Medical imaging

ams OSRAM X-ray sensors and nano-scale cameras deliver precision and image quality with cutting-edge performance helping medical professionals to see deep inside the human body.

Our medical imaging solutions

Computed tomography
Digital x-ray
Endoscopy

Leading in medical imaging detectors

ams OSRAM is a leader in computed tomography and digital X-ray sensors for medical imaging. We design and manufacture unique medical image sensing solutions which offer outstanding precision, high acquisition speeds, low noise and ultra-low power consumption. This enables manufacturers of scanning equipment to produce sharp images while exposing patients to the lowest possible doses of radiation.

A CT scanner is one of the most powerful diagnostic tools available to medical practitioners because of its very fast acquisition times for 3D images of various parts of the human body: bones, skeletal muscles, head, heart or lungs. It achieves a high contrast ratio between bone, tissue, blood vessels and other parts of the body. 

A key component of a modern multi-slice CT scanner is the detector array: this senses the X-ray radiation which is partially attenuated by tissues in the patient’s body and converts them into a digital signal. The design of the detector array affects its operating characteristics, such as sensitivity, noise, resolution and speed.

ams OSRAM takes its leading image sensing expertise forward to achieve an unprecedented level of image quality at lowest possible doses, also referred to as photon counting technology. We offer a wide range of high-performance solutions addressing both three-side and four-side buttable options, exhibiting low noise, ultra-low power, and high readout speeds.

Such solutions range from stand-alone high channel count analog-to-digital converters allowing maximum flexibility for our customers, to highly integrated ICs combining both photodiode arrays and readout circuits in a single silicon package, driving ultimate performance. Fast acquisition speeds and best in class signal-to-noise ratio allows to lower the exposed X-ray radiation doses to its physical limits, which translates for the patients into significant less stress on their body.

In order to achieve best possible image quality ams OSRAM provides complementing portfolio options for precise patient positioning adjustments. Besides narrow focus laser and LED products, or fully integrated projection solutions for optical guidance and alignment for best-possible patient placement. ams OSRAM offers precise linear and angular position sensors to steer the supporting mechanical equipment with highest positioning accuracy. Supporting 2D or 3D camera based vision solutions or time-of-flight based 3D sensing might be considered to enable algorithmic compensation of small movements by the patient while being CT scanned. This is important because patients who are not positioned correctly can cause difficulties in the distribution of the radiation dose and resulting image quality might not be optimal. 

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Digital X-ray, X-ray Fluoroscopy, CT, Computed Tomography PET Positron emissions tomography Photon Counting Dental X-ray Intraoral X-ray Endoscopy
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Getting the most out of digital x-ray

Digital X-ray equipment is widely used in general radiography, mammography and interventional radiology. The flat panel detectors (FPDs) integrated in this equipment must produce high-resolution images with low noise.

ams OSRAM solutions for these FPDs help digital X-ray equipment manufacturers to produce accurate images and to increase scanning rates. The ams OSRAM portfolio includes high-speed readout circuits and gate drivers optimized for line times as low as 15µs. These devices help to increase the frame rate in dynamic X-ray applications such as fluoroscopy.

For static applications using portable and battery-powered FPDs, ams OSRAM offers readout circuits which dissipate as little as 1.1mW per channel, allowing radiologists to perform more X-ray exposures before the detector has to be recharged.

FPDs are the core of any digital X-ray system. They collect the radiation generated by the X-ray tube and filtered through the patient’s body. They deliver the output image that radiologists examine to formulate their diagnosis.

ams OSRAM draws on its extensive know-how in integrated circuit design, its expertise in semiconductor fabrication processes and its familiarity with the medical imaging equipment ecosystem to offer state-of-the-art readout integrated circuits and gate drivers, both as standard products and as customized devices for specific application needs.

The latest ROIC is the digital X-ray sensor AS5850B: a 16-bit, 256-channel low-noise charge-to-digital converter suitable for use in most digital X-ray systems. The high degree of programmability enables system performance optimization in a wide range of applications. The combination of fast speed, low noise and low power consumption maximizes the image quality and minimizes the patient’s exposure to radiation, while reducing time to market.

For exact patient positioning, ams OSRAM's laser modules can be used to provide the user with an optical visualization of the patient's position. 

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Digital X-ray X-ray Fluoroscopy Dental X-ray Intraoral X-ray
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Enabling endoscopy innovation

An endoscope inserted into the body enables a medical practitioner to examine the inside of the patient. The camera at the tip of the endoscope must be as small as possible, to minimize the patient’s discomfort.

Endoscopes equipped with an ams OSRAM NanEye miniature camera module can have a remarkably narrow tip: the area of a NanEye module – a complete digital camera-on-chip including its required interfaces for system integration – is <0.5mm2. ams OSRAM also offers expertise in integration to help medical equipment manufacturers to develop miniature cameras for micro-invasive surgery. Combinations of the integrated digital camera with right-fit illumination solutions are made possible by our advanced portfolio.

Manufacturers may also draw on ams OSRAM’s expertise in the integration of wafer-level optics, which enables the production of a complete endoscopy system-in-package (SiP) solution. Such SiP solutions offer the most effective way to reduce both the size and cost of an endoscope.

Advanced optical sensors, such as multi-channel spectral sensors across a wide spectral range, from ultraviolet (UV) to short-wave infrared (SWIR), paired with the required light emitter open new opportunities for innovative on-the-fly tissue analysis. This could for example help to detect possible cancer earlier with a single diagnostic step.

