CANON MEDICAL SYSTEMS FOLLOW UP ON SUCCESSFUL MEDICAL PHYSICIST STUDY DAYS

Canon Medical Systems followed up on its successful CT study days, held in 2016, and aimed at Medical Physicists, by running a series of courses entitled ‘Canon Medical Systems technologies – a physicist’s perspective’.  The events were held in Glasgow, Manchester and Oxford, with invitees including Clinical Scientists, Radiation Protection Advisors, Medical Physics Experts and Radiation Physicists.   The course was provided as part of Canon Medical Systems’ Applications for Life promise and offered free-of-charge to delegates.

The day opened with a review of key points that emerged from the previous study days, followed by ‘Noise and its management in CT scanning’, with an explanation of the core elements on a CT scanner that contribute to noise in images and affect their quality.  Also included was theory on image generation and viewing modes.

Two sessions were held during the day on dose optimisation. The first part covered dose reduction technologies available on Canon Medical Systems’ new Aquilion CT scanners and included a background explanation of how each of the technologies results in dose reduction and their application in optimising dose.

The morning session ended with an IRR & IR(ME)R update and a review of what has changed in the regulations and how it will affect CT, dose management and DICOM dose reports. This was presented by David Platten, MSc CSci, MIPEM, Principal Physicist at United Lincolnshire Hospitals NHS Trust.

After lunch the second of the dose optimisation session consisted of using a demo unit and the latest software to give a practical demonstration of the technologies covered in part I and their effect

Finally the meeting looked at the advanced technologies that enhance diagnostic image quality, whilst keeping doses low. This also included Canon Medical Systems’ SEMAR Dual Energy and Subtraction software, covering theory, protocols and clinical applications.

Positive feedback was received at all three events about the relevance and range of the information delivered and the quality of the presentations, with the delegates rating the events even higher than the previous study days.

Comments included “Extremely knowledgeable presenters: Thorough, comprehensive, good balance without too much bias”, “Clinical talk was very useful to put it all into context”, “Virtual scanner was Very Useful!!”,  “Thank You for arranging the day – very informative.”

Photo:

Group photo at Oxford venue