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New portable 3D imaging technology set to transform patient care

A new portable 3D imaging system is set to revolutionise patient care, with initial trials demonstrating significant improvements in diagnosis accuracy of fractures in extremity limbs outperforming conventional 2D X-rays. The system, developed by UK-based Adaptix under ESA’s Business Applications and Space Solutions Programme (BASS) with the support of the UK Space Agency, could also offer greatly reduced costs for care providers, as well as improved accessibility for patients and low levels of radiation.

With traditional 2D X-rays failing to detect up to 40% of scaphoid fractures in the wrist, anyone who has suffered the pain and inconvenience of a missed diagnosis will know all too well the physical, psychological and financial impacts of a delayed recovery. The limitations of traditional 2D X-ray images mean that smaller fractures are often missed or require the use of more complex and expensive scanners to confirm diagnosis, like CT, which delivers a high radiation dose, or MRI which are very slow. By contrast, the Adaptix system uses a process known as digital tomosynthesis, which offers a multi-layered 3D view of the problem area to improve the speed and accuracy of diagnosis.

Digital tomosynthesis offers a completely different way imaging from the traditional 2D X-ray tube by firing X-rays in a sequence from many different positions. Adaptix’s journey started with miniature electron emitters using technology that was simultaneously being developed for a number of Space missions. The latest Adaptix system fires X-rays from over 30 positions in a rapid sequence lasting a few seconds giving a quick, low-cost, 3D image which provides a significantly higher level of detail, even on complex fractures, than is possible with a 2D image.

Dr Steve Wells, Adaptix CTO, said ”2D X-ray is the most common type of imaging but gives a fundamentally limited view of our 3D bodies. The aim of Adaptix is to transform radiology by replacing 2D X-ray with a low-cost, low-dose mobile 3D system available at the point of care”

The benefits of the Adaptix system to the patient are manifold and extend far beyond the promise of more accurate diagnoses. Near real time image results available in a matter of seconds mean quick diagnosis and treatment, and the potential to scan through a cast not only saves time but also reduces discomfort for patients. Where fractures or disease are suspected in the foot or ankle, the Adaptix system is able to image the affected area with the patient standing in a weight-bearing position rather than prone, allowing medical experts to assess the damage more effectively.

Radiation levels are similar to those produced by existing 2D X-ray systems and far lower than those incurred from CT scanners. As the system is fully portable – the size and weight of a suitcase – unlike other imaging equipment it can easily be installed in existing radiology rooms and the improved quality could mean that the images could be confidently read by less specialised staff, for example during out of hours cases.

But it’s not only people with broken bones who stand to benefit from this new technology. As part of the project with ESA, Adaptix have also developed and sold many portable 3D X-ray machines for veterinary centres. For the human imaging system, five initial demonstrations were completed in Europe and the US as part of the project, encompassing children’s hospitals, an orthopaedic clinic and general medical facilities. In each trial the initial feedback has been very promising and the equipment has already been installed at many veterinary surgeries in the UK and US.

Quoc Hoang, MD, Musculoskeletal Radiologist, New Orleans VA Medical Center on reviewing an Adaptix wrist image wrote: “Great image. Might be the first time I’ve seen the carpal trapezoid bone in isolation. Degenerative changes are well seen.”

Arnaud Runge, Technical Officer for ESA on the project with Adaptix said, “This new technology has the power to transform patient care, and the ‘low cost, low dose’ portable model means that it appeals to a wide range of functions, from A&E units through to remote surgeries, dental practices, veterinary providers and many more. It has been an exciting project to work on and we look forward to seeing it rolled out across healthcare – the low radiation dose also means that we could even see the system used in space in the coming years.”

Chris White-Horne, Deputy CEO & Chief Delivery Officer at UK Space Agency said:
 “We all use space technology in our daily lives, from mobile devices and navigation to online banking and weather forecasting. But beyond these uses, it is increasingly crucial in the healthcare sector.This project from Adaptix, which employs technology developed for space missions, has the potential to dramatically reduce the cost of X-rays for healthcare providers and exposure to radiation, while improving patient access. The UK boasts a thriving space applications sector where many non-space companies leverage space technologies for a competitive advantage, while showcasing innovations that can benefit people’s lives.”

With US FDA regulatory clearance for a first version of the Orthopaedic device received in January 2023 and Adaptix setting up manufacturing facilities in Scotland, interest is building from the USA and a growing number of veterinary and dental practices. Going forward, research is underway to extend the capabilities of the technology to cover other areas of the body including bedside 3D lung imaging. The future looks very bright for this compact, powerful technology, as it is poised to transform mobile imaging across the medical world. It brings a host of new possibilities to 3D X-ray imaging that previously would not have been feasible, such as care at home, ambulances and even the bedsides of ICU patients. The recovery of many fracture patients are set to be improved by the ESA-backed Adaptix technology, providing a transformative diagnostic tool for medical professionals and bringing a multitude of benefits to patients around the world.

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