Revolutionizing Radiology: Tech Trends to Watch for in 2023

Revolutionizing Radiology: Tech Trends to Watch for in 2023

The field of radiology technology is constantly evolving, with new advancements and innovations being introduced every year. With 2023 underway, several trends in radiology technology are expected to shape the field and improve patient care, significantly impacting how radiology is practiced.

 

In this article, we will explore the top trends in radiology technology that we can expect to see this year. We’ll examine how these trends could potentially change the way healthcare professionals diagnose and treat patients, and how they may affect the broader healthcare system.

 

At Catalina Imaging, we’re committed to providing the highest quality solutions specializing in mobile CT scanning technology. For more information, contact us at info@catalinaimaging.com or (844) 949-1664

 

Imaging Technology Advancements

Using AR, VR, and 3D Printing Technology to Improve Patient Understanding

Medical imaging technologies are rapidly advancing, with virtual reality (VR), augmented reality (AR), and three-dimensional (3D) printing becoming increasingly popular tools for understanding complex anatomy.

 

By creating patient-specific models of anatomical structures and utilizing 3D models, medical professionals can gain a deeper understanding of complex structures that cannot be fully appreciated in two dimensions. These models can be manipulated and viewed from any angle, providing an immersive and engaging learning experience. Additionally, these models can aid in surgical planning and simulation, allowing surgeons to plan and prepare for surgeries more effectively.

 

Furthermore, AR, VR, and 3D technology can be used to educate patients about their condition and the planned surgical procedure, improving patient understanding and reducing anxiety. As these technologies continue to advance, they have the potential to revolutionize medical education and the practice of surgery.

 

Increased Use of Artificial Intelligence (AI) And Machine Learning in Radiology

In recent years, there has been an increase in the use of artificial intelligence (AI) and machine learning in the field of radiology. These technologies are designed to improve the accuracy and efficiency of image analysis, enabling healthcare professionals to do more with less.

 

By training AI algorithms to recognize patterns in medical images, it is possible to automate image analysis and provide computer-aided diagnoses. Predictive analytics can also be used to identify patients who may be at higher risk of developing certain conditions, leading to earlier interventions and treatments.

 

The use of AI and machine learning has the potential to greatly improve patient outcomes and reduce healthcare costs, making it an important area of focus for radiology professionals and researchers.

 

Photon-Counting CT Replacing Current CT Detector Technology

In the field of medical imaging, photon-counting computed tomography is emerging as a potential replacement for current CT detector technology. This new technology has the ability to generate higher-resolution images with reduced radiation exposure, which is a major concern in CT imaging.

 

By detecting individual photons, photon-counting CT detectors offer improved accuracy and sensitivity to X-rays, resulting in images of higher quality. While this technology is still in the early stages of development, it shows great promise for improving the accuracy and safety of CT imaging.

 

3D Mammography Becoming the New Standard

Digital breast tomosynthesis (DBT), also known as 3D mammography, is an emerging technology that’s quickly gaining popularity and is expected to replace standard digital mammography.

 

DBT provides multiple images of the breast tissue from different angles, allowing radiologists to view the breast tissue in greater detail and detect small cancers that may be missed on standard mammograms. By reducing the need for additional imaging and biopsies, DBT can help to reduce patient anxiety and healthcare costs.

Infrastructure and Workflow Improvements

Shift to Online Enterprise Imaging Systems

Driven by the need for greater efficiency, interoperability, and security in the healthcare industry – web-based enterprise imaging systems are gaining popularity.

 

One of the key advantages of these systems is their ability to provide physicians with quick and easy access to medical images. Additionally, these systems offer a secure and centralized location for storing, sharing, and accessing medical images, which can lead to better patient outcomes and reduced costs associated with imaging.

 

With healthcare continuing to become more digitized, online enterprise imaging systems are poised to become an essential tool for healthcare professionals and administrators alike.

 

Transition to Off-Site Cloud Storage

The healthcare industry is undergoing a significant transformation with the growing trend towards off-site cloud storage of medical imaging data. This shift is driven by the rise of big data, making it more efficient and cost-effective to store large amounts of data on cloud servers.

 

One of the key advantages of off-site cloud storage is added security and redundancy for data, protecting it against potential loss or corruption. Moreover, hospitals can save costs and resources by outsourcing the storage and maintenance of servers to cloud storage providers.

 

As the healthcare industry continues to demand greater scalability, accessibility, and security in managing and storing medical imaging data, the trend toward off-site cloud storage is expected to gain momentum in the coming years.

 

Equipment and Cost Reduction

POCUS Becoming More Prevalent

Point-of-care ultrasound (POCUS) is rapidly expanding as a portable ultrasound system that can be used at the patient’s bedside in various clinical settings, including emergency medicine, critical care, and primary care. Its ease of use, non-invasive nature, and ability to provide real-time information are driving its popularity.

 

By providing rapid diagnostic information, POCUS has the potential to improve patient outcomes and reduce the need for more invasive diagnostic procedures.

 

MRI Becoming Easier To Use and Less Expensive To Maintain

Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) is a powerful diagnostic tool that, historically, has been expensive and challenging to operate. However, recent advancements in MRI technology have made it more accessible, cost-effective, and easier to use.

