One of the main areas for which fiber optic tapers
and faceplates
have found widespread use is for medical and dental imaging applications. Some of these applications are described below.
Medical X-Ray
Mammographic Digital Imaging Center
Photo courtesy of Fischer Imaging Corp.
Fiber Optic Based
Digital Mammography System
In most medical radiography applications, a phosphor or gadolinium oxy sulfide screen is deposited on the large end of the taper and converts an x-ray image to visible light. The light is then transferred and reduced through the taper and coupled to a CCD chip for digital image processing.
SCHOTT Fiber Optics has serviced the mammography market for a number of years with a fiber optic product that enables acquisition of a clearer breast image with higher resolution and lower x-ray dosages. Mammography is a growing technology that helps to identify the presence of cancerous tissue in a breast when the cancerous tissue is at its earliest stages of development and before it has spread to multiple sites in the body. Although there are many opinions about the number of mammography exams that are required on an annual basis, it has been demonstrated that the procedure is successful in determining the existence of unwanted tissue. SCHOTT's fiber optic products are currently used in both full field mammography and biopsy systems, enabling improved patient care.
Dental X-Ray
Dental Faceplates
Dental Faceplates
Another such application is dental radiography. SCHOTT Fiber Optics produces fiber optic plates that are an integral part of this new technology. A small rectangular taper
or faceplate
is used to couple the x-ray image formed on a radioluminescent screen in contact with the input surface of the fiber optic to the CCD.
This is encapsulated in a plastic housing small enough to fit in the mouth and image one or two teeth. The image is instantly available on a CRT and permanent print can be made in a few seconds.
Alternative units using faceplates
and tapers
are being made for external panoramic imaging of the entire jaw or skull.
Once again, the efficiency of the taper and the sensitivity of the CCD array sensor reduce the x-ray exposure to the patient and provides for real-time imaging.
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