Demystifying New Technologies:
DDR and the Revolution of Motion Imaging
When new technologies appear, we often ask questions regarding their impact, effectiveness, and uses. Recently, Konica Minolta Healthcare made Dynamic Digital Radiography - DDR available to the medical sector, a radiography based on the cinematographic technique, which provides series images with a low radiation dose, allowing the capture of independent frames of moving physiological systems.
Below are some myths surrounding this technology and its real impact on clinical practice:
Myth 1: “DDR is the same as fluoroscopy”
Reality: Although both show movement, DDR uses a sequence of static radiographs acquired at high speed and low dose, while fluoroscopy uses continuous exposure. The result is a “digital cinegraphy” with less radiation and without the need for complex fluoroscopic systems or special shielding.
Myth 2: “DDR exposes the patient to a high dose by capturing many images”
Reality: Quite the opposite: the total dose can be equal to or less than that of a conventional radiography thanks to the sensitivity of the detector and the processing algorithms. The magic lies in the efficiency of the beam and the automatic exposure control.
Myth 3: “It only serves to see moving lungs”
Reality: DDR is as versatile as a film director: it allows studying the thorax, diaphragm, joints, spine, and even cardiac or swallowing function, depending on the protocol. It can be used in any standard radiography projection.
Myth 4: “It requires software or hardware different from conventional X-ray equipment”
Reality: It works on the same digital radiography platform of Konica Minolta (DDR integrated in KDR or mKDR), with the same detector and console. It only requires the DDR license and a detector capable of capturing in fast sequential mode (6–15 fps).
Myth 5: “It has no clinical value; it’s just a pretty video”
Reality: DDR provides functional information (lung movement, diaphragm excursion, joint dynamics, etc.) that complements the morphological image. Clinical studies (Radiology 2022, SpringerOpen 2023) already demonstrate its utility in pulmonary pathologies, fibrosis, and functional orthopedics.
Myth 6: “It’s futuristic technology that is not yet available”
Reality: DDR is already a mature and commercially available technology in America, Asia, and Europe. Konica Minolta was the pioneer and the only company with over 10 years of clinical experience and peer-reviewed publications on the subject.
Myth 7: “It requires complex training or changes in workflow”
Reality: Not at all. The workflow is practically the same as conventional radiography, with the advantage of being able to see movements seconds later. Learning is quick and the interface is the same as in the ULTRA software.
Myth 8: “It does not provide economic benefits to the hospital”
Reality: It allows to differentiate services, increase diagnostic value without contrasts, and reduce operational costs by using the same X-ray equipment for functional studies. It's innovation with tangible returns, not just “pretty technology”.
Myth 9: “There is no code or medical recognition to bill for the study”
Reality: In the U.S., CPT 76125 (“Cinegraphic X-Ray”) specifically describes this type of functional sequence. In other words, DDR already has support in the international medical nomenclature and can be registered within complementary diagnostic practices.
Myth 10: “It is a passing trend”
Reality: DDR represents the natural evolution of digital radiography: moving from static images to functional dynamic analysis, with AI and motion quantification. It is not a trend; it is the future... and it is already here.
Have you used Dynamic Digital Radiography in your clinical practice? Discover different clinical cases here. Be part of the DDR community!
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