Surgical Equipment & Products News South Africa

Low radiation dose X-ray provides clear image

At the sixth World Congress on Paediatric Cardiology and Cardiac Surgery which took place in Cape Town recently, Philips announced the introduction to the South African market of an X-ray system that provides an equivalent image quality to its current equipment at an average of 73% less radiation dose.

The Philips AlluraClarity interventional X-ray system has undergone clinical trials, conducted at the Karolinska Hospital in Stockholm, comparing Philips' current AlluraXper system and the new system with ClarityIQ technology.

Interventional imaging is a medical specialty in which minimally invasive procedures are performed to diagnose and treat diseases using image guidance. Traditionally, lower radiation dose during interventional X-ray procedures meant corresponding lower image quality, which could inhibit a clinician's ability to accurately diagnose and treat patients. Now, with this technology, clinicians are finding that they can reduce patient dose without sacrificing image quality, thus enhancing their diagnostic and treatment confidence. As a result, patient and staff risks from exposure to radiation are reduced, therefore longer and more complex procedures can now be performed at less dose.

"The company continuously looks for ways to reduce risk for patients and clinicians while maintaining optimal image quality. Its concern is always to help clinicians get the diagnostic information they need at a low dose," said Jose Fernandes, district manager, Philips Healthcare Southern Africa "The company has already had success with iDose technology in diagnostic CT scanners that has been introduced into both the Donald Gordon Medical Institute and Sunninghill Hospital, in Johannesburg."

Let's do Biz