Researchers from the Washington University School of Medicine have developed a means of using technology from the Microsoft Kinect to help better reduce exposure to X-ray radiation. While not very harmful in a single dose, multiples doses of X-rays can be very dangerous to an individual, and with even the slightest movement an X-ray shot may need to be retaken.
Using the technology found in Microsoft’s Kinect 1.0, the departments proprietary software coupled with the Kinect system can measure the thickness of body parts and check for motion, positioning and the X-ray field of view immediately before imaging, with real-time monitoring alerts to factors that could compromise image quality before the image is even taken. This would help reduce the number of times an X-ray needs to be given, thus reducing exposure.
“The goal is to produce high-quality X-ray images at a low radiation dose without repeating images,” Don said. “It sounds surprising to say that the Xbox gaming system could help us to improve medical imaging, but our study suggests that this is possible.” said Steven Don, MD, associate professor of radiology at the university’s Mallinckrodt Institute of Radiology.
This technology can be of great usefulness to children, who’s smaller bodies and natural wants to move and fidget around makes them more susceptible to higher doss of radiation.