 

Newer MRI systems require less maintenance and have fewer parts, making them more reliable and user-friendly. Moreover, improvements in MRI software have enabled faster scan times and improved image quality, leading to better patient outcomes.

 

These advancements are driving the adoption of MRI as a primary imaging modality in many clinical settings, making it a valuable tool for healthcare professionals and improving patient care.

 

A Promising Future for Radiology Technology

It is an exciting time to be involved in the field of radiology, and we can look forward to continued healthcare breakthroughs in the years to come.

 

Radiology technology is poised for continued evolution and improvement, driven by advancements in computing power, machine learning, and other critical technologies. The trends highlighted in this article represent only a few of the many innovations expected in 2023 and beyond. As these technologies become more integrated into clinical practice, they have the potential to improve patient outcomes, increase efficiency, and reduce costs.

 

It is an exciting time to be a part of the radiology field, and we can anticipate even more healthcare breakthroughs on the horizon. As we continue to embrace and innovate new technologies, the future of radiology looks bright, and patients can expect to receive better care and outcomes than ever before.

 

Specializing in mobile CT scanners using cutting-edge technology, Catalina Imaging is committed to delivering top-quality solutions to our clients. For more information about our products, contact us at info@catalinaimaging.com or (844) 949-1664.

 

How AI Detects Pancreatic Cancer: ML Helping CT

How AI Detects Pancreatic Cancer: ML Helping CT

Industry News! In the U.S., pancreatic cancer is expected to be the second leading cause of cancer death by 2030. 

Despite interventions caused by pancreatic cancer CT scans, managing this disease is difficult once the tumor has already grown. Unfortunately, pancreatic cancer has the distinction of having the lowest five-year survival rate among cancers.

CT scan for pancreatic cancer detection

Most medical professionals rely on CT scans to detect pancreatic cancer. However, this technology is 40% unreliable if the tumor is below two centimeters, since pancreatic cancer often lacks clear borders with the surrounding tissue. 

Because of this, patients only become aware of their condition once cancer has begun to spread. As a result, they miss the opportunity to treat the tumor during its initial stages. That’s why researchers are finding ways to improve the efficiency of CT scans for pancreatic cancer. 

If you’re looking for a CT scan provider for your hospital or medical facility, you can contact Catalina Imaging at (844) 949-1664. We’re a leading mobile CT scan company that offers Mobile Multi-Slice diagnostic imaging nationwide.

Detecting pancreatic cancers using AI

Recently, Taiwanese researchers have conducted a study that used deep learning (DL) to detect pancreatic cancer

DL is a type of artificial intelligence (AI) that teaches computers to recognize data patterns using a model inspired by the human brain. 

Previously, researchers demonstrated that DL could distinguish the pancreas with and without cancer. Yet, in that instance, the tool relied on human radiologists to identify the pancreas in the image. 

In this new study, the AI identified the pancreas on its own. This is a breakthrough since the pancreas is a relatively small organ that varies in size and is surrounded by other organs and structures.  

The study involved 546 pancreatic cancer patients and 733 control participants. During internal testing, the AI pancreatic cancer detection tool achieved 90% sensitivity and 96% specificity.

A validation study ensued with 1,473 participants. In this instance, the DL tool was rated 90% for sensitivity and 93% for specificity. Notably, the AI pancreatic cancer tool had a 75% sensitivity for tumors less than 2 centimeters big, a 15% improvement compared to CT’s sensitivity. 

Potentials of AI for pancreatic cancer detection

Senior research author Weichung Wang, Ph.D., said in a report

“The performance of the deep learning tool seemed on par with that of radiologists. Specifically, in this study, the sensitivity of the deep learning computer-aided detection tool for pancreatic cancer was comparable with that of radiologists in a tertiary referral center regardless of tumor size and stage.”

Dr. Wang, a professor at the National Taiwan University and the director of the university’s MeDA Lab, explained that DL offers a lot of potential in assisting clinicians. DL can help radiologists to increase the accuracy of CT scan pancreatic cancer detection

The Taiwan-based research team is planning further studies. They aim to use the AI pancreatic cancer detection tool in a more diverse setting.

Final word

When it comes to pancreatic cancer detection, CT scan is the best available technology in the market. AI will only make it more accurate, resulting in early tumor detection and better cancer management. 

If you’re looking for a mobile CT scan provider, Catalina Imaging has got you covered. We offer high-quality mobile imaging solutions using state-of-the-art equipment from brands such as Siemens, GE, and Toshiba/Canon.

Catalina Imaging has the experience and expertise to address your facility’s long- and short-term needs. Call us at (844) 949-1664 or email us at info@catalinaimaging.com to learn more about our services

2022 Health Trends: Healthcare Sector and Technology

Top Healthcare Trends in 2022 and Beyond

Technological advancement has grown exponentially in the past decade. The healthcare sector is one of the many businesses that technology has heavily disrupted.

Today, big and small companies are using it to cultivate their growth. For advanced technology and state-of-the-art medical imaging equipment, contact Catalina Imaging today.

In this blog, we’ll talk about five trends that are disrupting and will further disrupt healthcare in the future. Let’s begin.

