Shimadzu makes leap into spiral CT

Shimadzu will join the paradeof companies with new MRI systems by unveiling a compact mid-fieldscanner. Shimadzu will also roll out its first spiral CT systems.

Shimadzu's 0.5-tesla Magnex Alpha is a superconducting MRIsystem small enough to operate in less than 300 sq. ft., accordingto the Torrance, CA, vendor. Alpha's helium-only magnet requiresonly two refills per year.

In CT, Shimadzu's SCT 7000TX and SCT 7000TH are the company'sentries into the slip-ring and spiral CT markets. These code namescould change as these investigational devices approach commercialrelease in mid-1995.

SCT 7000TX is a fully featured spiral CT unit aimed at thetop end of the mid-tier market, according to Don Karle, salesmanager of MRI and CT. The system is a one-second scanner andis equipped with a 3.5-million-heat-unit x-ray tube. SCT 7000THis a mid-tier unit that completes 360º cycles in 1.5 secondsand is equipped with a 2-MHU tube.

FDA clearance is pending on all three products, with commercialintroduction planned for the summer and fall of 1995.