Two ‘top-of-the-range’ Artificial Intelligence (AI) assisted, spectral, wide-detector CT scanners will be supplied by Canon Medical Systems UK to Craigavon Area Hospital, part of Southern Health and Social Care Trust in Northern Ireland, for a £6.8 million ‘twin’ CT suite development.
Canon Medical says the new diagnostic imaging systems will help improve the standard of care delivered to patients by cutting waiting times, expanding the range of local imaging services, and providing enhanced image quality outputs ‘for more certain, first-time clinical interpretations’. The suppler said: “The advanced scanning protocols on the new spectral Canon Medical CT scanners will aim to improve stroke, cancer, and cardiac imaging services offered to all Southern Health and Social Care Trust’s local catchment area. Presently, due to limited scanning capabilities, advanced scans such as cardiac CT are outsourced, and patients have to travel longer distances to obtain the scan. Providing advanced scanning on site will not only improve service capacity, but will also improve patient accessibility to diagnostic services closer to home.”
The Aquilion ONE / PRISM Edition CT scanners will be capable of rapid and accurate detection of stroke via brain perfusion and AI technologies. Spectral CT scanning will reduce the requirement for follow-up appointments by allowing earlier characterisation of abnormalities, which will also help in providing highly efficient cancer work-up. Advanced cardiac CT capabilities, along with AI, will also improve patient comfort and satisfaction by reducing requirement for invasive cardiac catheterisation procedures.”
Billy Erwin, Account manager at Canon Medical Systems UK, said: “The development of the new twin CT suite with joint control room at Craigavon Area Hospital has been six years in the making. We have been part of the project management team for the new CT facility build – guiding the room design, supporting safety features, and planning delivery access. This has aimed to reduce the stress on hospital clinical teams by ensuring smooth equipment planning and commissioning logistics. We are looking forward to playing a central role in delivering the CT technology, and see it fulfilling many clinical and efficiency benefits for the radiology team and patients served.”