5 Trends That Will Transform the Healthcare Industry

1. AI and machine learning

Thanks to its massive potential, AI is the most influential tech in the health sector. For instance, it can help healthcare teams accurately diagnose patients and suggest personalized treatments depending on several factors.

Moreover, machine learning is used on mobile apps to display relevant information for people suffering from certain illnesses. For example, patients can now check their symptoms and understand what’s ailing them. That’s without the need to visit a hospital physically.  

Healthily (Your.MD) is one such company using this tech. In 2020, the global self-care platform experienced a 350% user growth in the last 12 months.

AI can also significantly boost the expertise of clinicians. They call it augmented intelligence. It’s where AI acts as an assistant to the clinician to improve their medical knowledge. In short, AI enhances a clinician’s expertise rather than replacing them entirely.

2. Wearables as healthcare tools

Smartwatches and fitness trackers are healthcare trends that are only going to grow moving forward. Their evolution has allowed them to penetrate the medical industry through 24-hour monitoring, real-time measurements, and data gathering capabilities.

A recent example would be Apple collaborating with Johnson & Johnson for research regarding Heartline Study. The study aims to determine if Apple Watch’s electrocardiogram capabilities can decrease the chances of a stroke through early detection of afib or atrial fibrillation.

People with irregular heartbeat are prone to stroke. Thus, health experts can potentially mitigate or even prevent stroke by continuously monitoring at-risk individuals.

Another use of wearables is positive behavioral change. South Australia researchers found that wearables can encourage people to practice regular exercise.

The researchers analyzed 400 studies with 164,000 global participants using wearable activity trackers (WAT). They found that tracking one’s physical activity levels led people to walk up to 40 minutes daily. That’s roughly equivalent to 1,800 steps, resulting in an average weight loss of 1kg (2.2) over five months.

Of course, wearables aren’t exactly accurate, especially when comparing one exercise over the other. For instance, a 30-minute HIIT workout will have a varying caloric burn than a 30-minute run.

However, wearables are great at tracking your workout’s intensity over time. This can be an excellent source of an external motivator for a lot of people.

After all, it can be rewarding to see your progress outlined in your fitness tracker. And most of the time, people are hesitant to break their workout streak.

3. Virtual Healthcare

This is another healthcare trend that’s exploded in recent years. Globally, telehealth stood at $144.38 billion in 2020. By 2028, that number will balloon to $636.38 billion.

That massive growth isn’t surprising, especially given the impact of COVID-19. For instance, remote health consultations went from 0.1% to 43.5% during the first months of the pandemic. Those who avail of this service were contented with their experience too, particularly younger people. Gen Z and millennials have 86% and 83% satisfaction ratings, respectively.

Virtual healthcare is also highly beneficial for people in remote locations. For example, if an area doesn’t have a nearby physician on hand, patients can turn to virtual healthcare to assist them with their needs.

It isn’t perfect, of course. But places like China and India, where it’s extremely difficult to reach specific populations, stand to benefit the most.

4. Extended reality

Extended reality is a broad term encompassing mixed reality (MR), virtual reality (VR), and augmented reality (AR). One of its primary uses is training clinicians on sensitive operations without putting patients at risk.

It can use VR to immerse the trainee in a virtual environment completely. Or it can rely on MR and AR to overlay virtual images on real-world objects.

Aside from training, extended reality is also used in cognitive behavioral therapy. Patients with anxiety, chronic pain, and schizophrenia can battle their fears in safe environments and non-threatening spaces.

For specific applications, the AccuVein system is a good example. It acts as a vein locator through blood flow heat detection, highlighting the vein on the patient’s arm and making it easier to insert injections.

5. Large data analysis

This is an extension of AI and machine learning applications in the medical sector. A sea of data from patients has inundated the healthcare industry.

Naturally, making sense of this vast information can be incredibly challenging. Fortunately, AI and machine learning are here to process this data.

For instance, AI can handle the workload instead of nurses and physicians conducting triage during first contact in the emergency room. As a result, it frees the medical team to oversee other crucial tasks in the hospital.

On a global scale, AI and machine learning can process data globally to make informed decisions about where and when an outbreak might occur. That preventive capability can save thousands, if not millions, of lives.

Healthcare Trends in 2022: What the Future Holds

With technology advancing at an exponential rate, it’s uncertain what the medical sector will look like in the future. But one thing is certain: the merging of humans and machines to deliver high-quality medical services will only grow from here.

That’s not counting massive corporations like Apple and Amazon increasingly involving themselves in healthcare. Of course, that can be a blessing or a curse depending on how everything unfolds.

But as it stands, it seems healthcare trends will highlight the convenience and accessibility that tech will bring forward. And that’s what Catalina Imaging aims to achieve. For more information about products and services, email us at info@catalinaimaging.com or call us at (844) 949-1664.

New mobile CT scanners use lower radiation dose

New mobile CT scanners use lower radiation dose

One of the reasons some patients are apprehensive about getting their CT scans is the radiation exposure. Fortunately, some scanners nowadays use lower radiation doses but are still able to provide a more detailed, accurate image. 

 

For instance, at Catalina Imaging, we manage a fleet of mobile CT scanners from reputable tech companies like Toshiba, GE and Siemens. Not only does our equipment use lower radiation doses, we also have a 24/7 customer service team to answer your inquiries and provide you service emergencies. To learn more about our mobile CT scan rental service, contact us here or call or text us at 844-949-1664.

