In 2015, KA Imaging was founded with one major goal: to redefine what X-ray technology could do. Guided by the philosophy that innovation begins by asking not what X-ray can’t do, but what it could do—the company set out to rethink one of medicine’s most established imaging tools.
For over a century, traditional X-ray imaging remained largely unchanged, producing familiar black-and-white radiographs that often required interpretation across multiple scans.
In 2017, KA Imaging introduced a major breakthrough: the world’s first multi-energy (color) X-ray. Soon after, the company began clinical trials for its emerging detector technology, the Reveal 35C Flat Panel X-ray Detector, designed to bring this new capability into real-world imaging environments.
At the heart of KA’s groundbreaking X-ray imaging innovations is one proprietary technology — SpectralDR®. This article will be a deep dive into:
- How the SpectralDR® technology works
- How SpectralDR® innovates the world of X-ray imaging
- How SpectralDR® empowers KA’s X-ray products
- SpectralDR®’s medical and non-medical applications
What is SpectralDR® Technology?
SpectralDR® is the world’s first single-exposure multi-energy technology, made in Canada by KA Imaging. Incorporated into the Reveal 35C X-ray Detector, SpectralDR® makes it possible to capture dual-energy images in a single exposure.
Previously, conventional X-ray dual-energy detectors mainly relied on single-exposure dual-exposure DES systems with energy (kv) or filter switching. In the medical space, bone suppression software is also utilized in a similar fashion as dual-exposure dual-energy to highlight soft tissue structures. Both come with their own complications and limitations.
The ability to perform single-exposure, triple-energy imaging is a major breakthrough in the X-ray imaging space. The Reveal 35C detector, powered by SpectralDR® technology, enables single-exposure multi-energy imaging. This approach may support more efficient imaging workflows and provide additional diagnostic information, which can help reduce the need for follow-up imaging in certain clinical scenarios, while maintaining radiation dose comparable to standard digital radiography.
TLDR; SpectralDR® is a single-exposure triple-energy X-ray technology developed by KA Imaging and integrated into the Reveal 35C. It captures multi-energy image information during one exposure, allowing clinicians to generate spectral images while maintaining standard radiography workflows.
How The SpectralDR® Technology Works: 1 Exposure, 3 Images
KA Imaging engineered its SpectralDR® technology using a patented, portable three-layer design. Using a combination of multiple scintillation layers, SpectralDR® acquires the full X-ray spectrum in one exposure.
Each layer measures different portions of the X-ray spectrum, generating three image types that help differentiate between materials:
- A conventional digital radiograph
- A low atomic number (low-Z) image, which enhances visualization of materials such as soft tissue and other low-density or organic materials
- A high atomic number (high-Z) image, which enhances visualization of denser materials such as bone and metal
How The SpectralDR® Technology Innovates Dual-Energy Imaging
Dual-energy imaging has long been used to help clinicians differentiate between materials inside the body. By capturing images at different X-ray energy levels, radiologists can separate structures such as bone and soft tissue, improving visibility of abnormalities that might otherwise be obscured in a conventional radiograph.
Dual-Energy Before SpectralDR®
While conventional dual-energy imaging through kvp switching can achieve material differentiation, it comes with many limitations. Dual-exposure applications are always at risk of motion artifacts, alignment issues, and an increase in radiation through multiple exposures. As a result, the routine use of additional projections, such as lateral views, may be limited in certain clinical settings due to dose considerations. When motion artifacts are present in the final X-ray image, repeat imaging may be necessary. Moreover, conventional dual-exposure dual-energy has historically been difficult to implement in portable imaging environments.
Learn More: Single-Exposure Dual-Energy X-ray Imaging With Reveal 35C
Similarly, bone suppression software can help improve the visibility of soft-tissue structures by digitally reducing the appearance of bone in a standard X-ray image. While this can be useful in certain clinical scenarios, bone suppression relies on post-processing algorithms rather than true spectral information captured during the scan. As a result, it may not always accurately separate overlapping structures, and subtle details can sometimes be lost or misrepresented.
Learn More: Bone Suppression Software vs. Dual-Energy X-Ray
Dual-Energy with SpectralDR® Technology
By simply making single-exposure dual-energy possible, SpectralDR® addresses several limitations associated with conventional methods like bone suppression technology and dual-energy through kVp switching.
