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Abstract

Grant Number:	5R44DE012844-03
PI Name:	SUNI, PAUL
PI Email:	jgordon@suni.com
PI Title:
Project Title:	High Image Quality Direct Intraoral Imaging System

Abstract: DESCRIPTION: (provided by the applicant) Scintillator-based CCD-based digital intraoral radiography systems are beginning to replace x-ray film and associated processing equipment in dentists? offices. Foremost on the list of advantages are large reductions in patient x-ray exposure, the ability to perform direct image manipulation, and remote information transmission. However, these systems suffer from a significant reduction in image due to the x-ray light converter that limits the clinician?s ability to diagnose such diseases as periodontitis, caries, and certain oral tumors. This fact is severely limiting acceptance of digital x-ray imaging in dental practices at this time. The Phase I program demonstrated the feasibility of a new concept of producing intraoral digital x-ray sensors. A variety of novel digital imaging arrays were designed, fabricated and tested which exhibited double the dose efficiency and more than double the spatial resolution compared to standard digital x-ray intraoral systems. The results indicated that it will be possible to produce intraoral x-ray sensors with over 80 percent detective quantum efficiency for 70 kVp x-rays, and limiting spatial resolution greater than 22 lp/mm. During the Phase II, we shall complete the development of the new intraoral imaging sensor based on a new direct x-ray imaging technology and use it with actual pre-clinical samples to quantitatively compare results to existing systems. This work will involve CMOS sensor design and x-ray screen converter fabrication to produce the novel sensors required for intraoral imaging procedures. PROPOSED COMMERCIAL APPLICATION: The market for digital intraoral imaging systems is estimated to be in excess of $10 billion worldwide. A low-cost, compact intraoral X-ray system with significantly higher image quality than current systems provide will find widespread acceptance in dental operatories.

Thesaurus Terms:
biomedical equipment development, charge coupled device camera, computer data analysis, dental radiography, diagnosis design /evaluation, digital imaging, image enhancement
dental disorder diagnosis, diagnosis quality /standard, photoconduction, semiconduction
bioimaging /biomedical imaging

Institution:	SUNI IMAGING MICROSYSTEMS, INC.
	6840 VIA DEL ORO. STE #100
	SAN JOSE, CA 95119
Fiscal Year:	2003
Department:
Project Start:	01-SEP-1998
Project End:	31-AUG-2004
ICD:	NATIONAL INSTITUTE OF DENTAL & CRANIOFACIAL RESEARCH
IRG:	ZDE1

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