Sensors from dpiX to begin shipping

This spin-off of Xerox's Palo Alto Research Center isn't exhibitingat the RSNA meeting, but its x-ray digitization technology couldhave a major impact on vendors who are. DpiX announced last monththat it plans to begin shipments in January of evaluation kitsof its amorphous silicon image sensors to medical imaging OEMswho are interested in incorporating the sensors into x-ray imagingdevices.

DpiX debuted in March with the mission of commercializing thin-filmtransistor-array technology developed at Xerox PARC (SCAN 3/13/96).The technology can be used for either digitizing x-rays or forbuilding monitors to view images.

Called FlashScan 20, dpiX intends to sell the sensors as componentsto OEMs rather than build its own integrated x-ray devices, accordingto Jean-Pierre Georges, general manager of dpiX's image sensorproducts group. The evaluation kit sensors consist of an 8 x 10-incharray that captures x-ray images, along with necessary electronicsto provide an output to a personal computer.

The evaluation kits are designed to let medical imaging vendorsdetermine how they can integrate the sensors into their x-raysystems, Georges said. DpiX will then work with interested OEMsto develop larger sensors for medical imaging applications. Atpresent, FlashScan 20 features a 127-micron pixel size and a resolutionof 4 line pairs/mm.