 

Modern medical imaging procedures and radiation risks

Despite the publication of some sensationalized articles about the radiation and cancer risks with medical imaging procedures, health authorities like the American Association of Physicists in Medicine believe that today’s technology uses radiation that is too low that the perceived risks “are barely detectable or even nonexistent.”

 

In 2005, experts also conducted a study in which they observed DNA repaired themselves after CT scans.

 

The problem with sensationalistic articles about medical imaging procedures and cancer risks is that it discourages some parents and patients to undergo a much needed CT scan testing, preventing their doctors from diagnosing an internal injury or disease and treating them soon. 

 

While it’s important to only perform medical procedures that are necessary, stoking fear of radiation is not the right way to reduce the number of unnecessary procedures. 

 

It’s important to evaluate objectively the statistical risk of developing cancer caused by radiation versus skipping a medically required CT scan. For instance, one study suggested that for every 1,000 children who do not undergo medically necessary imaging radiation, around 200-250 will die because of lack of proper diagnosis and treatment. 

 

By contrast, the perceived increased risk of cancer over a patient’s lifetime from a single CT scan is almost imperceptible, just a mere 0.03 – 0.05%. In short, a medically necessary CT scan does not represent a direct risk to a patient. 

 

Ways to further reduce the radiation exposure 

For hospitals and other medical facilities, the first step to reduce the radiation exposure is to partner with a mobile CT scan rental provider like Catalina Imaging that offers the latest medical imaging technology. 

 

These are the other things that can further minimize radiation risk to patients: 

  • Only use imaging medical imaging techniques when there is a clear medical benefit. 
  • Image only the indicated area.
  • Use the lowest amount of radiation; for this reason, children should receive a lower dose than adults because of their smaller body frame. 
  • Avoid multiple scans. 

 

Final Words on CT Scan and Radiation Exposure

With newer CT scanners that use a lower dose of radiation, a medically necessary imaging procedure does pose a very minimal or even a non-existent cancer risk.

 

In the US, over 80 million CT scans are performed every year, making them one of the most popular medical imaging procedures in the country. 

 

If you want to learn more about low-dose CT scan or you need a reliable CT scan rental provider that can meet your facility’s long-term and temporary needs, Catalina Imaging offers a fleet that’s located in California, Minnesota, North Carolina, and Illinois. 

7 Effective Marketing Tips for Your Hospital or Medical Facility

7 Effective Marketing Tips for Your Hospital or Medical Facility

Whether you’re satisfied with your current patient volume or trying to increase it, you need to keep up with today’s healthcare consumerism that demands hospitals and medical facilities to connect with people through patient-centric marketing. 

 

Furthermore, today’s patients expect healthcare providers to be as innovative and digitally advanced as any other industry. As a result, a growing number of hospitals and medical facilities feel the need to find a reliable mobile CT scanner provider such as Catalina Imaging. 

 

Mobile CT Rental: GE | Canon/Toshiba | Siemens

 

Read on below to learn more about marketing tips for hospitals and medical facilities. (source: Catalina Imaging)

 

Use social media 

This platform allows you to brand your medical facility as an innovative and patient-centric organization that adapts to the current technology and consumer trend. For example, you can post photos and videos showing the state-of-the-art mobile CT scanners you’re using in your facility. 

 

Other social media best practices you need to keep in mind:

  • Promote user engagement (e.g., respond to comments and inquiries).
  • Use professional-looking photos and videos.
  • Use descriptive but short captions for your content.
  • Repost blogs and other relevant content from your website.

 

Improve your search engine optimization

SEO is the process of improving the quality and quantity of traffic to your website. And when you take full advantage of this practice, your facility will rank higher on the search engine results page every time people type their queries in the search bar. 

There are numerous techniques that can help you improve your SEO, however, these are the most important ones: 

  • Ensure that your web page has a decent loading speed.
  • Optimize your links. 
  • Use website design that leans more toward minimalism for easy navigation and quick loading. 
  • Produce high-quality content, including regular blog posts. 
  • Use keywords and key phrases.
  • Optimize your URLs.
  • Allow people to share your web content on other channels like social media. 
  • Optimize your website for mobile users. 
  • Set up your medical facility on Google Business. 

 

You may want to hire an SEO consultant or a team of digital marketing professionals (e.g., web developers and content creators) rather than have a full-time employee to manage your online presence. 

 

Provide patient-centered service 

Nothing beats word-of-mouth marketing in which satisfied clients talk positively about your facility after receiving excellent medical care and attention. 

From state-of-the-art equipment like a mobile CT scanner and timely access to required services to reduced redundancy and excellent communications with patients, there are many ways you can brand your hospital as a patient-centric facility. 

 

Be consistent in your healthcare branding 

You need to set yourself apart from other healthcare providers–this is where branding comes into play. 

Contrary to popular belief, a brand is not just about logos and other recognizable markers; more importantly, it is an intangible marketing concept that helps people identify an organization. Simply put, it’s anything that makes your hospital or medical facility stand out. 

