ACC: Toshiba touts new CT software that cuts radiation dose

Toshiba America Medical Systems highlighted its ultrahelical mode, a new cardiac software solution for its Aquilion One 320-detector-row and Aquilion Premium 160-detector-row CT scanners that reduces radiation dose exposure by 21 percent.

“We want to give our customers more value for the equipment they already have,” spokesman Robb Young told Cardiovascular Business News.

The software is pending FDA 510(k) clearance, and Young said the company expects to commercially release the product in the first quarter of 2010.

The software upgrades will improve cardiac CT imaging in the following ways:
  • New One Beat Prospective Reconstruction shortens the interval window and reduces radiation exposure time. This upgrade reduces radiation dose by 21 percent over the previous software, as the more efficient imaging lowers the radiation exposure to the patient.
  • Real-Time Beat Control calculates the running average of the heart rate to predict the next heart beat for a timed scan, which is important for patients with arrhythmia or unstable heart rates.
  • Optimized timing of SUREStart can determine contrast uptake time for a more accurate image. The upgraded SUREStart makes the transition from bolus chase to cardiac scanning. 
 

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