Monthly Archives: March 2024

The Aquilion Serve SP CT supports faster throughput with more time for the patient, consistent imaging results with less training, and better image quality with a lower radiation dose. The new CT has been developed to help ease mounting pressures on healthcare professionals from continuously increasing workload, imaging needs that have become significantly more complex, staff shortages, financial limitations, and the growing need for better sustainability.

A powerful workhorse

The new CT system features INSTINX, Canon Medical’s holistic workflow solution that creates new standards in efficiency and consistency and was specially designed to enhance every aspect of the imaging chain.

Through its easy-to-learn operations, the Aquilion Serve SP reduces the training time required for staff. Moreover, the system’s 40% reduction in workflow steps saves time, reduces pressure on overloaded staff, and enhances opportunities to serve more patients, while preserving optimal accuracy.

INSTINX comes with a 24% reduction in time to perform scan planning and a 97% accuracy in setting the scan range, including the Field of View. In addition, the ease of use of INSTINX ensures greater consistency in scanning when used by multiple technologists and enables more flexible staff allocation.

“Combining the power of Canon Medical AI-enabled technologies with a completely redesigned workflow that makes scanning easier than ever, the Aquilion Serve SP is designed to meet all clinical needs with superior performance,” said Roy Verlaan, Canon Medical System’s European Director CT.

“Employing the latest technologies and applications to enhance image quality and support diagnostic speed and accuracy, it has all clinical needs covered. From routine to complex imaging needs, Aquilion Serve SP is a scanner that can do it all.”

Lung screening

Lung cancer is one of the leading causes of cancer death worldwide. Its early detection with low dose CT enables earlier treatment options and a better prognosis. However, the biggest concern in lung screening with CT is radiation dose, and secondly, how healthcare organisations can integrate the additional throughput of large numbers of screening candidates. As well as providing the capacity for high throughput, the Aquilion Serve SP features a ‘Game-Changer’ in Low-Dose Lung Imaging – SilverBeam. Canon Medical’s SilverBeam Filter combined with INSTINX and Deep Learning Reconstruction for CT delivers a reduction in radiation dose, an increased patient throughput and enhanced image quality with minimised image noise preserving overall image quality and diagnostic accuracy.

Obvious added value

With its powerful performance and updated workflow experience, the Aquilion Serve SP quickly demonstrates its value to clinical teams looking to reduce scan times, simplify training and keep infrastructure requirements to a minimum.

Roy Verlaan, European Director CT, Canon Medical Systems Europe, concluded, “It’s an exciting time for Canon. With the launch of the Aquilion ONE / INSIGHT Edition and the Aquilion Serve SP, we are simplifying and streamlining CT workflows, making the scan experience more efficient for patients and operators. On top of that, we reaffirm our Made for Life philosophy by introducing Deep Learning Reconstruction across our entire CT portfolio to support fast and high-quality imaging at low dose for all patients.”

Learn more about Aquilion Serve SP from Canon Medical’s team of experts at this year’s UKIO Congress at stand A39.

• Waiting list for non-obstetric ultrasound screenings reduced by half since opening
• Breast screening uptake amongst those invited increased from half to almost three quarters in less than a year
• 70,000 patients expected to be screened annually following installation of Canon Medical’s Aquilion Prime SP

Since April 2022, Barnsley’s 240,000 citizensⁱ have benefitted from more accessible diagnostic testing thanks to a state-of-the-art Community Diagnostic Centre (CDC) situated in the Glass Works shopping mall in the heart of Barnsley, South Yorkshire. With the aim of expanding healthcare services to the local community, the project involved installing Aquilion Prime SP, a CT from chosen supplier, Canon Medical Systems.

Developed by Barnsley Hospital NHS Foundation Trust, in collaboration with Barnsley Facilities Services (BFS), the CDC provides vital testing and screening services including phlebotomy, non-obstetric ultrasound diagnostics, breast screening, plain film X-rays and bone density scans. Following an initial allocation of approximately £2.8 million of capital funding via the national CDC programme, Barnsley CDC was awarded a further sum of around £4.6 million at the beginning of 2023ⁱⁱ for expansion of the facility. This included the installation of the new CT system in September 2023. Additional healthcare services now include computerised tomography (CT), abdominal aortic aneurysm screening (AAA), Urodynamics, capsule endoscopy and retinal eye screening.

The recently installed Aquilion Prime SP offers fast patient throughput to robust cardiac scanning and new diagnostic capabilities. The Canon Medical equipment is installed with additional software including Advanced Intelligent Clear-IQ Engine (AiCE), Tech Assist Lateral and ^SureSubtraction. Trained using vast amounts of high-quality image data, reconstructed with an advanced model-based iterative reconstruction (MBIR) algorithm, AI-assisted CT such as AiCE reduce noise and boost signal to deliver sharp, clear and distinct images at speed.

Heralded as ‘a leading example of modern healthcare infrastructure and modern diagnostics’, Barnsley CDC was awarded ‘Project of the Year’ at the Healthcare Estates and Facilities Management Awards in May 2023.ⁱⁱⁱ  Since its opening, waiting times for non-obstetric ultrasound diagnostics  have been cut by half (from six weeks in March 2022 to three weeks in September 2022) and the uptake rate for breast screening increased from around half (50%) in April 2022 to almost three quarters (72%) by October 2022. As of February 2023, staff had provided over 40,000 checks and scans^iv. Following the installation of the Aquilion Prime SP, it is estimated that the total throughput of patients at Barnsley CDC will rise to approximately 70,000 annually.

Liz Elfleet, Medical Imaging Manager at Barnsley Hospital NHS Foundation Trust, explains, “As an NHS Trust, we have a long-standing relationship with Canon Medical Systems UK. They provide excellent technology, and the equipment is backed by superior training along with excellent service support. Since this latest installation, the team has seen improved image quality and greater productivity, leading to faster patient examinations. This has resulted in a further reduction to our waiting lists for patients.”

Barnsley is amongst the most deprived 10% of communities in England. Life expectancy for men is 2.3 years lower than the national average, and 2 years lower for women. Providing access to preventative screening is critical to help early detection of diseases^v.

The continued expansion of diagnostics services in the community means patients can attend scans and blood tests in a more relaxed environment, encouraging those who feel intimidated by a traditional hospital environment to attend appointments, and help in earlier detection of disease. It also eases pressure on existing hospital and GP services within the Barnsley Hospital NHS Foundation Trust. This is part of wider NHS plans to reduce waiting times for routine procedures and help diagnose life-threatening conditions, such as cancer, earlier^vi.

Billy Erwin, Account Manager at Canon Medical Systems Europe comments “We’re very pleased to provide the new Aquilion Prime SP to Barnsley CDC. Installation of the latest medical imaging equipment means that Barnsley citizens benefit from better care, as well as access to a broader range of diagnostic services, helping to redress health inequalities in the local community.”

Liz Elfleet added, “We’re committed to helping local people live happy, healthy lives. By bringing diagnostic tests to Barnsley town centre, we can offer scans earlier and in a more friendly and accessible location. Residents have been involved in how we’ve transformed the centre – even the artwork that’s on the walls was chosen by the patient experience group. We didn’t want it to look like a healthcare environment. People feel more at ease visiting a shopping centre rather than a hospital setting. They can do their shopping or go to the cinema and attend their appointment at the same time. The Glass Works has a range of accessible parking options and is conveniently located for Barnsley residents.”