Canon Medical Systems recently installed an Ultimax-i fluoroscopy system at Central Middlesex Hospital, part of London North West Healthcare NSH Trust. The new equipment, which comes with a 43 x 43 cm flat panel detector, is equipped to enable the department to perform multi-purpose examinations, including conventional X-ray, fluoroscopy and angiography exams. Its innovative design provides a multi-directional interactive digital C-arm system, which makes it an ideal solution for all patients.
Dr. Philip Shorvon, Consultant Radiologist says, “The system is well-designed for patient access, which is particularly important for procedures such as ERCP, where equipment and several personnel need proximity to the patient. The large field of the detector plate and the full 180° movement of the table make the equipment very versatile. It is also possible to place a wheelchair between the table and detector for video swallows.”
Offering versatility and flexibility, Canon’s Ultimax-i is able to cover a wide range of clinical imaging and interventional needs. The C-arm and table positioning allows the patient to rest comfortably during exams and the low table height puts patients at ease. The tabletop may be lowered to only 52 cm above the floor, this height being ideal to meet the requirements of patients in wheelchairs, significantly reducing the burden on operators and assistants during patient transfer. Once the patient is initially positioned on the table, the quiet, smooth operation of the table-tilt can perform subsequent positioning without additional patient manipulation. In addition, anatomical coverage from head to toe is in excess of two metres, taking into account the scanning range of 163 cm and the size of the 43 x 43 cm detector.
The Ultimax-i brings all the benefits of flat panel detector technology together with a comprehensive dose reduction programme. Effective dose management is available with a variety of fingertip controls. For instance, three dose modes immediately reduce dose by up to sixty percent, and three filters reduce hard and soft X-ray exposure. Unique to the Ultimax is the ability to rotate the X-ray Rectilinear Light Beam Collimator in both radiographic and fluoroscopic modes, further reducing X-ray dose to the patient.
Shown here, (left to right) Dr. Philip Shorvon, Consultant Radiologist; Bozenna Wereszczynska, Clinical Lead, Radiology; Katarzyna Guz, Radiographer; Stephen Whale, Account Executive, Canon Medical Systems and Mr. Alberto Isla, Consultant Surgeon
Canon Medical Systems has a carbon-zero project in place. We have calculated the carbon footprint for each of our products to include manufacturing, shipping and delivery and average hospital energy used for the standard lifetime of the equipment as follows:
X-ray equates to 13 stoves and 50,781 litres of water