Xbox Kinect technology used to improve precision of medical X-rays

Motion sensing technology developed for Microsoft's Xbox consoles has been adapted to improve the precision of medical X-rays.

A team from Washington University in St Louis have utilised proprietary software developed for the latest version of Microsoft's Kinect system to aid radiographers when taking X-rays.

This adapted technology lets users 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 flagging up factors that could compromise image quality.

Traditionally, steel calipers have been used to measure body-part thickness for X-rays, but this can be a time-consuming and intrusive process that is intimidating for younger patients in particular.

It is hoped that this innovation can make it easier to produce high-quality X-rays with minimal radiation exposure, particularly in children, who have increased sensitivity to radiation and a greater variation in body sizes.

Dr Steven Don, associate professor of radiology at the university's Mallinckrodt Institute of Radiology, said: "Patients, technologists and radiologists want the best quality X-rays at the lowest dose possible without repeating images. This technology is a tool to help achieve that goal."