News Release
New CT technology enhances delivery of patient care in Niagara
- Date of Issue: Tuesday, November 23, 2004
Niagara , ON - An investment in the fastest and most advanced CT scanner of its kind dramatically extends the Niagara Health System's (NHS) diagnostic imaging capabilities and enhances the services it can provide to patients.
The NHS made the decision to acquire two leading-edge 64-slice computed tomography scanners as part of an aggressive plan to provide the best possible level of healthcare in Niagara. One CT scanner, installed at the St. Catharines General Site, went into full use on Monday, November 22. A second 64-slice CT scanner will be installed in spring 2005 at the Greater Niagara General Site to enhance diagnostic services in the southern tier of Niagara.
The new CT scanner improves delivery of patient care with unprecedented image quality, application and speed, offering more complete diagnostics of the smallest and finest anatomical structures in just a few seconds with minimized patient discomfort. The improved images may improve early diagnosis and treatment options available to patients.
With the new technology, it is expected that waiting times for a CT scan at the St. Catharines General Site will significantly decrease from the current three months for elective procedures. With 64-slice technology, radiologists and technicians are able to see these patients more quickly, thereby potentially reducing their lengths of stay in hospital.
"With our new CT scanner, we have positioned the Niagara Health System as a leading provider of this specific type of diagnostic service in the country," said Debbie Sevenpifer, President and CEO of the NHS. "The availability of leading-edge equipment such as this is a critical factor for community hospitals to retain and attract medical specialists and health-care professionals. For the NHS to provide quality care to our patients, we need skilled medical specialists, modern equipment, technology and funding resources. Our acquisition of the new CT technology gives us a very real advantage when it comes to recruiting medical specialists."
First introduced at the Radiology Society of North America in Chicago in November 2003, the new Somatom Sensation CT scanner is manufactured by Siemens. A unique feature of the Somatom Sensation 64 is a new x-ray tube design, the Straton Tube, which makes use of an oil-cooled technology, unlike conventional CT systems using air-cooling.
"The new design is actually much more efficient and is based on the heat being drawn away from the x-ray tube. In other CT systems, technologists often have to wait for the tube to cool down after only a few exams," explained Andy Hind, Vice President of Siemens Medical Solutions. "By greatly reducing the cooling time, we've been able to improve workflow in the radiology department."
CT innovation has advanced significantly over the years since the single-slice system was first introduced. The 64-slice system acquires 64 slices per rotation of the x-ray tube. When the x-ray beam comes out, there are now 64 rows of detectors that gather information from the single beam instead of just one row with the single-slice system. The new system delivers unprecedented image quality with a resolution of 0.4 mm.
The Somatom Sensation 64 machine is the only CT scanner on the market capable of acquiring 64 slices per gantry rotation while significantly reducing x-ray dosage during an exam compared with traditional CT systems. Most hospitals in Canada are using two-, four- or in advanced cases, 16-slice CT scanners.
While the older technology provides limited dimensions with respect to image angles, the 64-slice offers faster, sharper, more detailed 3-D imaging, and allows imaging of blood flow and other anatomical structures and functions that are constantly in motion. With 64-slice technology, the tiniest of structures will now be visible for physicians and radiologists. Non-invasive angiograms of the body can be routinely performed, with even the smallest arteries in the hands and feet visualized.
"With our new CT, we will be able to respond to the needs of our patients, and raise the bar in image quality, resolution and speed," said Sevenpifer. "The CT's unmatched resolution provides a level of detail that we expect will open up entirely new applications for CT technology, allowing us to achieve our vision to provide the best possible care to patients."
About the Niagara Health System
The Niagara Health System was amalgamated on March 8, 2000, resulting from the amalgamation of the former Douglas Memorial Hospital (Fort Erie), Greater Niagara General (Niagara Falls), Niagara-on-the-Lake Hospital, Niagara Rehabilitation Centre (St. Catharines), Port Colborne General Hospital, The St. Catharines General Hospital, Shaver Hospital and Welland County General Hospital.
About Siemens in Canada
Siemens is one of the largest and most diversified companies in the world, providing innovations in areas such as health care, information & communication, energy & power, industry & automation, transportation and lighting. In Canada, Siemens is a multi-billion dollar company headquartered in Mississauga, Ontario, with more than 6,200 employees located in 73 offices and 9 manufacturing facilities.