Precise patient positioning, unique extremity imaging & rapid single rotation cardiac scanning cited as key innovations to support service needs

To meet increasing demands in cardiac CT and futureproof its general imaging capabilities, Croydon University Hospital has upgraded its CT scanner to a Aquilion ONE™ GENESIS Edition CT from Canon Medical Systems.

Cardiac CT is now the first-line investigation for all patients presenting with chest pain due to suspected Coronary Artery Disease. This change in NICE guidelines, away from invasive coronary angiography to cardiac CT, has resulted in an increased workload for NHS imaging departments. At Croydon University Hospital cardiac lists are increasing to represent over a quarter (26%) of its daily scanning workload.

The Aquilion ONE™ GENESIS Edition CT scanner is the fastest in the NHS, boasting 135 millisecond scanning of the entire heart in half a rotation without distortion artefacts and at the lowest possible dose. This fast scanning speed and superior image outputs give a higher level of clinical confidence for treatment planning.

“The new Aquilion ONE CT from Canon Medical Systems replaces an ageing piece of equipment to bring our CT imaging strategy firmly up to date. Growing cardiac CT lists and general imaging workload pressures will now be met confidently and innovatively,” states Anne Geoghegan, CT Superintendent at Croydon University Hospital, part of Croydon Health Services NHS Trust. “We are also particularly impressed by the Lateral Assist functionality on the scanner that moves the table side-to-side ensuring accurate placement of the patient in the isocentric beam. This reduces manual handling and ensures detailed image quality at the lowest possible dose.”

Laser Collimation functionality further uniquely positions the Aquilion ONE™ GENESIS Edition CT scanner as one-of-a-kind to meet the versatility of imaging demands. No scanogram is required during imaging planning, lowering dose and shortening set-up time.

Anne Geoghegan, CT Superintendent at Croydon University Hospital continues, “The ability to do extremity imaging such as wrists and elbows from a chair through the CT bore, without patient placement on the table, is another unique feature that we are really impressed with. It means that we can be very precise without needing to irradiate the rest of the body.”

Mark Hitchman, Managing Director at Canon Medical Systems UK states, “The speed of our CT scanning is truly amazing – an entire image of the heart at nearly the same rate as the speed of light to travel around the world, or an entire liver in the blink of an eye. These innovations at the frontline of patient care in the NHS, will help support the clinical and service demands facing radiographers and radiologists today. We are very pleased to have been selected by Croydon University Hospital to work in partnership to futureproof its CT imaging equipment and we will continue to support with maintenance, service and training.”

Photo:

Tessa Sanderson CBE, Olympic gold medallist with family links to Croydon, opens the new Aquilion ONE™ GENESIS Edition CT from Canon Medical Systems at Croydon University Hospital.

[Left to right]: Jamile Siddiqui, Account Manager at Canon Medical Systems; Anne Geoghegan, CT Superintendent at Croydon University Hospital; Mike Bell, Chairman of Croydon Health Services NHS Trust; Tessa Sanderson CBE, Six times Olympian athlete; Simone O’Connor, Superintendent Radiographer at Croydon University Hospital; and Dr Ketul Patel, Lead Consultant Radiologist at Croydon University Hospital.