Toshiba to showcase Aquilion PRIME CT scanner at RSNA 2011

As the latest addition to the "ONE Family" of CT scanners, Toshiba America Medical Systems, Inc. will showcase the Aquilion^TM PRIME CT (pending 510(k) clearance) at this year's Radiological Society of North America (RSNA) annual meeting in Chicago, Nov. 27 - Dec. 2, 2011 (Booth #5634, South Hall). With double slice technology and coneXact™ reconstruction algorithm, Aquilion PRIME can generate 160 unique slices per rotation, achieving extremely accurate MPR and 3D-rendered images. The Aquilion PRIME is designed for healthcare facilities that need to perform a wide variety of routine clinical examinations and produce the highest-quality clinical images with the least amount of radiation exposure, all while improving efficiency.

“That, along with standard patient safety features AIDR and NEMA XR 25 Dose Check Software, helps clinicians acquire high-quality images quickly, while minimizing radiation dose as much as possible.”

The Aquilion PRIME features an 80-row 0.5 mm detector, a 7.5-MHU large-capacity tube and 0.35 second scanning. This high-speed rotation allows rapid data acquisition and shortens scan times while the fast reconstruction unit further improves throughput. The system also features a 78 cm aperture gantry, the largest currently available in a high-end CT system. The combination of a 660 lb patient weight capacity couch (option) with a large gantry bore makes the Aquilion PRIME an ideal system for use in non-standard conditions, such as emergency scanning or bariatric patient studies.

To reinforce the principle of As Low As Reasonably Achievable (ALARA) imaging, Adaptive Iterative Dose Reduction (AIDR) and NEMA XR 25 Dose Check Software are standard features on the Aquilion PRIME. AIDR technology is an iterative process that removes noise from the image to increase quality and helps to reduce radiation dose significantly. Toshiba's NEMA XR 25 Dose Check Software enhances user awareness of the radiation dose being administered to patients. This software includes Dose Alert and Dose Notification, addressing the two main components of MITA's CT Dose Check Initiative, as well as Tracking and Digital Imaging and Communications in Medicine (DICOM) to further enhance patient safety.

"The combination of the 0.35 second gantry rotation speed and the state-of-the-art reconstruction technology allows many examinations to be performed and reconstructed in seconds," said Joseph Cooper, director, CT Business Unit, Toshiba. "That, along with standard patient safety features AIDR and NEMA XR 25 Dose Check Software, helps clinicians acquire high-quality images quickly, while minimizing radiation dose as much as possible."