3D Imaging Technology Offers Benefits for Orthopaedic Specialists and Patients

ROCHESTER, N.Y., June 27 — Carestream representatives will showcase the advantages its CARESTREAM OnSight 3D Extremity System (see video link) provides for orthopaedic surgeons and their patients at the American Orthopaedic Foot & Ankle Society conference that begins July 12. The system uses cone beam CT (CBCT) technology to capture high-quality, low-dose 3D weight-bearing exams.

“High-quality 3D imaging is an integral part of the diagnostic process and treatment plan for orthopaedic surgeons. Practices that choose to install these imaging systems can provide a higher level of care while increasing convenience for both patients and clinical staff,” said John R. Gleason, MD, Co-President of Resurgens Orthopaedics (Atlanta, Ga.).

“The ability to process high-resolution 3D images in less than 10 minutes allows surgeons to view detailed images and discuss treatment options with patients in a single visit. We have seen firsthand that this is something our patients really appreciate,” he adds.

“The OnSight 3D Extremity system enables orthopaedic specialists to view weight-bearing images that display bones and soft tissue to help them determine the best treatment plan for each patient,” said Helen Titus, Carestream’s Worldwide Marketing Director for Ultrasound & CT Solutions. “Our CBCT scanner has the potential to become a non-invasive tool to evaluate a host of orthopaedic conditions—such as arthritis, meniscus loss and instability—that affect the biomechanical behavior of feet, ankles and other joints.”

A white paper compares the effective dose delivered by an OnSight 3D Extremity system to multi-detector CT (MDCT) systems and traditional X-ray exams. It reports that an OnSight CBCT extremity scan delivers approximately 5 to 40 μSv while an extremity MDCT scan delivers approximately 30 to 160 μSv. A 2D radiographic extremity exam delivers about .2 to 3 μSv. One day of natural sunlight background exposure is about 17 μSv.

The effective dose level depends on the specific anatomy being scanned, the volume of anatomy being scanned, and the system settings used to acquire the volumetric image. The OnSight system allows the user the ability to optimize these acquisition settings to match their institution’s image quality and patient dose preferences.

Unlike traditional CT systems, the CBCT system has a large-area detector that can capture a 3D image of the patient in a single rotation, which takes only 25 seconds. The compact system can be plugged into an electrical outlet in an exam room and does not require special wiring. It also features a door that opens to allow patients to step into the system’s imaging area and performs weight-bearing exams that are not possible with conventional CT systems.