Mobile CT seeks to fill neuroradiology niche

NeuroLogica unveiled a mobile multislice CT system, CereTom, at the RSNA meeting. The 20-month-old company designed the device for head and neck imaging of patients suspected of traumatic brain injury.

The compact eight-slice scanner features a 25-cm field-of-view which produces spatial resolution on par with leading high-end CT scanners, according to the company. The unit is self-contained, is equipped with a head board that can be slid under the patient, and includes a built-in translation mechanism that moves back and forth over the head. This eliminates the 8- to 10-foot patient table that commonly accompanies CTs.

Because it is compact, just under four feet high by 29 inches wide, and sits on casters, CereTom can be wheeled anywhere in a hospital, such as to the emergency department or intensive care unit. Because the device does not require x-ray shielding, it may be suitable for dental and maxillofacial surgery offices. It could even be mounted in an ambulance.

Utilizing a wireless image transfer system, CereTom processes images wherever a patient is located. Images are transmitted to a laptop workstation that incorporates advanced software tools, including 3D CT viewing packages from Voxar. The battery-driven unit can scan up to eight patients without recharging, or it can draw power from a standard electrical outlet.