 

Does your facility have a spa-like environment, or is it more like a family-friendly place? Are you mostly known for your excellent patient care, your state-of-the-art facility, or both? Make sure to highlight these “features” as part of your branding strategy. 

 

Define your target audience

It’s not just about targeting people from a certain geographic area but also patients with specific needs and expectations. Again, knowing your brand (or creating one) can help you define your target audience and create a marketing strategy (and message) that speaks their language and reflects their values and needs. 

 

Keep your current clients happy

Do you know it’s more cost-effective to keep your existing clients happy than chase new ones? For this reason, why not send birthday cards and text reminders for follow-up appointments, and make small but personalized gestures that show you value your relationship with them?

 

Establish your facility as an authority in your specific field 

First and foremost, establishing your facility as an authority in your specific field of medicine requires that you know your brand. Another way to do this is to invest in equipment or partner with a reliable medical equipment provider such as Catalina Imaging

 

Mobile CT Rental: GE | Canon/Toshiba | Siemens

 

If you need a provider of state-of-the-art mobile CT scanners that offers 24/7 customer support, affordability, and reliable trailer service and maintenance, contact Catalina Imaging at (844) 949-1664 or info@catalinaimaging.com. 

Top 5 New 2022 Healthcare Trends

Top 5 New Healthcare Trends

As the healthcare sector continues to manage through the pandemic and expects its lingering disruptive effects in the coming years, it needs to depend on collaboration, digitization and innovation to stay ahead of the competition. 

 

Catalina Imaging, a leading mobile CT scanner provider with service and storage locations in different parts of the US, shares these top 5 healthcare trends that are expected to continue in the coming years. 

 

Telemedicine 

The COVID-19 pandemic has forced the healthcare sector to adopt telemedicine not just to limit the spread of the virus but also to decongest hospitals, clinics and other similar facilities and prevent overwhelming the providers and the clinical supplies. 

Additionally, telemedicine benefits elderly patients and people in remote areas where quality healthcare is not readily accessible. 

 

Collaboration 

Financial pressures continue to be a prevalent issue as healthcare providers are finding ways to manage their operational costs and capital expenditures like the purchase of new equipment. As a result, a growing number of small- and medium-sized hospitals and clinics are partnering with mobile CT scanner providers like Catalina Imaging. 

Mobile CT scanners are “fixed” inside a trailer, which can be moved from different locations and operate in varying weather conditions thanks to its built-in heating and air conditioning system.

 

Revenue diversification 

US hospitals had around $320 billion in losses due to the impact of the COVID-19, according to a 2020 AHA report. This has prompted stakeholders to realize the importance of revenue diversification to limit the risks of unpredictable patient volumes, pandemics, and other disruptive events. 

One common way hospitals can diversify their revenue stream is through collaboration with pharma and tech companies which need data to create a profitable product that improves productivity and enhances patient care. 

Collaboration between hospitals and pharma/tech companies not only means additional funding but also the invention of systems that can improve patient experience and care. 

 

Smart automation and artificial intelligence 

The use of smart automation and AI eliminates or at least reduces time-consuming workloads, shifting them to a virtual workforce built specifically to manage high-volume tasks. With this added support, medical providers will have more time to focus on direct patient care and other things that require higher priorities. 

 

Workforce diversity 

With the country’s aging population, healthcare providers are finding ways to replace the retiring baby boomers. But to do this, they need to strengthen their inclusion and diversity programs.

 

Studies show that diverse teams and inclusive cultures generate better results, such as higher employee retention, better problem-solving methods, and greater engagement among members. 

 

2022 Healthcare Trends 

The healthcare trends explained above have only “scratched the surface” as stakeholders have identified other notable changes and innovative technologies that are taking stem cell therapy, robotics, genetic testing, and 3D bioprinting to the next level. 

 

Meanwhile, CT scan technology has also seen some dramatic improvements in recent years. For example, Catalina Imaging’s new mobile CT scanners deliver the same quality of image at a significantly reduced radiation dose.

 

To learn more about mobile CT scanners or if you need to partner with a reliable provider of this medical imaging technique, contact Catalina Imaging at (844) 949-1664 or info@catalinaimaging.com.

 

At Catalina Imaging, we have service and storage locations in California, Illinois, North Carolina and Minnesota and offer 24/7 emergency service to our clients.

 

Lung Damage May Persist Long After COVID-19 Pneumonia

COVID-19 lungs

Lung Damage from Covid-19

 

Pneumonia and COVID-19 can mean long term lung damage.

Pneumonia infects the air sacs of the lungs. These sacs are crucial to our survival, because the air we breathe in is filtered and prepared for use in the bloodstream. When these air sacs become ineffective due to damage, old age, or infection, they cannot release enough oxygen into the bloodstream to keep a person alert and also affect the organs of the body, causing them to shut down one by one. Pneumonia is an infection that preys on the air sac in the lung, causing them to swell up and fill with mucus. In severe cases the air sacs become spongy and porous and can no longer perform their job of transferring vital oxygen into the bloodstream. If this continues for too long the victim lapses into a coma as the brain literally asphyxiates, and then eventually dies.

