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Barrow Neurological Institute In Phoenix Takes High-Tech Approach To Reduce X-Ray Radiation Danger

It is well known that prolonged X-ray radiation exposure can raise the risk of cancer among patients and doctors.
 
However, the Barrow Neurological Institute in Phoenix is using innovative technology to significantly reduce the amount of radiation.
 
Although X-rays typically utilize a low dose of radiation, Dr. Juan Uribe, professor of neurosurgery at Barrow said "any radiation exposure from X-rays has the potential of malignancy.”
 
That’s because health care providers use X-rays routinely, and the main worry is the amount of repetitive or prolonged exposure to them.
 
Similarly, Uribe the risks to patients are great as well. 

"We have patients that need to have several surgeries in their life, and the problem with radiation exposure is you don’t see it. You don’t feel it. It has no taste. It has no smell, but it’s there," he said.
 
Uribe said the proprietary technology Barrow is using was developed by his colleague at Duke University and uses a mixture of software algorithms and computer hardware to reduce radiation exposure by up to 50 percent.
 

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Tom Maxedon was the host of KJZZ’s Weekend Edition from 2017 to 2024.