Aquilion ONE 320-detector row CT system reduces radiation exposure

Aug 9 2010

When pediatric patients are imaged using CT, reducing sedation and radiation dose while maintaining the best possible image quality is paramount in delivering care. To provide patients with high-quality CT exams and a reduction in sedation and radiation dose, leading children's hospitals are installing Toshiba America Medical Systems, Inc.'s Aquilion^® ONE 320-detector row CT system. Designed with the pediatric market in mind, the Aquilion ONE captures up to 16 cm in a single rotation of 0.35 seconds, decreasing the amount of radiation a patient receives and lessening the need for sedation.

“Toshiba recognizes that children have different imaging needs than adults and that limiting radiation and sedation is crucial for safe pediatric exams”

With smaller vessels, lower bone density and less body fat, pediatric patients have different imaging needs than adults, creating the need for CT technology tailored for children. Traditionally, when children are imaged using multi-detector CT, sedation can be required to keep the patient still long enough to obtain a clear diagnostic image.

"Lowering radiation exposure is critical for pediatric patients, as they are more sensitive to radiation. It is especially important for pediatric patients with chronic conditions, as they could potentially undergo a lifetime of imaging exams," said Daniel Podberesky, M.D., chief of Thoracoabdominal Imaging, Cincinnati Children's Hospital Medical Center.

Cincinnati Children's recently installed the Aquilion ONE system to perform a variety of exams, including trauma, cancer, brain perfusion, cardiac function tests and routine CT imaging.

Many children's hospitals, including Cincinnati Children's, strive to meet the ALARA (As Low As Reasonably Achievable) principle of radiation. The Aquilion ONE helps these hospitals achieve these high standards in imaging. The Aquilion ONE features Toshiba's ^SUREExposure™ Pediatric software, which tailors radiation dose, based on the size and age of each patient, to achieve the best possible image quality for each exam. The software uses protocols based on the patient's age and size, and type of exam, to ensure patients receive only the radiation required to obtain a clear diagnostic image. ^SUREExposure Pediatric software comes standard on all Aquilion products.

In addition to ^SUREExposure Pediatric, 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 Aquilion ONE'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
• A smaller replica of the Aquilion ONE, allowing children to interact with the CT to understand more about the imaging process and alleviate fear about the exam

"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, vice president, Marketing and Strategic Development, Toshiba. "We developed the Aquilion ONE and ^SUREExposure Pediatric to ensure all patients, no matter the size, receive the safest exams."