This is what is happening to some patients who contracted COVID-19 and then came down with pneumonia. Doctors were at first confident that regular medical treatment and prescription drugs for pneumonia would be effective against the pandemic variety. But as the months and now years have gone by, patients who survived COVID-19 and pneumonia and got better are now sometimes relapsing into bronchial distress and even collapsed lungs. This is a grim reminder that the long term effects of the pandemic are still not clearly understood. And effective treatment for long term health problems due to COVID-19 are still not in place.

A big part of the problem is that the immune system reacts differently to pneumonia caused by COVID-19 than to any other type of pneumonia infection. Those patients with COVID-19 related pneumonia retained more fluid in their lungs over a longer period of time, because the immune system apparently kept flushing out toxins long after the need to do so was gone. Hence there is more fluid, fluid that is not reabsorbed back into the body, in Covid-19 pneumonia patients than in regular pneumonia patients. This fluid is a rabid breeding ground for germs and viruses that can suddenly flare up in the lungs at any time for years down the road. This is grim news for patients who thought they had survived the ravages of COVID-19 induced pneumonia.

Another challenge doctors face in the long term treatment of COVID-19 induced pneumonia is that the COVID-19 virus itself attacks the immune system in the lungs, and is not completely eradicated by most standard treatments. This weakens the immune system, sometimes permanently, so that infections can reappear that would otherwise be destroyed by a healthy immune system.

Tests with stronger anti-inflammatory drugs have encouraged medical researchers to believe that the long term damage done by COVID-19 pneumonia can be minimized and even lessened, as long as the patient continues an extended regimen of antibiotics, anti-inflammatory medication, and watchful breathing – avoiding smog and smoke as much as possible. Smoking, needless to say, is contraindicated in all cases.

If you’ve had breathing difficulties associated with the COVID-19 virus that have NOT developed into pneumonia you’re not out of the woods yet. You stand a very real chance of lung damage from things like bronchitis or even the flu. So be careful.

Small CT brain scanner fitted in ambulances or emergency aircraft could save lives of stroke patients

Mobile brain scanners for stroke

Mobile brain scanners can save lives

 

This is how it usually goes.

You’re having dinner with friends when your husband notices that you’re slurring your words.

Perhaps you’re out on a morning stroll when your movements become jerky, as if half of the unseen threads that govern your limbs have been severed.

 

Perhaps a crippling migraine or a starburst at the back of the brain is the signal.

Maybe you’re on your own.

Alternatively, you may drive on the highway, which is the worst of all.

 

 A 70-year-old man, golf ball hunter, and devoted spouse of 51 years, was in this situation.

In Houston, it was a beautiful day.

He was on his way to Galveston to pay a courtesy visit to a valued customer.

For a brief while, the Gulf Freeway was rising to cross El Dorado Boulevard, and the vision through the glass was restricted to the gray race of the road and the clear sky.

 

What follows is difficult to put into words.

Darkness, disorientation, the world pulling away from you, and inputs going lifeless.

A peaceful, unthinking, eternal glide across four lanes of traffic — until his Mercedes-Benz collides with the motorway barrier, jolting him awake and veering back into the pandemonium and brightness.

He realizes the danger hasn’t gone when the Benz finally pulls to a halt.

Despite this, he is unable to intervene.

Because the violence in his brain is still going on.

 

It’s one of the most dreaded medical situations.

What else might make you believe you’d rather suffer a heart attack than a stroke?

Heart attacks are more deadly, but if you survive, you may go on with your life as usual – without a dimmer intellect or the loss of vital body processes.

 

There is no such guarantee with strokes.

Approximately 40% of stroke survivors need special care, 25% have considerable cognitive deterioration, and an average of 17% will be released to long-term care. So say ERs in the United States.

This is not the place to sit back and reflect on one’s achievements in life.

 

The analogy to heart attacks isn’t coincidental.

The great majority of strokes — or, to use the textbook phrase, “cerebrovascular accidents” — are caused by a stoppage in blood flow.

However, unlike a heart attack, which has a plethora of quick treatments, a stroke has proved to be excruciatingly difficult to cure.

More than 1,000 medications have been tried, with the majority of them failing miserably.

Due to a lack of advancement, researchers have turned to unconventional methods.

Brain cooling, TMS, and lasers administered via the nose are all options.

Peach pits and Malayan pit viper venom are used to make drugs.

Doctors were no closer to developing a therapy for strokes in the early 1990s than they had been 50 years before.

As the expression goes, “diagnose and adios.”

There is nothing that can be done. Especially when diagnosis and treatment are delayed by even an hour.

 

But with a mobile CT brain scanner the scenario changes. Becomes more hopeful. Patients suffering from a stroke or the symptoms of a stroke can get an immediate, if rough, diagnosis, while riding in the ambulance to the hospital. Or even on a plane flight.

Small portable mobile CT scan devices are now being worked on by several cutting edge technology companies around the globe. And although Covid-19 slowed down the research and implementation substantially, the best guess today is that by late 2023 mobile CT brain scanners will be up and running in major metropolitan ambulances. And on many commercial flights. The terror and damage of a stroke will lessen considerably. 

It’s a ray of hope in the post pandemic gloom!

