Diagnostic imaging

Unique CT scanner at the Montreal Neuro

MONTREAL – One of the world’s most advanced computerized tomography (CT) scanners, and the first of its type in Canada, has been installed at The Montreal Neurological Institute and Hospital.

The advanced machine improves patient care not only by reducing exposure to radiation, but also by shortening scanning time for life-threatening neurological and vascular diseases to mere minutes.

“Thanks to the generosity of the R. Howard Webster Foundation, The Neuro has the first 640 resolution 320 slice CT scanner available in Canada. As a highly specialized neuroscience research and medical centre, we pride ourselves in providing the latest, most innovative technology and treatments to our patients,” said Dr. David Colman, Director of The Neuro.

Toshiba's new Aquilion ONE 640 resolution, 320-slice scanner at The Neuro allows doctors to not only visualize the arteries and veins in the brain but also allows them to assess blood flow, which is crucial for the diagnosis and treatment of a number of neurological, vascular and other disorders.

“As one of the world’s foremost academic health centres, the McGill University Health Centre tackles complex medical cases,” added the Hon. Arthur T. Porter, MUHC Director General and CEO. “To give our patients the best opportunity for a positive health outcome, our healthcare professionals need sophisticated equipment and technology. The Aquilion ONE CT scanner will help us ensure that our patients benefit from the best care for life.”

The new higher resolution CT scanner offers improved patient safety and comfort. The scanner has been in use at The Neuro since February 2010 and over 1,000 exams have been done. It has a radical new technology - large volumetric acquisition - which allows the scanner to image an entire organ in a single rotation, as well as acquire multiple diagnostic exams at once.

This advanced design drastically shortens the scanner’s imaging time, thus saving patient time, shortening time to diagnosis, lowering costs and importantly, emitting the lowest radiation dose of any CT scanner.

The increased speed of examination, which takes only seconds, also allows more patients to be seen per day, which means decreased waiting times. The Aquilion ONE allows for an entirely new array of safe, non-invasive exams that can be performed to benefit patients: simultaneous CT angiography and CT perfusion, dynamic CT scanning of the spine and complete bone removal for CT angiography.

“We are thrilled to be able to offer our patients this sophisticated and superior technology,” said Dr. Donatella Tampieri, Director of Neuroradiology at The Neuro. “The rapid scanning time combined with the higher resolution improves the quality of the images obtained, but also reduces tremendously patient wait times. The volumetric acquisition enables the visualization of the whole brain in one single rotation of 0.6 seconds and the high quality of the CT angiography allows us to avoid more invasive exams like conventional femoral catheterization.”

Patients, staff and visitors at The Neuro now also benefit from complete renovations to the Neuroradiology Department in which safety, aesthetics, comfort and time were made foremost priorities.

About the Montreal Neurological Institute and Hospital
The Montreal Neurological Institute and Hospital - The Neuro, is a unique academic medical centre dedicated to neuroscience. The Neuro is a research and teaching institute of McGill University and forms the basis for the Neuroscience Mission of the McGill University Health Centre. Founded in 1934 by the renowned Dr. Wilder Penfield, The Neuro is recognized internationally for integrating research, compassionate patient care and advanced training, all key to advances in science and medicine. Neuro researchers are world leaders in cellular and molecular neuroscience, brain imaging, cognitive neuroscience and the study and treatment of epilepsy, multiple sclerosis and neuromuscular disorders. For more information, please visit www.mni.mcgill.ca.

Posted July 15, 2010