DIGISCAN from Allengers Medical Systems Limited

A C-arm system acts as a surgeon’s eye, and is the device used to produce real-time images during surgery. C-arm, being a fluoroscopy X-ray equipment, used to see the anatomy in real time, remains the most versatile and indispensable medical equipment during most of the medical surgical procedures since its invention.

C-arm industry was ruled by image-intensifier (II) technology for more than 40 years. Now, it is time to say good-bye to this marvelous technology, as it is being replaced by the latest technology of flat panel detectors (FPDs). FPDs are sleeker, light in weight, and are available in bigger formats up to 43 cm×43 cm. FPDs are around in the market for the last more than 25 years, but its high cost kept this technology away from the users.

C-arm uses dynamic FPDs as real-time imaging is required. In terms of technology, mainly indirect conversions, FPDs are used for C-arm imaging. Further classification in terms of technology can be seen as A-Si (amorphous silicon), IGZO (Indium gallium zinc oxide), and CMOS (complementary metal oxide semiconductor). All these technologies use CsI (cesium iodide) as scintillator. A-Si is a time-tested technology and comes at the top position in terms of volumes. IGZO is the improved version of A-Si with better speed. CMOS is a completely different technology claiming lesser X-ray dose requirements, faster speeds but very expensive. All these technologies have their own pros and cons, so they will exist in the market for different applications.

Allengers is a pioneer and has launched its FPD-based C-arm family comprising of three models as Digiscan series – Digiscan Compact, Digiscan S20/S30, and Digisacn V20/V30 – for different applications covering from general fluoroscopy, pain management to high-end peripheral and vascular imaging.

Image quality of Digiscan series is accepted from the very beginning, as Allengers utilized its decade-old experience of dealing with FPD imaging in cath lab systems.

Rapid increase in installed base of FPD C-arms is a clear indication that the market has accepted this technology. This new technology offers customers crisp images of the toughest anatomy with a wider coverage of anatomy. On the mechanical side, they are sleeker and light weight, which are easy to manoeuvre and transport.

Some of the salient features of FPD-based C-arms:

• FPD C arm provides real-time images required in various surgical procedures. At times, a high-quality Digital SPOT can also be taken by the surgeon. SPOT gives an excellent image at a much lower dose;
• FPD C-arm will reduce the radiation exposure during long surgical procedures. High grey shade levels make FPDs superior to their counterparts. More grey shades produce very-high contrast images, especially in case of uneven anatomical densities;
• FPD-based C-arms are mainly divided into surgical and vascular segments. Surgical segment mainly caters through 20×20 or 21×21 size FPDs with low- to medium-power X-ray generators. Vascular segment uses 30×30 FPD. The larger FOV makes it possible to see a larger part of the body, and thus allows you to perform the procedure in one shot. Even few equipment are designed with very-high power X-ray generators with 43×43 size of FPDs for vascular procedures related to the lungs and abdomen;
• The Digiscan series created for vascular applications generally comes with DSA, roadmap, and peak opacification as standard built-in features; and
• Their role in IR for minimally invasive surgery to guide doctors in accurate positioning during surgery is already on the rise.

Revolution in vascular and surgical procedures is just at the doorstep with latest FPD technology. High-speed, better-resolution, and better low-dose performance are the areas of thrust in FPD C-arm development. Better-technology FPDs will make medical procedures more accurate and safe for human beings in near future.

Digiscan family C-arms offer our customers a world-class equipment in terms of image quality and aesthetics at Indian prices.