Paralympian Zak Skinner and Olympic gold medallist Tessa Sanderson CBE, have today officially opened the Birmingham 2022 Commonwealth Games Polyclinics, Presented By Canon Medical Systems UK (Canon Medical UK).
The advanced diagnostic imaging services at three specialist sports medicine polyclinics will support over 4,500 athletes from 72 nations and territories during the Games. They are located at the University of Birmingham, the University of Warwick and the NEC Hotels Athletes Villages.
The very latest medical imaging innovations have been installed by Canon Medical UK including diagnostic ultrasound, digital radiography X-ray and two Artificial Intelligence (AI) assisted relocatable MRI scanners with full healthcare IT connectivity. These imaging systems will help clinicians quickly and digitally assess common musculoskeletal sports related issues such as bone, muscle, tendon or joint injury, without the need to be transferred to local hospitals. They will also provide on-site diagnostic support for wider proactive sports medicine assessments such as cardiac or neuro work, if required.
Mark Hitchman, Managing Director of Canon Medical Systems UK, said: “We are very proud to be the Presenting Sponsor of the Birmingham 2022 Polyclinics, and support the athletes with exceptionally high-quality diagnostic imaging technologies.
“Sports Medicine is at the heart of our pedigree. Around the world, our teams are providing and innovating imaging systems to continually expand knowledge and gather research about the impact intense physical pressure has on the body through sports. This helps sporting organisations and individual athletes achieve their potential, while also unlocking data and information that can be applied to the development of medical equipment in mainstream healthcare. This will help improve wider population health outcomes and potentially save lives.”
Paralympian Zak Skinner added: “The care and services that the polyclinics offer athletes during the Games will support early detection, prevention and faster rehabilitation of sports injuries. The insight and clarity provided by diagnostic imaging is fundamental in improving the longevity of our sporting careers.”
Commonwealth and Olympic gold medallist Tessa Sanderson CBE said: “I am delighted to be representing Canon Medical Systems UK at the Birmingham 2022 Commonwealth Games. They do some incredible work and it’s been a pleasure being an ambassador for them over the years.”
The Games will be the first UK multi-sports event to offer all competing athletes access to advanced diagnostic healthcare imaging featuring Artificial Intelligence. The two Vantage Orian 1.5T MRI scanners housed in modular units feature Canon Medical UK’s pioneering Advanced Intelligent Clear-IQ Engine (AiCE), a Deep Learning Reconstruction technology. This technology uses training data from thousands of images/ data sets to intelligently remove the noise, allowing anatomy and pathology to be clearly visualised. AiCE is an algorithm that can be used to shorten scan time, improve resolution, or a combination of the two, offering greater efficiency and patient comfort.
Diagnostic ultrasound support at the Games will be provided by the Canon Medical Aplio i800 Prism Edition. This is an easy to manoeuvre cart-based system with touch screen controls or can be operated by a wireless tablet. It produces crystal-clear images to diagnose ligament tears or muscle strains. It also includes Canon’s unique proprietary technology, called Superb Micro-vascular Imaging (SMI), which visualises blood flow in colour of very low-velocity and small diameter blood vessels in the evaluation of musculoskeletal disorders. Digital Radiography X-ray will support the examination of suspected bone fractures.
Sustainability
The Birmingham 2022 Commonwealth Games sustainability ambition is to create a carbon neutral legacy, taking responsibility for the Games’ climate impact in a credible, holistic manner. By working closely with partners, suppliers, and stakeholders across the region, the Games aims to reduce their carbon footprint, inspire others to make positive change, and bring environmental and social benefit to the region as part of a lasting legacy.
Canon Medical Systems is proud to show its ‘heart & soul’ not only through cultural philosophies such as ‘Made for Life’, but also through its sustainability programmes, charity support and social responsibility. Canon Medical will be offsetting the construction, delivery, installation, running and removal of all equipment within the polyclinics, as well as the travel and accommodation of all Canon Medical employees attending the Games, though an Indian wind power project offered by CO2balance. The wind-generated power is supplied to the regional grid of India, which is dominated by the fossil fuel-based power plants, to generate carbon credits.
Photo Caption: (L-R): Rene Degros, Vice President, Sales and Marketing at Canon Medical Systems Europe, Commonwealth and Olympic gold medallist Tessa Sanderson CBE, Mark Hitchman, Managing Director at Canon Medical Systems UK, Paralympian Zak Skinner, John Crabtree OBE, Chairman of the Board at Birmingham 2022 Commonwealth Games and Perry, Birmingham Commonwealth Games 2022 mascot.