STATIONARY INTRAORAL DIGITAL TOMOSYNTHESIS USING CARBON NANOTUBES FIELD EMISSION X-RAY TECHNOLOGY: CLINICAL PROTOTYPE

Background Tuned aperture computed tomography (TACT) and intraoral tomosynthesis were studied in the past and demonstrated improved detection of various dental diseases. However, interest in TACT waned because the technology was not viable for clinical use. Recently, interest resurged with the advent of the carbon nanotube field emission x-ray source array technology. Researchers from the University of North Carolina (UNC) Department of Physics and Astronomy and the UNC School of Dentistry designed, patented, and conducted several benchtop studies to demonstrate its utility.1 Objective The aim of this study was to develop a viable stationary intraoral tomosynthesis imaging device for clinical use. Materials and Methods XinVivo, an imaging device startup company, developed a prototype system designed for intraoral imaging applications.2 Results The prototype met all the requirements for clinical use and met the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) requirements for intraoral imaging devices. Discussion The clinical prototype met all manufacturer specifications. Preliminary studies indicated that stationary intraoral tomosynthesis (s-IOT) provides increased image quality and feature conspicuity at a dose comparable with that in a single 2-dimensional (2-D) intraoral radiography.3