At the RSNA in Chicago, Siemens unveiled a new mobile C-arm that, compared to currently available devices, offers more power and a full uncropped square image even during rotation. This is thanks to beam shaping collimators that rotate along with the X-ray tube which normally would be relatively stationary and so force a cropping of the image corners.
At 25 kilowatts, the x-rays should penetrate most obese patients and Siemens promises that the new built-in cooling system should hold up during long procedures while offering quick turnaround between patients.
More about the Cios Alpha according to Siemens:
The system’s 30 x 30 cm detector, combined with its 25 kW power output, provides high-resolution, high-contrast images and can cover the finest structures in the range of submillimeters – a particularly beneficial feature in minimally invasive surgery, where fine catheters and instruments are used frequently. Due to the flat, compact design of its flat-panel detector, Cios Alpha also provides doctors and medical personnel with additional space and thus better patient access than traditional image intensifiers.
The Cios Alpha’s special cooling system protects it from overheating, helping to ensure consistently high image quality even during long operations. This is critical, as an overheated system automatically reduces the power level, which leads to reduced image quality. In that case, the C-arm system would have to be changed to complete the intervention, while the original system would require a longer cooling period prior to reuse. Cios Alpha also has a new touch screen interface that offers surgeons greater safety and convenience in the OR. The system can be operated with three identical touch screens — on the C-arm, the monitor cart and the table-side control. Using these touch screens, the surgeon has full control of the equipment at any time during interventions. Operating staff members who often lack full view on the monitor cart can use small image previews integrated into the touch screens that enable direct control of image manipulations such as zooming or running-in of radiographic collimators. Cios Alpha also has a unique C-arm position storage feature. With one click, the motorized C-arm takes on a previously stored projection, eliminating manual repositioning. For a
better overview during vascular procedures, the surgeon can use Cios Alpha’s vessel overlay software.
Press release: Siemens presents new mobile C-arm with more power and larger field of view in the OR