Instead of relying on sequential exposures or post-processing powered by AI, it captures spectral information directly at the detector level during a single exposure. This avoids the motion artifact risk associated with dual-exposure systems, resulting in high-quality images that require the same radiation dose as a traditional chest radiograph.
Additionally, alignment issues are not a risk because the spectral data is captured simultaneously, allowing the resulting images to remain inherently aligned with every exposure.
This capability improves diagnostic confidence in situations where overlapping anatomy can obscure important findings. By separating structures based on how they interact with different X-ray energies, SpectralDR® provides additional visual information that may not be visible in a conventional radiograph alone.
At the same time, the workflow remains simple and familiar. Radiographers can perform a standard X-ray exam while automatically generating multiple spectral images, eliminating the need for additional imaging steps or specialized acquisition protocols.
TLDR: SpectralDR® technology enables single-exposure multi-energy X-ray imaging, capturing spectral information directly at the detector during one scan. Unlike traditional dual-energy methods that rely on multiple exposures or bone suppression software, SpectralDR® produces aligned spectral images without motion artifacts while maintaining existing workflows.
Where to Start Using SpectralDR®
SpectralDR® Imaging Products & Applications
The most direct way to begin using SpectralDR® technology today is through the Reveal 35C Flat Panel X-ray Detector developed by KA Imaging and available for medical and non-medical applications.
Reveal 35C (Medical)
- Pneumothorax: Air trapped in the pleural space can be difficult to detect in standard chest radiographs. Multi-energy imaging can improve visualization of lung structures and highlight abnormalities that may otherwise be obscured.
- Learn More: Dual Energy X-ray for Pneumothorax Diagnosis
- Pneumonia: Spectral imaging can help differentiate soft tissue structures within the lungs, making it easier to identify areas of infection. In clinical trials, the Reveal 35C found 33% more pneumonia cases compared to standard X-ray.
- TB: In TB programs, improved soft-tissue visibility can help radiologists identify suspicious lesions hidden behind the ribs. In partnership with StopTB Nigeria, Reveal 35C was used for point-of-care TB visualization in rural areas of Nigeria that lack access to TB diagnostics.
- Line or tube placement: With the risk of iatrogenic pneumothorax, confirming the correct placement of central lines, endotracheal tubes, and feeding tubes is an essential part of clinical workflows. SpectralDR® imaging can help improve contrast between medical devices and surrounding anatomy. In clinical trials, Reveal 35C demonstrated better visibility of lines and tube tips without extra reading times.
- Lung lesions: Separating bone from soft tissue structures can make it easier to identify subtle lung nodules or lesions that would otherwise be obscured by the ribs. Clinical trials concluded there was 43% more lesion visibility when dual-energy images were available.
- Learn More: Detecting Lung Nodules with Reveal 35C X-Ray
Reveal R 35C (Non-Medical)
The Reveal R 35C Detector is a ruggedized version of the original Reveal 35C, designed for non-medical applications. It applies the same multi-energy imaging capabilities to security and industrial inspection environments.
Along with the three images Reveal 35C normally generates, Reveal R 35C generates a fourth image: a spectral colour image for streamlined material identification in fast-paced environments (such as the airport).
- Airport Security: Multi-energy imaging can assist with material differentiation during luggage or cargo inspection. The technology is ASTM F792-17 compliant, meeting strict industry standards for image quality, radiation safety, and system performance.
- Explosive Ordnance Disposal (EOD): Spectral imaging can assist EOD technicians by providing clearer material separation when inspecting suspicious packages or devices. The portable nature of the Reveal R 35C is also important here, as it allows EOD technicians to assess from a safe distance.
- Industrial Inspection (failure analysis): In manufacturing and engineering environments, SpectralDR® imaging can inspect failing components to identify internal defects, material inconsistencies, and provide improved visualization of small, failing components inside complex assemblies.
TLDR; SpectralDR® technology is available through the Reveal 35C for medical imaging applications and the Reveal R 35C for security, EOD, and industrial inspection. You can get in contact with our team for more information about the technology and whether it’s suitable for your operations.