Nov 16 2013
A new flat-panel digital X-ray image detector designed especially for use in high-energy industrial and security imaging systems is among the imaging components that Varian Medical Systems is exhibiting at the 2013 Transport Security Expo taking place in London this week.
"The PaxScan® 2530HE flat-panel X-ray image detector has been optimized for high-energy imaging, which is commonly used in non-destructive testing and security applications," said Bob Drubka, vice president and general manager of Security & Inspection at Varian. "It can facilitate imaging at a very wide range of energy levels, which means it can be incorporated into systems for doing everything from low energy wheel hub inspection to high energy cargo screening, which involves penetrating thick steel cargo container walls to produce high-quality images of what's inside."
The PaxScan 2530HE is the latest in Varian's broad line of PaxScan amorphous silicon flat-panel image detectors, which are used in medical and industrial imaging systems in place of film and other dynamic imaging technologies, to quickly obtain high-resolution X-ray images for display on computer monitors and for storage in electronic archives. PaxScan detectors make it possible to acquire, store, and transmit X-ray images with great speed and cost efficiency, and many available models will be on display at the Expo.
Generating X-rays with Varian Technology
Varian is also showcasing the company's X-ray tubes and high-energy Linatron® linear accelerators for industrial inspection and nondestructive testing. These devices can generate a wide range of X-ray energies for penetrating different substances.
"Varian manufactures a comprehensive line of industrial X-ray tubes for applications in non-destructive testing, X-ray inspection, baggage screening, and thickness gauging," said Brian Howe, Security & Inspection marketing manager. "We offer our OEM customers many choices in terms of power capabilities, target angles, and focal spots to enable high-resolution imaging.
The company's Linatron accelerators have been incorporated into imaging systems for inspecting cargo, artillery, munitions, rocket motors, nuclear submarines, aircraft carriers, and tanks. Some Linatron models can be set to switch rapidly between two energy levels during a scan, which enables enhanced material discrimination for automatic identification of contraband materials.
"Outside the security and nondestructive testing industries, Varian is perhaps best known for world-class medical imaging and cancer treatment technologies," said Drubka. "Varian is also a leading global supplier of industrial X-ray imaging components that are in use around the world, supporting a wide range of OEMs in making systems for cargo screening, industrial inspection, and many other security-oriented uses. We are pleased to be sharing our imaging components with the many professionals from the aviation, maritime, public transport, and supply chain security sectors who attend the TranSec Expo."