THE EFFECTIVENESS OF THE DIGITAL IMAGING SYSTEM IMPROVEMENT IN MOBILE X-RAY UNITS
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Abstract
The objectives of this study were 1) To design and install a digital radiography (DR) system on an existing mobile X-ray unit of the BMI system. 2) To compare the image quality and workflow efficiency between the upgraded BMI unit and a ready-made digital radiography system (Solution for Tomorrow). 3) To evaluate the feasibility of implementing a digital radiography system in resource-limited settings such as prisons or remote communities. In this study, a retrofit DR system was installed on a mobile BMI X-ray unit and compared with a commercial DR system (Solution) and a conventional computed radiography (CR) system. Chest phantom images were acquired under simulated clinical conditions. The images were analyzed using radiation indices including Exposure Index (EI), Deviation Index (DI), and Signal-to-Noise Ratio (SNR). Workflow efficiency was evaluated by measuring the average time taken at each step of the imaging process. The results revealed that 1)The upgraded BMI unit produced image quality comparable to the commercial DR system, with only a 5.8% difference in SNR (p < 0.05). 2)The image processing time for DR–BMI and DR–Solution systems was 12 seconds and 9 seconds, respectively, compared to 240 seconds for the CR system, indicating that DR systems reduced processing time by over 90%. 3) Although the DR–BMI system reduced image processing time, it exhibited higher variability in total workflow time (600 seconds) compared to the DR–Solution system (300 seconds), highlighting the importance of system design tailored to practical use. This study suggests that retrofitting digital systems into existing mobile X-ray units can enhance radiographic services in resource-limited settings. However, for optimal performance, dedicated digital radiography systems specifically designed for mobile use may be more appropriate.
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