Initial assessment of the DSI unit proved the ergonomic advantages of the system compared with a conventional fluoroscopic/fluorographic system. Also, a decrease in radiation dose levels proved encouraging. Savings in respect of hard copy expenditure and higher patient throughout area which the DSI technique can exploit. However, spatial resolution is still not equal to that of conventional film/screen imaging, but the 1024 matrix option and the facility for post-processing of the images in terms of contrast, brightness and edge enhancement have produced diagnostically acceptable images for all examinations undertaken (see figures 4 and 5).