New Digital X-ray Technology Delivers Rapid Access to Diagnostic Images of Football Players at 2016 NFL Combine

ROCHESTER, N.Y., Feb. 18 — In addition to demonstrating their speed, agility and strength at the 2016 National Football League Scouting Combine, top college football players also undergo comprehensive physical examinations that include X-ray exams. This year a new CARESTREAM DRX Plus 3543 detector will be used with the existing X-ray system at Lucas Oil Stadium (Indianapolis, Ind.) to produce high-quality diagnostic images in seconds. Additional tests are conducted at Indiana University Health Methodist Hospital in Indianapolis.

NFL coaches, general managers and scouts who are preparing to draft new players evaluate more than 300 athletes at the Combine. Multiple NFL teams—and other sports organizations worldwide—are currently using Carestream’s advanced digital radiology products to diagnose player injuries.  

Carestream has also designed a new 3D extremity imaging system intended to help clinicians and orthopaedic specialists detect injuries for professional athletes as well as recreational sports enthusiasts. The CARESTREAM OnSight 3D Extremity System (INVESTIGATIONAL: Not available for commercial sale), which uses cone beam CT (CBCT) technology to capture weight-bearing and other types of extremity exams, is part of ongoing trials and research studies conducted by UBMD Orthopaedics & Sports Medicine (Buffalo, N.Y.) and Erie County Medical Center (Buffalo, N.Y.).

“We are working closely with leading orthopaedic specialists, sports medicine physicians and athletic trainers to develop compact, portable imaging systems based on CBCT technology that are designed for use in treating orthopaedic conditions—including traumatic injuries, joint replacements, arthritis and osteoporosis,” said Jianqing Bennett, President, Digital Medical Solutions, Carestream. 

CBCT systems use less radiation than today’s full body CT systems and can capture weight-bearing images of knees, legs and feet, which provide important diagnostic information to orthopaedic and sports medicine physicians and are not available from traditional CT systems. These systems are intended for use in sports medicine and orthopaedic practices as well as other types of imaging and treatment facilities.

Carestream will spotlight its prototype CBCT system at the American Association of Orthopaedic Surgeons conference in March.