How CT Scans Have Evolved Into The Next Big Thing In Healthcare

CT scans have been around for decades, and they have been used in medical imaging for several decades before that. The basic principles of CT imaging have not changed much since the 1950s, but there have been improvements to the technology to increase safety and reduce radiation exposure. Today’s CT scans are able to detect more types of diseases and conditions than ever before. CT scans have revolutionized the medical industry and have become a common diagnostic tool used by doctors around the world.

In this article, we will explore how CT scans work, how they’ve evolved through the years, how they are used today, and how they will continue to help people across the world.

Related article: History of the CT Scan

Godfrey Hounsfield stands beside the EMI-Scanner in 1972. PA Images via Getty Images

 

What is a CT Scan?

A CT scan uses computers to create detailed cross-sectional images of the body and organs. A large, circularly shaped object known as a catheter is inserted into a vein in the arm, neck, or groin. The catheter is connected to a detector, which takes multiple pictures as the catheter is moved around the body. These images are sent to a computer for processing. The computer uses a mathematical formula to create a picture of the body and organs. The images are then interpreted by a radiologist. Catheter CT scanning is used to study the anatomy of the brain, lungs, heart, liver, spleen, kidney, and other organs. 

 

How CT Scans Work

CT scans use X-rays to create cross-sectional images of a body part or organ. X-rays are a type of light waves. They have enough energy to pass through the body, but weak enough energy that they do not pose a risk to a person. They are not absorbed by tissue and are not harmful to the body. In a CT scan, X-rays are passed through a patient’s body and focused into a detector. The detector converts the X-rays into a digital image, which is sent to a computer for processing. The computer uses a mathematical formula to create a cross sectional image of the body part or organ. The X-rays pass through the body and are focused into a detector. The detector converts the X-rays into an image, which is sent to a computer for processing. The computer uses a mathematical formula to create a cross-sectional image of the body part or organ. The cross-sectional image is then interpreted by a radiologist. 

 

What do CT Scans detect?

CT scans are able to detect any part of the body that is a solid, liquid, or gas, but they are most often used to detect diseases of the body’s organs. CT scans can detect:

  • Abnormalities in the structure of organs and structures of the body
  • Diseases affecting the heart, lungs, liver, pancreas, stomach, intestines, and stomach
  • Diagnosis of tumors
  • Symptoms of stroke, heart attacks, or other medical conditions
  • Brain biopsies 

 

How CT Scans are Performed

A CT scanner uses a patient’s body as a moving target to create detailed cross-sectional images of organs. The scanner rotates around the patient at high speed and takes thousands of X-ray images as the body moves through the machine. The images are then reconstructed into a computer, which produces a cross-sectional image of the organ. The images are then interpreted by a radiologist. 

 

CT Imaging Today

CT scans are used to detect diseases and conditions of the body’s organs. While they are able to detect more types of diseases and conditions, this technology has not changed much in the last few decades. The detection of disease is dependent on the sensitivity of the scan and what is detected on the images. If a scan cannot detect a disease, it is unable to tell the difference between normal and abnormal tissue.

CT scans are now used to detect conditions such as cancer, heart disease, and diabetes. They are also used to detect conditions that are not life-threatening, but require medical attention. CT scans are often used to diagnose diseases such as diabetes and cancer.

 

How CT Scans will Continue to Make a Difference in Healthcare

CT scans have been used in healthcare for decades and will continue to make a difference in healthcare. The ability to detect disease and conditions of the body on cross-sectional images is powerful. This is because these images can be used to see the inside of the body. Doctors can see areas where disease could be forming. This is especially useful for cancers and tumors, which cannot be seen anywhere else on the body. With the ability to see inside the body, doctors can detect signs of disease earlier and take action sooner. This saves time and money, and ensures the best possible outcome for their patients. 

 

Summing up

CT scans use X-rays to create detailed cross-sectional images of organs, structures, and the body as a whole. This technology has been used in healthcare for decades, and it is only getting more popular. The ability to detect disease and conditions of the body on cross-sectional images is powerful, as it gives doctors a way to see the inside of the body. This can help detect signs of disease earlier and take action sooner. In addition, doctors can see areas where disease could be forming, which is especially useful for cancers and tumors, which cannot be seen anywhere else on the body.

What Are The Trends in Computed Tomography Imaging to Look Forward to (This 2022)?

What Are The Trends in Computed Tomography Imaging to Look Forward to (This 2022)?

The computed tomography (CT) scanning procedure is a type of specialized imaging that helps physicians view organs and bones non-invasively. CT scanners route X-rays through the body, capturing multiple angles of a cross-sectional image to compile into a 3D representation which can be stored and examined on computers. The data is processed using algorithms to reconstruct images in the human-readable format.

 

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Function and productivity will drive many of the trends we’re seeing for CT imaging this 2022. As the sophisticated technology behind computed tomography continues to spread its reach, users can now enjoy greater access to these tools through third party companies specializing in their manufacture and distribution. 

 

For example, Mordor Intelligence forecasts that by 2026, the CT market will grow by 5.76 percent annually, hitting a hefty $9.5 million by that time.

 

While rates of cancer, including those for colorectal and cervical cancer, are thankfully dropping in the United States and other developed countries, cancer remains a persistent health crisis. In response to the increased demand observed for several years now for CT scans that diagnose many different cancers, scanner manufacturers have begun enhancing their flagship models with more productivity-enhancing features.

