ONSIGHT 3D EXTREMITY SYSTEM – THE NOVELTY IN CT WORLD

As early as in March 2015, the Caresteam Company announced the development of a new limb imager. OnSight 3D Extremity System is a cone-beam computerized tomography system, designed specifically for orthopedics and sports medicine.

Alternatively to other imaging methods, the new 3D system is meant to provide more diagnostic information on musculoskeletal system pathology.

Scanning 220 degrees around the part of the body will take 25 seconds, and the system will receive 600 images. All the information is converted into 3D with the help of the Carestream Company’s own software system. The fact that even at the lower exposure dose, in contrast with some conventional CT systems, OnSight scanner guarantees a high-resolution 3D image is no less important. In orthopedic practice, there is often a necessity to examine patients with metal implants. That is why Carestream has developed special algorithms to reduce metal artifacts and enhance scatter correction.

The OnSight scanner design is convenient for upper and lower limbs examination. It can change its configuration if necessary, so a patient can stand or sit during the procedure. The instrument also has mounted roll wheels, allowing its free movement around the room. Nevertheless, the product engineers mark that the device is not a portable system, so it is not meant to be moved around the hospital to each single patient.

In summary, the main advantages of the new OnSight 3D Extremity System are the capability to perform upper and lower limbs 3D examinations, compact size, and simplified design, which allow decreasing the installation cost and time. The image quality is equally important. The OnSight system provides a large vision area, high resolution, and special algorithms to enhance image quality, as well as simultaneous 2D and 3D examination capabilities.

As of today, the system undergoes clinical trials in UBMD Orthopedics & Sports Medicine (Buffalo, NY) and Erie County Medical Center (Buffalo, NY).

The Carestream Company plans to begin new OnSight 3D Extremity System deliveries by the end of the year. And the typical configuration system price will make about $372,000.

Diana Balog , doctor, BiMedis Сompany