FDA-cleared device a major advantage for stroke and critically-ill patients
Feb. 14, 2006
BURLINGTON, MA - Lahey Clinic is the first hospital in the nation to purchase a portable computed tomography, CT, scanner that allows physicians to conduct brain scans on critically ill patients without ever moving them.
The portable CT scanner, the CereTom, gives physicians quick access, particularly in cases of brain trauma or stroke, where time is critical in saving a patient’s life or in situations where moving the patient could be fatal. "This is a lifesaver," said Patrick T. Noonan, Jr., MD, chair of neuroradiology at Lahey Clinic. "So many times it’s difficult to get images of seriously ill patients because they are too sick to move. This is already giving us a tremendous advantage in caring for our sickest patients."
And that was the mission of the group at NeuroLogica in Danvers, Massachusetts, which developed the technology for the CereTom. The U.S. Food and Drug Administration approved the portable CT scanner last year.
Traditional CT scanners weigh as much as 9,000 pounds and require a dedicated power supply and cooling system. The engineers at NeuroLogica were able to shrink those systems; making them the perfect size for patients in emergency departments, intensive care units and operating rooms.
The portable CT scanner is also easy to use. The machine delivers the same resolution as bigger machines and is light enough to be pushed by one technician. "We have been waiting for this," said Anna K. Chacko, MD, chair of diagnostic radiology. "I know the neurologists will rest easier knowing there is a way to treat patients faster without any risky moves."
About Lahey Clinic
Lahey Clinic, a designated Primary Stroke Service hospital, is a physician-led, nonprofit group practice. It is world-renowned for innovative technology, pioneering medical treatment, and leading-edge research. A teaching hospital affiliated with Tufts University School of Medicine, the Clinic provides quality health care in virtually every specialty and subspecialty, from primary care to cancer diagnosis and treatment to kidney and liver transplantation. For more information, please visit our Web site at www.lahey.org |
