To bring complex interventional procedures in-house and increase patient throughput, Forth Valley Royal Hospital in Larbert has installed the Alphenix Sky+, making it Scotland’s first hospital in to benefit from Canon Medical’s most advanced ceiling-mounted imaging system.
Canon Medical says the Alphenix Sky+ offers clinicians ‘superior imaging quality’, and the 220° rotation needed to carry out complex precision procedures such as prostate artery embolisation (PAE) for prostate conditions. The result will be improved clinical workflow efficiencies by reducing the need for patient referral to alternative hospitals in Scotland, bringing healthcare closer to the community. In addition, patients with vascular and renal conditions, previously requiring major surgery, can now undergo treatment through minimally invasive techniques. The Alphenix Sky+ also enables the hospital examine the uterus of women experiencing fertility issues and treat uterine fibroids, reducing the need for more invasive procedures or surgery.
Jennifer Gilchrist, Radiology Services manager at NHS Forth Valley, said: “While our previous radiology imaging system served us well, technology has significantly advanced since its purchase 12 years ago. We needed new state-of-the-art equipment that would provide crystal clear, high-quality images to enable us to carry out a broader range of precision procedures in-house. As a hospital, we are keen to serve our patients as close to home as possible, and are thrilled we can now make this possible.”
Featuring a double C-arm feature with full rotation from either the right or left side of the table, the Alphenix Sky+ can capture scans of the patient’s body from all angles. Integrated AI technology allows the operator to create a high-resolution 3D image from a 2D set of data. Canon Medical explained: “This is vital for complex procedures and scans, including inserting small metal coils into veins or arteries to cut off the blood supply to cancerous tumours, and placing stents which can then be expanded to help clear blockages and maintain blood flow. Increased clinical confidence through 3D images leads to better patient outcomes.”
The system also offers a lower radiation dose than alternative scanners, while the addition of a ‘unique’ SPOT Fluoro – which helps improve workflow and visibility of guide wires and catheters – also works to reduce dose per procedure. Canon Medical said: “The radiation field can be seamlessly adjusted independently, ensuring that the minimum area needed to perform the procedure is exposed, without needing to adjust the patient or system position.” Meanwhile, the use of the Dose Tracking System (DTS) within the Alphenix Sky+ scanner allows the clinician to monitor the patient’s skin dose in real-time, thus minimising the risk of radiation injury.
In addition to the Alphenix Sky+ system, Forth Valley Hospital has also installed Canon Medical’s Ultimax-i X-ray machine to further build diagnostic capacity and resilience within the hospital. The new machine, housed in the fluoroscopy room, enables high-quality images and videos to be captured using contrast dye. This can be used to examine patients experiencing difficulty chewing and swallowing food, and to assess joints to determine if a patient would benefit from a hip or knee replacement and help with the precise positioning of stents to treat patients with a range of cancers – including bowel, stomach, gallbladder, and liver, as well as supporting a wide range of investigations by the Endoscopy Department.
