Written by Christina Vullo
Social Media Marketing Analyst
Xerox Corporation
What comes to mind when you think about print? Probably photos, posters, books and manuals, and packaging. How about dental X-Rays? 
In November of 1979, Xerox Medical Systems (XMS) of Pasadena, California announced the 110 Dental Imaging System. The system, based on xeroradiography, revolutionized the way dental diagnostic X-Rays were taken by making transparency prints at lower levels of X-Ray dosages than traditional dental imaging systems. The 110 Dental Imaging System produced the X-Ray images in 20 seconds with a cost-effective and easy-to-operate system.
The purchase price of the system was $3,950 and a one-year rental agreement was also available for $155 per month. By 1988, Xerox stopped the marketing of medical hardware but continued to provide service and supplies to existing XMS customers.
So the next time you’re at the dentist, think about the technology being used. Who knows…maybe the 110 Dental Imaging System is there! (We’d be surprised!)
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I worked at Xerox Medical Systems for several years and was one of the original trainers on the 110 dental unit. I also trained customers on the Xerox 125 Mammography unit which was Medical Systems’ show case product. Reading this blog brought back a lot of good memories. I am still with Xerox focusing on the customer’s web experinece on the Support and Driver site.
Hello Sandy. I remember meeting you at some training or other in Atlanta. In fact I have a picture of you at the Old Vinings Inn bar. At least I think it’s you. It would have been in the mid-80s.
I recognize that machine! I was the key operator at a beta dental office where I worked in 1981. From the dentists perception the clear imaging was outstanding. The cassettes were a little awkward for the patient but the processing for the assistants was wonderful – no dark room and no vats of chemicals. I was interested in Xerox Medical Systems and their Dental division. In 1982 I became a consultant for Xerox Medical Systems helping to develop and sell a PC based Dental Data Management System. In 1983 I became a real Xerox employee. After 1988, Xerox Medical Systems ventured, for a very short time, into a Kurzweil Voice Recognition application which could capture the radiologist’s voice giving the patient diagnosis, display it on a monitor and print the results. It was a unique experience for me to be trained at Kurzweil learning the application and then working with the Xerox beta sites. I am still with Xerox. This blog brought back so many great memories.
Christina – As a former Dental Hygienist I’m surprised I never came across this system – and as a Xerox employee I’m surprised I never heard of our involvement in the dental industry! Thanks for sharing an interesting bit of our history!
Digital dental x-ray technology has sure come a long way! Take a look at the latest i-CAT cone beam CT scanning equipment from Imaging Sciences International.
I was a national specialist with the 110 during my 16 years with Xerox Medical. A great product. Xerox tried to use the technology for mammography, but it was a monster! Hello to any old XMS colleagues.
Hello ex-XMSers! I worked for Xerox Medical Systems from 1982 to 1990 in Austin, Texas. That was a great job for a young guy. Especially because my boss was in Houston.
I was an engineer with XMS for almost 20 years. My team put the software in the 126 Mammography System (liquid development). Prior to that I wrote the code for the 110 Dental System. The Dental System ran on 3000 bytes of assembly code – a neat little package. I flash back periodically to my time at the Halstead St. and Vinedo St. facilities. I learned a great deal of engineering from the XMS group.
I got a deep splinter in my foot which despite the use of modern technology – including high def ultra sound – they cannot locate where to operate! All the consultants bemoan the fact xeroradiography is no longer available as they said it would clearly show where the splinter is.
Tomorrow I go into surgery for the second time as they try to locate the splinter in my foot….
Does no one use this technology any more?
My dad (Robert Speiser) was Chief Scientist of XMS and was tremendously proud of this technology. Too bad that market forces and fear of change made them impractical. As an entrepreneur myself, I know my dad was truly motivated to create tools that improved people’s lives, and the lower doses of radiation were the most significant aspect of this cool set of products. They were literally decades ahead of their time!