EOS: A NEW IMAGING SYSTEM WITH LOW DOSE RADIATION IN STANDING POSITION FOR SPINE AND BONE & JOINT DISORDERS

Abstract

Very precise combined work between multidisciplinary partners (radiation engineers in physics, engineers in biomechanics, medical radiologists and orthopedic pediatric surgeons) has led to the concept and development of a new low-dose radiation device named EOS. This device has three main advantages: (1) Thanks to the invention of Georges Charpak who designed gaseous detectors for X-rays, the reduction of dose necessary to obtain a good image of skeletal system was 8 to 10 times less for 2D imaging; compared to the dose necessary to obtain a 3D reconstruction from CT scan cuts, the reduction factor was 800 to 1000. (2) The accuracy of 3D reconstruction obtained is better than that of 3D reconstruction from CT scan cuts. (3) The patient in addition gets imaged in a standing functional position, thanks to the AP and lateral X-rays obtained from head to feet simultaneously. This is a big advantage compared to CT scans which are used only in lying position. From the simultaneous AP and lateral X-rays of the whole body obtained via the 3D bone external envelop technique, the biomechanics engineers obtain 3D reconstruction of every level of osteo-articular system, especially for spine, in standing position with an acceptable period of time for reconstruction. This (in spite of the evolution of standing MRI) allows more precise bone reconstruction in orthopedics, especially at the level of the entire skeleton, including the head, spine, pelvis, lower limbs, giving new consideration for physiology, physiopathology and therapeutics.