NeuroLogica, the company which already delivered a mobile head CT, has now received FDA approval for a portable, full body, multi slice CT scanner, the BodyTom. The BodyTom is a 32 slice CT with a 85cm gantry and 60cm field of view. It can be operated battery powered (up to 12 hours) or plugged into standard wall power outlets. The vision of the company is to bring the CT to the patient instead of vice versa, whether into the clinic, ICU, OR or emergency department. Apart from the increased portability, one of the most interesting new possibilities this brings is intraoperative CT, instead of the good old fluoroscopic imaging, without the need of an expensive dedicated CT-equipped operating room.
The following comes from the intraoperative applications feature page:
Intraoperative Applications
The combination of portability, speed and versatility in clinical applications makes portable intraoperative CT a highly cost-effective solution. The range of clinical applications includes cranial, spinal, ENT, head & neck, CMF, trauma, orthopedic and vascular surgery.
Soft Tissue Resolution
With the use of the BodyTomTM, the surgeon is presented with additional information through advanced CT visualization. Not only can the BodyTomTM deliver high quality bone and spine imaging, but high resolution soft tissue imaging not found with typical flat-panel fluoroscopic imaging. This may yield greater surgical precision with improved patient outcomes. It also allows the surgeon to assess any complications which may have formed during the procedure prior to taking the patient off the operating table.
Navigation Integration
The BodyTomTM produces fully DICOM 3.1 compliant images which can be automatically sent to all of the leading computer assisted surgical navigation systems. This allows for the immediate update of the CT image for the purpose of navigation. Images can be transferred to the navigation system directly via Ethernet connection or through any form of external media (USB/CD/DVD).
Maintaining the Sterile Field
Maintaining the sterile field is of the utmost importance during every surgical procedure. Sterile drapes are available which can be applied quickly to maintain the sterile barrier between the BodyTomTM and the operating field.
Portability & Ease of Use
The design of the BodyTomTM provides the convenience of truly portable scanning. Any existing operating room can be utilized without any special modifications to the electrical supply. The BodyTomTM runs off of standard wall power, giving it the flexibility to be used in multiple rooms for any number of procedures over the course of the day.
Internal Lead Shielding & Radiation Protection
The BodyTomTM was designed with patient and staff safety in mind. We take the concerns about radioation exposure seriously, which is why the BodyTomTM is lined with 0.5mm of lead to cut back on any of the x-ray scatter off of the patient. A leaded shield is also provided on the BodyTomTM workstation to protect staff from any unnecessary exposure.
As an accessory to the CT unit, a portable workstation is offered, itself a well-packed computer-on-wheels which intriguingly lists an MP3 dock with a surround sound system as one of the main features. Sounds like NeuroLogica takes customers’ wishes really serious!
Press release: NeuroLogica Corporation Announces FDA 510(k) Clearance for BodyTom: a portable, full body, multi-slice CT scanner – Danvers, Mass…
Product page: BodyTom…