Radiation and workflow concerns addressed in new Shimadzu angiography system
To address radiation concerns by interventionalists and to help speed workflows in cath labs, Shimadzu Medical Systems USA released the latest version of its Trinias angiography system at the Radiological Society of North America (RSNA) 2022 meeting.
The Trinias with SCORE Opera F12 system uses artificial intelligence (AI) deep learning technology to improve the visibility of medical devices while using 40% (or more) less radiation than previous models. This is the first time AI has been incorporated into the Trinias image processing engine.
"The AI allows us to feed lots of image data to the imaging system and it learns what the devices are in the field of view to enhance them," explained Tim Stevener, MBA, director of interventional X-ray business, Shimadzu Medical Systems USA.
In addition, the system shows the amount of cumulative dose delivered to a patient during a procedure in the different working angles of the C-arm in a visual display on the overhead screen. Thresholds for dose can be set, and the system will show a color code of the dose and alert the operator when a threshold has been crossed. The dose also can be adjusted table side.
The Shimadzu Trinias Opera F12 angiography system has a feature that shows cumulative dose to the patient on the overhead screen from different working angles.
The new Trinias system also offers several features to simplify workflow using a lean design approach. This includes a redesign of the C-arm to allow side-acquisition CT, and a larger distance to enable better patient access.
The table side modules are redesigned to make them 20% smaller, and the modules can be moved around and customized. Several features for C-ram and table movements have also been incorporated into single button pushes. An example of this is a peripheral mode button push, where the C-arm swings out of the way when moving the table around, and a femoral button push that moves the table and C-arm into position automatically to enable femoral access.
The vendor also launched a subscription service that ensures software can always be updated to the current version.
Medical facilities are increasingly operating angiography systems at low radiation levels to reduce X-ray doses, but low radiation levels also lead to X-ray noise that reduces device visibility. To support the low-dose operation of angiography systems, Shimadzu developed SCORE Opera, a new image processing technology that uses AI to ensure catheterization procedures are safe even at low radiation doses.
The vendor did an unveiling event on the expo floor the first day of RSNA 2022.
Dave Fornell has covered healthcare for more than 17 years, with a focus in cardiology and radiology. Fornell is a 5-time winner of a Jesse H. Neal Award, the most prestigious editorial honors in the field of specialized journalism. The wins included best technical content, best use of social media and best COVID-19 coverage. Fornell was also a three-time Neal finalist for best range of work by a single author. He produces more than 100 editorial videos each year, most of them interviews with key opinion leaders in medicine. He also writes technical articles, covers key trends, conducts video hospital site visits, and is very involved with social media. E-mail: dfornell@innovatehealthcare.com