Novel CT Technology is Tailor-Made for Children

By MedImaging International staff writers
Posted on 15 Dec 2009
An innovative computerized tomography (CT) system helps examine pediatric patients, who frequently have difficulty holding their breath or staying still during a scan.

The Aquilion ONE 320-detector row CT system is the world's first dynamic volume CT, and utilizes 320 ultra-high-resolution detector rows to image an entire organ in a single gantry rotation that can capture a section of up to 16 cm. The system is designed for pediatric patients, who with smaller vessels, lower bone density, and less body fat, have different imaging needs than adults. A volume acquisition mode exposes patients to less radiation, providing safer pediatric exams by lessening the need for sedation. The Aquilion ONE also features SUREExposure pediatric software, which uses protocols selected based on the patient's age, size, and type of exam to ensure they receive only the radiation required to obtain a clear diagnostic image.

Image: The Toshiba Aquilion ONE (Photo courtesy Toshiba Medical Systems).

The Aquilion ONE is available with a pediatric kit that includes child-friendly accessories and features, including iStation, an audio-visual instructional tool to help children maintain breath-hold during exams by displaying animated movies specially designed to teach them when to hold their breath and relax them during the exam; colorful designs and images on the system's exterior, creating a more visually compelling and child-friendly looking system; pediatric accessories such as child-size table straps and infant cushion to provide a stable, comfortable exam for pediatric patients of all sizes; and a small replica of the Aquilion ONE allowing children to interact with the CT and understand more about the imaging process, alleviating fears about the exam. The Aquilion ONE CT system and the SUREExposure pediatric software are products of Toshiba Medical Systems (Tokyo, Japan).

"Toshiba recognizes that children have different imaging needs than adults and that limiting radiation and sedation is crucial for safe pediatric exams,” said Doug Ryan, senior director of the CT business unit at Toshiba. "We developed the Aquilion ONE and SUREExposure Pediatric to guarantee the best care is provided to all patients, no matter the size.”
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