 

Some of the recent trends in CT Imaging technology seen this past year include:

 

Quality, Dose and Workflow

Philips announced the release of Spectral CT 7500, which has received regulatory clearance from both Europe and the U.S. FDA. This system promises to deliver high-quality spectral images 100 percent of the time without needing special protocols like those on many other newest models, subsequently reducing protocol bias and confirming old information in up to 60 percent fewer tests than ever before. 

 

The Spectral CT 7500’s  intelligent software eliminates all of the guesswork behind acquiring test scans, giving radiologists more accurate data faster than they’ve ever had before. 

 

Philips’s goal with Spectral CT 7500 is to help physicians better characterize disease and reduce rescans, allowing them to detect abnormalities earlier on with just as much precision as conventional CT scans but with less radiation exposure for patients overall.

 

Artificial Intelligence Technologies

GE Healthcare released its Revolution Ascend with Effortless Workflow, which offers clinicians a collection of AI technologies that automate and simplify time-consuming tasks to increase operational efficiency and free up time for clinicians to deliver more personalized care for more patients. 

 

Equipped with a lower table, 40mm detector coverage, and a larger, new 75 cm wide-gantry, the Revolution Ascend is designed to accommodate high body mass index (BMI) patients, as well as trauma cases that would otherwise be too delicate to maneuver in a smaller size gantry.

 

Other features built into GE’s Revolution Ascend:

  • GE’s Effortless Workflow, a new suite of AI solutions that personalizes scans accurately and automatically for each patient, and requires significantly less effort from the CT technologist. 
  • Auto Positioning, which uses real-time depth-sensing technology to generate a 3-D model of the patient’s body and uses a deep learning algorithm to determine the correct table elevation and cradle movements to align the center of the scan range with the isocenter of the bore.
  • The Clarity Operator Environment, a suite of embedded intelligent tools that can provide optimal scan range settings, dose and image quality for each patient, helping to deliver greater efficiency and more personalized medicine across clinical care areas.

 

Intelligent User Interface

The FDA recently approved an innovative single-source CT scanner by Siemens Healthineers called the Somatom X.ceed. Its scanner is designed for all scanning procedures and is aimed at providing state-of-the-art diagnostic imaging through an 82 cm bore.

 

The Siemens Healthineers Somatom X.ceed features both high-speed scanning capabilities and a level of resolution previously unseen in other single-source CT systems, with a new hardware/software combination to simplify CT-guided interventions. 

 

Key features of the Siemens Healthineers Somatom X.ceed:

  • a fast rotation speed of 0.25 seconds to ensure a high native temporal resolution and reduce motion artifacts when scanning, moving structures such as the heart. 
  • a scan speed of 262 mm/sec to provide consistent image quality across the entire field of view
  • a small focal point on the scanner–  0.4 x 0.5– to enable increased spatial resolution to better detect deep-seated small and medium lesions. 
  • a 1,300 mA power reserve, for higher power, enabling a high level of image quality for larger patients while expanding the utilization of low dose and low contrast media techniques, such as low kV imaging.
  • myNeedle Companion combines hardware innovations and intuitive software to coordinate the planning and guidance of percutaneous needle procedures. 
  • myExam Companion user guidance software employs artificial intelligence to help simplify and standardize scanner operation for each user. It also provides a new decision tool for trauma imaging. 
  • myExam Satellite feature allows immediate assessment of CT perfusion results, which can be very valuable in emergency radiology.

 

Accuracy, Precision and Speed

The new Aquilion Exceed LB CT system from Canon Medical Systems USA Inc. has just received FDA clearance, The Aquilion’s  CT technology delivers high-quality, high-resolution volumetric, 3D reconstruction images in a clinically relevant and cost-effective manner. 

 

The Aquilion Exceed LB CT system has the potential to enhance oncologists’ treatment of cancer patients because of its ability to reduce radiation dose exposure, increase patient throughput and improve accuracy. 

 

The system was specifically designed for the radiotherapy market to provide better visualization of tumor anatomy during treatment planning with uniform patient positioning that enables accurate target localization for all types of cancer.

 

Features of the Aquilion Exceed LB CT system include: 

  • Canon Medical’s Advanced intelligent Clear-IQ Engine (AiCE) Deep Learning Reconstruction (DLR) technology, which provides sharper, clearer, and more distinct images. 
  • a large bore opening (90 cm),
  • edge-to-edge extended field-of-view (90 cm) reconstruction 
  • and wide detector coverage (4 cm). 

 

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A Final Word on CT Imaging Trends This 2022

Function and productivity will drive many of the trends we’re seeing for CT imaging this 2022. 

 

One of the things that will continue to drive the industry forward will be the need for faster exam times. The faster exams can help reduce patient stress, improve physician efficiency, and increase a facility’s throughput. 

 

We will likely see more manufacturers continue to implement and improve on existing workflow enhancements. Workflow enhancements can include faster gantry rotation, faster table speed, and faster reconstruction times to name a few. These enhancements are all focused on helping to drive exam times down. 

 

We will also see the adoption of more advanced software and hardware applications such as CAD, virtual reality, and automated patient positioning. These applications will help to improve the workflow and patient experience, but also help to improve the final image quality.

 

Source: Imaging Technology News