Dynamic Digital Radiography (DDR) was recently announced by Konica Minolta Healthcare and is an exciting advance in healthcare radiography. X-rays were discovered in 1895 by Wilhelm Conrad Roentgen while working with a cathode ray in his laboratory and quickly became a landmark discovery changing industry and medicine. The roentgenogram (x-ray) has changed little even up to modern times. An image is till captured with a detector behind the X-ray and film is still used with procedures. Today, we are able to generate images of higher quality and greater sensitivity, and increasingly digital array detectors are replacing film. Notheless, the limitation of static imaging remains which is particularly of importance at times in assessing joints such as the spine, shoulder and knee.
DDR is an exciting new evolution in x-ray technology, enabling clinicians to view anatomical structures, such as tissue and bone, with physiological changes over time. DDR involves a series of individual digital x-ray images acquired at high speed and low doses, allowing the visualization of anatomy in motion. This system transmits a series of pulsed X-rays about 15 times per second, and displays a series of static images to create dynamic images in a process very similar to animation. The ability to see bones and their relationship under movement has certain utilization in musculoskeletal fields such as orthopedics.
Compared to other imaging studies DDR has noted advantages given allowance for dynamic movement. CT and MRI have excellent image properties but are not dynamic studies and are expensive. Ultrasound and fluoroscopy allow for movement but at expense of field of view and resolution respectively. Flouroscopy is also associated with higher radiation exposure. Check out some of the examples shown. It’s truly amazing to see the human body in motion and easy to see advantages for clinicians and patients. DDR the new evolution and new revolution of the roentgenogram.