Digital has many meanings...when it comes to digital capture, the question is two fold. What technology and at what price?

Although DR, CR and CCD use different technologies to digitize the x-ray generated image, they offer the same benefits: eliminating dark room processing; physical space required for processing, space required for film storage and environmental consequences of film processing, enhanced detail, fewer retakes, faster access to images, advanced image processing, computer archiving with electronic sharing of images (PACS – picture archiving and communication system) easily facilitating telemedicine consults and integrating images into patient/client files.

Digital Radiography – DR systems perform digital capture and image processing without the need to handle cassettes. DR systems convert x-rays directly from a digital detector panel into a digital image. DR is considered a “direct” conversion process and offers the best image detail and image enhancement software.

Computed Radiography – CR systems are considered indirect systems that convert x-rays to light as an intermediate step. CR systems use a film-less cassette (a phosphor plate) to store the image and a reader/eraser to convert the stored illuminated image into a digital image. The plates can be used in excess of 17,000 times before replacement is needed. CR systems function like a conventional wet system with cassette handling and processing steps.

Charge-Coupled Device – CCD systems use one or more high mega pixel cameras to capture the image. These digital cameras are very similar in function to “conventional” consumer handheld digital cameras. The image is captured directly from an illuminating plate that replaces the traditional cassette. The digital image from the CCD camera(s) is imported directly into a software program for manipulation and storage. CCD is the most cost effective type of digital imaging at present.