Relocatable CT unit set to help meet expected demand after immediate COVID-19 response

The first orders of Canon Medical System’s relocatable CT scanners that can work outside the normal healthcare environment have been received. The CT Scan Units can tackle routine imaging diagnostics in the areas of cancer and heart disease that were put on hold during the initial response stages of the COVID-19 pandemic. They can be used, for example, in hospital car parks or in the newly-created arena field health centres.

Drawing on partnerships with bespoke modular buildings and mobile trailer manufacturers, Canon Medical has developed a fast-build mobile CT Scan Unit. They will provide a clinically safe environment to meet increasing imaging capacity demands or to keep highly infectious patients separate from routine CT examinations.

“For many years we have worked closely with UK customers in flexing-up imaging requirements during winter pressures, emergency incidents or building works, by providing our CT scanners in mobile trailers or relocatable units,” said Canon Medical Systems UK md Mark Hitchman.

“Today, we put that imaging versatility into rapid and scaled-up production to meet the needs of frontline UK radiology teams following the initial response stages to the COVID-19 crisis.”

The units are equipped with Aquilion Prime SP, Aquilion Lightning SP or Aquilion One Genesis CT systems and include a control room and small changing or storage areas. They can be transported by road to the locations where they are needed.

Designed with the correct clinical flooring, hospital-grade heating, ventilation and air conditioning requirements as well as datalink connectivity, the system can be deployed as a fast response to highly dependent patients in the current crisis and can be operational within hours. All CT scanners in the units feature InnerVision, a remote diagnostics software that can predict, diagnose or fix system issues quickly without the need for engineers to visit sites.

Picture: Canon Medical’s fast-build CT Scan Units can be operational within hours.

Published on page 10 of the June 2020 issue of RAD Magazine.