GRH doctor recognised for X-ray visible photographic printing technology

A doctor of the Government Rajaji Hospital in Madurai received the best paper award at the 45^th Annual National Conference of the Association of Radiation Oncologists of India (AROICON 2025) for his development of a novel X-ray visible photographic printing technology.  

As S. Senthilkumar, Assistant Professor of Radiological Physics at Madurai Medical College and GRH, won the first prize at the conference held in Kolkata recently, he said that, as it was a ground-breaking innovation, recognising its originality and strong clinical potential, a patent has been filed for the technology. 

He added, similar to the way bones appear during routine X-ray investigations, this innovative technology would reveal printed images exclusively under X-ray machines, computed tomography scanner, and cardiac catheterisation laboratories, marking a significant breakthrough in medical imaging.  

Dr. Senthilkumar claimed that such a method was being reported for the first time in the world, and to widen its reach, the patent application process has been kicked off.  

Further, he stated, “The innovation is believed to address a long-standing challenge in medical imaging and radiotherapy planning, particularly in procedures such as high-dose-rate liver brachytherapy implants and computed tomography–guided biopsies, where accurate catheter and needle placement is crucial.” 

Inaccurate positioning often leads to repeated needle insertions and multiple computed tomography scans, resulting in increased procedure time, higher radiation exposure to patients, greater discomfort, and potential compromise in diagnostic and treatment accuracy, he added.  

Whereas the newly developed technology enables accurate needle placement in a single attempt, significantly reducing repeat punctures and the need for multiple computed tomography scans, he noted.  

As an add-on advantage, its flexible nature allows conformity to curved and irregular body surfaces, thereby enhancing radiation safety, procedural precision, and overall clinical efficiency, Dr. Senthilkumar pointed out.  

Expressing confidence about the efficiency in its functioning, the doctor, said, “Experts believe that this innovation has the potential to transform image-guided interventions and significantly improve patient safety, representing a major advancement in high-dose-rate brachytherapy, radiotherapy, and interventional radiology.