A tiny, high-resolution camera originally developed in Sweden for applications in space is now being touted for dental imaging.
Scint-X, the company behind the technology, claims the camera can take x-ray images that are more detailed and with a higher contrast than conventional x-rays used in dentistry.
The key element is a scintillator device that converts x-rays to visible light that can then easily be detected by an inexpensive CCD imager, according to the company.
The new scintillator design overcomes a major issue encountered with conventional unstructured scintillator plates, Scint-X noted. While the visible light created through x-ray absorption spreads on its way through the crystal in such plates, this scintillator channels the light on its way to the CCD camera instead.
Another advantage is that the camera's sensor is thinner, making it more comfortable for the patient, the company noted.
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