The world's first wireless, cassette-sized digital radiography (DR) detector has gained its first UK installation.

The Carestream DRX-1 has been installed at the Countess of Chester Hospital in Cheshire, an NHS Foundation Trust hospital.

The DRX-1 combines low-dosage radiation, wireless operation and higher image quality. It replaces the hospital's last computer radiography (CR) system, two other Carestream DR systems being already in place.

The new system is being used for all examinations, but is particularly useful for post-operative imaging (e.g. of hips) when the patient is in a fragile state, as well as nasogastric tube and foreign body localisation.

The detector plate of the DRX-1 is easy to position and manipulate, and results can be accessed almost immediately. This means that the operator can remain in view of the patient at all times.

Senior Radiographer Delyth Hughes said: "The DRX-1 is much more efficient than CR, which makes a significant difference in our department.

"Overall the use of DR technology has cut our waiting times by up to 80% over the last 12 months, with the average wait now being 10 minutes. The DRX-1 enhances this further: now we can stand in the same room as a patient and ensure we've got the right shots without sending them in and out of waiting rooms, and process their results much faster.

"The DRX1 has exceeded every expectation possible, completely replacing CR cassettes in Room 6 and making our lives so much easier. We'd love to have this much flexibility in every room."

Carestream Health, Inc. is a global provider of dental and medical imaging systems and healthcare IT solutions.

For more details, visit www.carestreamhealth.com.