# Innovative High Resolution Dental X-ray Imager

> **NIH NIH R44** · RADIATION MONITORING DEVICES, INC. · 2020 · $471,565

## Abstract

Abstract
 Radiation Monitoring Devices (RMD) proposes to develop a new dental x-ray imager that will
have all the advantages of a digital technology, retain the most desirable aspects of image quality
that film emulsions provide, and most importantly, reduce dose to patients. The device will be a
blend of two technologies – silicon based imaging arrays and semiconductor x-ray conversion
layers. The silicon capabilities are better understood, with CCD and CMOS devices well
established in dental imaging. The application of a semiconductor conversion layer is the more
challenging aspect, but advances being made in related medical fields (such as mammography)
demonstrate the potential for extraordinary quality images.
 RMD wants to bring a similar technological revolution to dental imaging. The variation to
the above referenced technology is to replace the current x-ray receptor (selenium) with a
different semiconductor layer – mercuric iodide (HgI2) – that will provide greater dose efficiency
and higher image contrast. Instead of a-Si TFT arrays, a CMOS passive pixel array will be adapted
for the HgI2 converter layer. The advantage to dental imaging is that dentists will get the high
resolution images that they are accustomed to with film, but now with a much lower dose to the
patient.
 RMD will work on tailoring mercuric iodide detection layers to a high resolution CMOS
device. The work plan will encompass powder fabrication, evaluating layer compositions,
preparing dielectric and electrode layers to work in conjunction with the HgI2 layer and CMOS
structure, and completing a wide range of electrical and physical tests to gauge x-ray sensitivity
and image quality. At completion, it is desired to have demonstrated a device with exceptional
image potential quality that is better than conventional digital technology with phosphors and
scintillators. And because of the key direct converter technology, the dose per image will be vastly
reduced from current norms.

## Key facts

- **NIH application ID:** 10020966
- **Project number:** 5R44DE026373-03
- **Recipient organization:** RADIATION MONITORING DEVICES, INC.
- **Principal Investigator:** MICHAEL R. SQUILLANTE
- **Activity code:** R44 (R01, R21, SBIR, etc.)
- **Funding institute:** NIH
- **Fiscal year:** 2020
- **Award amount:** $471,565
- **Award type:** 5
- **Project period:** 2016-08-01 → 2022-08-31

## Primary source

NIH RePORTER: https://reporter.nih.gov/project-details/10020966

## Citation

> US National Institutes of Health, RePORTER application 10020966, Innovative High Resolution Dental X-ray Imager (5R44DE026373-03). Retrieved via AI Analytics 2026-05-27 from https://api.ai-analytics.org/grant/nih/10020966. Licensed CC0.

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