Discover key considerations for choosing the perfect refurbished digital mammography system to ensure high-quality imaging & cost savings for your facility
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1. How To Choose The Perfect Refurbished
Digital Mammo System
By: Vikki Harmonay www.atlantisworldwide.com
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Does your facility need a digital mammo system? These devices come with big price tags, and one way
to save is to choose a used or refurbished system. Even then the price is substantial, so you’ll want to
make sure you choose the perfect one to fit your specific needs. Here are three considerations to keep
in mind while making your selection.
With Full-Field Digital Mammography, images from the device are recorded directly onto a computer,
eliminating the need for physical storage. In fact, the digital image is almost instantly available to the
technologist and can also be viewed of any PACS workstation. This enables the images to be saved and
manipulated by the radiologist. Another benefit to digital mammography is the reduction of radiation
—almost 75% less than film-screen mammograms deliver.
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So what are the three things to consider when you’re choosing a Digital Mammography System?
1. Choose The Right Digital Mammography Detector
In digital mammography, there are two methods of image capture, each representing a different
generation of technology: Direct Conversion and Indirect Conversion.
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Direct Conversion digital detectors are the most technologically advanced. It eliminates problems
associated with the light scatter that’s inherent in indirect systems. The most common
photoconductor materials used in direct conversion detectors is amorphous selenius (a-Se). This
detector uses a photoconductor to absorb the X-ray and a directly generate the signal. The
photoconductor is thickly constructed and stops the majority of the incident X-rays. This is done
without adversely affecting the spatial resolution. This is ideal in mammography with its dual needs of
low radiation exposure and high resolution.
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Indirect Conversion detectors have been used in early digital mammography equipment and involve a
two-step process for X-ray detection. It uses a scintillating layer to absorb the X-ray and generate light
photons. These are then detected by a photodiode array. A Cesium-iodide with thallium doping
(Csl(TI).) is a common scintillator that’s used. However, there can be some light scatter during
conversion in the process and can also reduce resolution.
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2. The Importance Of Detector Size
The Mammography Quality Standards Act (MQSA) requires mammography facilities to use at least two
different screen-film sizes. These are 18 X 24 cm and 24 X 30 cm. While both have excellent image
quality, bigger is actually better. In fact, the 18 cm X 24 cm digital detector size can’t take acceptable
images of 20-30% of women in the U.S. Because these women have large or dense breasts, it would
require multiple repositioning and compressions if a smaller detector was used. Because
mammography is already stressful, this compounds the situation for a patient significantly.
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By using the larger 24 cm X 30 cm detector image, you can crop the image to reduce data transfer—
plus there’s a reduced need for display and storage space. The only downside is for those with smaller
breasts, but if you use small compression paddles in conjunction with the larger detector, the problem
is eliminated.
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3. Image Resolution is Vital
You want to be able to read extremely small objects when reading a mammogram. As you know,
micro-calcifications can be as small as 100-200 microns. Digital detectors are made up of pixels. The
smaller the pixel, the higher the resolution. When the pixel size of a digital imaging system is made
smaller, the amount of data in the image increases rapidly. This can increase system costs in terms of
network bandwidth, data storage and display capabilities. As a rule, the more detail you can see, the
more expensive your system will be.
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Talk To An Expert At Atlantis Worldwide
Need help determining which digital mammography system is right for your needs? Talk to the experts
at Atlantis Worldwide. We’ll help you understand your options—from choosing a brand new system to
buying a used or refurbished one that delivers the performance you want at a much lower price point.
Contact Us Today!
Atlantis is passionate about discussing imaging systems that are essential for Breast Cancer Awareness
Month. To learn more about Breast Cancer Awareness Month Click Here!
11. Contact Us
60 East 42nd Street, Suite 4600, New York, NY 10165
Phone: 1-212-366-9100
Toll Free: 1-800-533-3356
Fax: 646-762-6562
info@atlantisworldwide.com
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