Inexpensive digital image management system for conventional radiotherapy simulator

Conventional radiotherapy simulator can provide fluoroscopic images and radiographs. Fluoroscopic images cannot be stored/retrieved easily for radiotherapy planning. The conventional x-ray film images have certain disadvantages such as expensive, time consuming, laborious, messy dark room procedure, and difficulty in storage of film for long time. To overcome these problems, we have made an attempt to develop a digital image management system for our conventional SHIMADZU simulator. This system comprises of simple computer with a frame grabber card and a printer. The developed system converts the analog fluoroscopic images to digital images, which can be stored and retrieved in very systemic manner. These images are always easily available for ready references. (author)