New technologies that advance early disease detection are vital to improving health outcomes. But these solutions alone are not enough — they need to be globally adopted by medical professionals for real results.
Dr. Karim S. Karim, a Waterloo Engineering professor of electrical and computer engineering and associate vice president of commercialization and entrepreneurship, led an international science team to develop a new standard for X-ray technology that helps healthcare practitioners around the world better detect and treat diseases.
The new IEC 62220-2-1: 2023 Medical electrical equipment – Characteristics of digital X-ray imaging devices standard allows medical professionals to see more deeply and clearly than what they can see using traditional X-ray machines.
Based on new radiographic imaging technology pioneered at Waterloo, Karim created a portable, dual-energy X-ray screen that can be fitted to traditional X-ray machines, allowing them to discern between soft tissue and bone — something that, up until now, only a CT scan could do.
Now commercialized through Karim’s start-up company KA Imaging, this device enables early detection and treatment of disease, and at a lower cost.
“Now that the dual energy X-ray device and the standard for it are complete, we need to raise awareness about them,” Karim explains. “Doing this will drive better health care outcomes globally, and ultimately, save human lives.”
Go to Breakthrough X-ray technology goes from concept to medical standard for the full story.