Aug 27

Written by: Lee Edwards
8/27/2009 11:11 PM 

GEORGETOWN, OH, AUGUST 21, 2009...Brown County General Hospital today announced that it has successfully installed Toshiba’s Aquilion® 16 – an advanced computed tomography (CT) scanner from Toshiba America Medical Systems, Inc. The system includes enhanced features for greater patient comfort and safety, faster exam times, and improved image quality for speedier diagnosis. In most large hospitals in the United States, it is estimated that CT scanning accounts for more than 10 percent of diagnostic radiology examinations. “We have acquired an advanced medical imaging system to accommodate a wide array of our facility’s CT scanning needs,” said Darlene Flannery, Director of Diagnostic Imaging. “Early detection with the Aquilion 16 can result in faster, more effective diagnosis and treatment. This is particularly important when determining the extent of injuries in trauma cases, where every second counts.” While CT uses X-ray technology, it is distinguished from other imaging tools like traditional X-ray and MRI by its ability to display a combination of soft tissue (like muscles, tissue, organs and fat), bones and blood vessels all in a single image. Clinicians perform CT scans to diagnose kidney, lung, liver, spine, blood diseases, cancer, tumors and cysts, as well as blood clots, hemorrhages and infections. During a CT exam, a patient lies on a table and is slowly moved into the large donut-shaped opening of the scanner. Once inside, a series of X-ray beams create hundreds of cross-sectional pictures that represent slices of the patient’s body. Seconds later, the system’s computer assembles the slices into three-dimensional images that are interpreted by a clinician. Flannery said, “With this scanner we will now be able to perform CT angiography.” Angiography is a minimally invasive medical test that helps physicians diagnose and treat medical conditions. This procedure uses one of three imaging technologies and, in some cases, a contrast material to produce pictures of major blood vessels through the body. The CT angiography is used to examine blood vessels in key areas of the body including the brain, kidneys, pelvis, legs, lungs, heart, neck, and abdomen. The procedure can detect atherosclerosis disease in the carotid artery of the neck, which may limit blood flow to the brain and cause a stroke; identify a small aneurysm or arteriovenous malformation inside the brain; or indicate disease in the renal artery and identify several other life-threatening medical conditions. About The Aquilion 16 The Aquilion 16 is has the ability to acquire 16 anatomical slices at once, offering physicians more detailed images. Image quality is further enhanced with a fast scanning capability – 400 milliseconds to rotate around a patient’s body – that effectively reduces any image distortion from scanning moving organs, such as the heart and lungs. As a result, the scanner delivers more accurate clinical images depicting fine details, including minute coronary arteries, non-calcified plaque and small vessel structures, for significantly enhanced examinations. Aquilion CT Systems Multi-detector CT has dramatically improved clinicians' ability to accurately diagnose disease at an early stage. It is a powerful diagnostic tool that uses rotating X-rays to penetrate body tissues, generating multiple slice images, which can detect more than traditional radiography. The Aquilion family of premium CT systems feature Toshiba’s proprietary Quantum detector technology – the only detector able to acquire up to 160 0.5 slices simultaneously. With 4-, 8-, 16-, 32-, 64-, 160- and 320-detector row customizable configurations, the Aquilion CT systems deliver excellent image quality and provide outstanding performance and clinical productivity to meet the needs of any size hospital or clinic. About Brown County General Hospital Brown County General Hospital’s Diagnostic Imaging Department has become one of the most highly technical departments within the hospital. The department offers a state-of- the-art MRI, a digital fluoroscopy room, and now a new Toshiba 2009 CT scanner. The department physicians are highly skilled Radiologists who also provide service to other area hospitals. The capabilities of this department have expanded over the past two years to become even more invaluable to the correct diagnosing of patients.

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