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Featured Products

ams AS5911 CT Detector Interface

ams AS5911 CT Detector Interface

The AS5911 is an ultra-low noise, 256-channel low power current to digital converter that enables the readout of photodiodes of a CT detector with highest sensitivity. The output currents of 256 photodiodes are converted simultaneously into digital without any dead time resulting in no charge loss on the inputs. The AS5911 combines current-to-voltage integration and A/D conversion for 256-channels in one device. The ADC architecture with its low-noise integrators, coarse quantizer, sample and hold and fine quantizer guarantee lowest input related noise of maximum 0.29 fC (low noise mode) at an input current range of 0.5 μA. The input current range of the ADC is selectable between 0.5 μA and 1 μA.The AS5911 supports two supply concepts: a single analog and true ground supply, in both modes the photodiodes are zero biased for ultra-low dark current of the photodiode. In true ground mode, the AS5911 operates at ±1.5 V dual analog supply while in single supply mode only a single analog supply of +3.0 V is needed. The device detects automatically the chosen supply concept. No external components are required for supply decoupling. To reduce PCB area and simplify the assembly process, decoupling capacitors for supply and reference voltages are integrated in the 14 x 14 mm² FBGA package. The on-chip LDOs, reference voltages and a temperature sensor minimize the external component requirements and reduces the bill of material. The AS5911 features on-chip calibration functions for parameters such as offset voltage, linearity, offset charge and leakage current. This allows to automatically set the photodiode and the front-end at their ideal operating point, compensating for offsets and non-linearities of the signal chain.Full-scale range, integration time and power mode are configurable over a SPI-compatible serial interface as well as the digital output modes of the LVDS interface. In low power mode, the power dissipation can be minimized down to 1.25 mW per channel for reduced self-heating of the CT detector. The adjustable integration time down to 51 µs allow very high frame rates. The operating range of AS5911 is specified from 0°C to 85°C.
Details and Datasheet
ams AS5951 CT Sensor Chip

ams AS5951 CT Sensor Chip

The AS5951 is a sensor chip for 32-slice CT detectors that combines the photodiodes and the readout circuit on a single CMOS chip. This sensor solution, which includes an array of photodiodes with ultra-low dark current and a 128-channel ADC side-by-side, allows the assembly of the pixel array on three adjacent edges of the device. Two AS5951 ICs can be placed in Z-direction enabling the design of 32-slice detectors for cost optimized CT machines.The AS5951 has a sensor dimension in Z-direction of 15.615 mm with a pixel dimension of 0.98x0.98 mm² in high resolution mode. In low dose mode two pixels are connected together to a 0.98x1.96 mm², this mode reduces the power consumption, as only half of the ADC channels are active. Pixel dimensions can be customized on request. The sensor can be directly assembled on a substrate using a wire bonding process for manufacturing of a CT module.Improved low dose performance can be achieved because of superior dark current of max. 1pA due to the near zero offset voltage across the photodiode. The input-related noise is very low, in high-resolution mode a typ. noise of 0.21 fC can be reached for an input current range of 200 nA.The max. power dissipation of 128 mW per device in high resolution mode and 67.2 mW in low power mode reduces self-heating effects and lowers the overall cost of cooling the system. An internal reference voltage and bias generator reduces the bill of material. Featuring on-chip photodiodes, the AS5951 offers a cost-optimized solution for 32-slice CT detectors.The digital data readout can be accessed via SPI interface. It is also used to configure parameters such as mode of operation, input current range, selection of reference voltage and enabling the calibration mode. An integrated temperature sensor enables monitoring of the junction temperature. 
Details and Datasheet
ams AS5850B Digital X-ray Flat Panel Readout IC

ams AS5850B Digital X-ray Flat Panel Readout IC

The AS5850B is a 16-bit, 256-channel low-noise charge-to-digital converter designed for use in digital X-ray systems. The high degree of programmability enables system performance optimization in a wide range of applications. The combination of fast speed, low noise and low power consumption maximizes the image quality and minimizes patient dose, exposure whilst improving the time to market.Each channel front-end consists of a charge sensitive amplifier (CSA) and a correlated double sampler (CDS), that removes offset and flicker noise from the signal, which is then converted to digital. A fast and reliable LVDS interface transmits the output digital data off-chip. Built-in diagnostic functionalities enable to locate the source of errors in the signal chain from the detector to the data acquisition system. Voltage references and a temperature sensor are included on the chip. An SPI interface allows easy programming of the device parameters.Four different power modes allow the user to minimize the current consumption for the chosen speed. Line times of 20, 28.5, 40 and 80 μs require as little as 3.1, 2.6, 1.6 and 1.1 mW per channel respectively. A special ADC operation mode is also available, that decreases the minimum line time to 15 μs without increasing the power consumption. Additionally, it is possible to add together the charges in pairs of adjacent channels; with this binning, the fastest achievable line time is 10 μs.
Details and Datasheet
ams NanEyeM Miniature Camera Modules

ams NanEyeM Miniature Camera Modules

NanEyeM is a miniature sized image sensor for vision applications where size is a critical factor. The ability of the camera head to drive a signal through long cables makes this the ideal component for minimal diameter endoscopes. With a footprint of a just 1 mm2, it features a 320x320 resolution with a high sensitive 2.4-micron rolling shutter pixel, with large full well capacitance. The sensor has been specially designed for medical endoscopic applications where high SNR is mandatory. The sensor has a high frame rate of about 49 fps to permit SNR enhancement and a smooth, low delay display over a wide range of standard interfaces. Additionally,  the frame rate can be set as low as 9 fps for use of extended exposure time and lower power consumption. The sensor includes a 10-bit ADC and a bit serial LVDS data interface. The sensor is able to drive the signal through a cable length of up to 3 m.
Details and Datasheet