a tablet and shared with other facilities or patients.

Image processing acquisition software. The software should increase productivity: reducing work for radiology staff. This means little to no manual post-processing, automatic window/level adjustments, automatic electronic masking, and excellent area of interest (AOI) accuracy. Configuration and set-up should be easy: the software should work well out of the box with little or no ongoing maintenance, include simple and understandable adjustment settings, and avoid complex parameter adjustments that require set-up and maintenance by imaging specialists. It should provide consistent performance, for all body types and patient ages, over a wide range of exposure factors. It should not create artifacts, should be tolerant of over and underexposure, and should especially be low-dose friendly.

The importance of anti-scatter grids. The function of the grid is to absorb the scattered radiation coming from the patient before it hits the receptor, therefore increasing image contrast. The anti-scatter grid plays an important role in enhancing image quality in projection radiography by transmitting a majority of primary radiation and selectively rejecting scattered radiation. Grid performance factors can also have a significant impact on the digital image. It is important that the anti-scatter grid is selected correctly for the DR system used, and that the DR software itself can handle eliminating any artifacts that come from the grid, as reciprocating buckys that move the grid should not be used with DR detectors.

Moving from CR to DR can be simple with the right equipment and bring significant improvements and revenue for practices. If you’d like to learn more about how to easily upgrade to digital radiography with JPI, please click here.

*Article extracted from the paper “Moving from CR to DR” by George Curley, Bruce Apgar, Dirk Vandenbroucke.

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Integrated radiography modalities skyrocket veterinary practice’s bottom line.

Advanced integrated veterinary radiography diagnostic modalities such as CBTC’s, CT’s and integrated fluoroscopy solutions are starting to be seen as not only crucial in assisting veterinarians to make informed decisions, but also as profit generating services for veterinary practices.

Integrated advanced imaging allows veterinarians to observe the inside of patients in ways that are impossible without them. Methods such as Computed Tomography (CT) scans, Fluoroscopy, digital radiography and thermal videos all provide unique insights into patients. This comprehensive imaging, allows veterinarians and other health professionals to accurately view the structures and activities occurring inside the body, in 2D, 3D and in motion. They increase the sensitivity, specificity of diagnosing pathology and can significantly reduce patient management time, allowing practices to generate more and more revenue!

However, these machines don’t come cheap and their annual support service can run very high. That is why before investing in the equipment, practices need to consider providers that offer packages developed specifically for veterinarians, multi functional and provide comprehensive solutions. Make sure to evaluate  all of the options available for CBCT, CT or Fluoroscopy integrated equipment out there.

Another important factor to consider is size and mobility. CTs are very large, finding a smaller sized CBTC that fits into the existing practice’s space and that can be rolled in and out of spaces is crucial and can be challenging. Fluoroscopy c-arms also require significant space, especially if they will be repositioned for surgical procedures.

Learn how JPI Healthcare Solutions advanced imaging systems meet all the criteria mentioned above and can deliver you huge opportunities for practice development, staff confidence, bring a big boost to referrals and a YES to the bottom line!

To find out more about JPI Healthcare Solutions advanced imaging integrated veterinary solutions, please visit us at: www.jpihealthcare.com/veterinary-solutions/

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ExamVue Duo listed as one of the industry’s most innovative acquisition software.

JPI Healthcare Solutions ExamVue Duo acquisition software was listed this month as one of the industry’s most innovative software in HealthCare Business News Magazine.

ExamVue Duo is JPIs cutting-edge radiography diagnostic software with advanced algorithms. It was specially designed for the acquisition, processing, storage, and viewing of digitally acquired x-ray images and is tailored to fit each practice’s needs.

“ExamVue Duo streamlines technician workflow for busy clinics and imaging centers with touchscreen monitors, and also offers tools for smaller clinics and private practices. ExamVue Duo is also being incorporated into the company’s fluoroscopy solutions and upcoming CT and tomographic releases for 2023, including the Strixion Orthopedic Tomography system and CBCT systems” (Page 68, HealthCare Business News Magazine).

If you’d like to find out more about JPI’s ExamVue Duo and how we can help your radiology imaging, visit us at: https://www.jpihealthcare.com/examvue-duo-medical/, contact us at sales@jpihealthcare.com, or call us at (516) 513-1330.

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