RUBY, the next generation Camera Lens Assembly to reduce costs for C‑arms (part 1 towards RSNA 2017)

Adimec’s new Ruby camera lens assembly (CLA) for X-Ray imaging. RUBY delivers full digital real-time 1k2 30fps imaging for Image Intensifier based medical X-Ray imaging systems. This is the first of a 3 part series. RUBY is specifically designed to reduce costs in fluoroscopy C-arm systems compared to existing CCD based solutions (Part 1), while improving image quality (Part 2), and simplifying in-system installation and service (Part 3).

The RUBY CLA uses a CMOS sensor and replaces a conventional moving iris for a digital iris concept that is patented by Adimec, removing the reliability problems associated with moving irises completely. RUBY has no moving parts! This reduces maintenance costs and improves total image sharpness while greatly improving reliability. An update on the comparison between CCD versus CMOS will be covered in part 2 of this series. For now, know that CMOS dominates outdoor applications where low light and low noise are required, and this translates well into the low light imaging that is radiography.

The design may well reduce the bill-of-materials (BOM) up to 50% compared to conventional CCD based systems. The RUBY provides full 1k² resolution and image quality for the cost of 512² resolution in traditional CCD CLAs. Of course, initial cost isn’t everything. Cost of ownership is generally even more important. Due to lack of wear & tear the RUBY requires no unpredicted maintenance.

No special maintenance schedule is required beyond normally scheduled system maintenance to restore the system to original image quality and patient dose. And the system lasts an overall lifetime of 10 years with an MTBF of 120,000 hours. The RUBY also has built-in-test and operational status LEDs in the rare instance that there should be an issue with the camera. Typical failure rates of camera lens assemblies with motorized iris can be up to 8% a year or higher,  meaning that 8% of the installed base will require a field change every year. Expressed in MTBF this translates to 12.5 system years between failures. The lack of moving parts in RUBY yields a calculated MTBF greater than 60 system years between failures (calculated according to MIL specifications). With RUBY, more than 85% of the installed base will be without failure after 10 years, compared to approximately 45% in case of a motorized iris based solution, thus reducing cost of ownership to a bare minimum.

In summary, the Adimec RUBY CLA provides equal or superior performance to comparable CCD based X-Ray imagers at reduced cost, both initial cost and cost of ownership.

Adimec is visiting RSNA 2017 in Chicago. Feel free to contact us directly at strategy@adimec.com to meet us at RSNA and learn more about RUBY, PEARL, CMOS vs CCD in medical imaging and our other cameras for Clinical Diagnostics applications.

Stay tuned for part 2 and 3 about the RUBY by subscribing to our blog mailing list.