Sunnybrook Health Sciences Centre installs Agfa HealthCare’s ceiling suspended DR system

- ZeroForce Technology, unique to the DR 600, offers smooth, high speed operation and movements in all directions with almost zero effort - Agfa HealthCare’s third generation MUSICA image processing software regarded as key differentiating factor by Sunnybrook for its ability to promote excellent imaging quality and enable meaningful radiation dose reduction - Long-standing relationship with Sunnybrook showcases Agfa HealthCare’s customer-centric approach and commitment to patient satisfaction

Agfa HealthCare announced today that Sunnybrook Health Sciences Centre continues its upgrade to direct radiography (DR) with the installation of the
DR 600 X-ray room with ZeroForce technology. The DR 600 was chosen primarily for its unique ZeroForce technology, which provides smooth movements of the tube head, wall stand and table in all different directions with almost zero effort, as well as Agfa HealthCare’s third generation MUSICA image processing software.

Sunnybrook Health Sciences in Toronto is the largest single-site hospital in Canada. Caring for patients and their families at critical times in their lives, conducting leading-edge research, discovering innovative approaches to care, teaching the latest advances in health care, and its affiliation with the University of Toronto, all distinguish Sunnybrook as one of Canada’s premier academic health sciences centres.

Seamless Transition to DR
“As we complete the installation of the DR 600 X-ray room we anticipate a seamless transition for technologists as they they are already familiar with the MUSICA workstation interface common to all our Agfa CR and DR solutions,” said Henry Sinn, Director of Medical Imaging, Sunnybrook Health Sciences Centre. “The newest X-ray room installation will alow us to maintain the impressive image quality that we’ve grown accustomed to from Agfa HealthCare while adding advanced new features such as ZeroForce and EasyStitch technology. This will also allow Sunnybrook to reconfigure and right size our radiographic fleet with the expected efficiency generated via this upgrade.”

The installation of the DR 600 X-ray room will add to the broad list of Agfa products currently within the hospital including Agfa Computed Radiography (CR) (both powder and needle phosphor), two DX-D 500n DR X-ray rooms, one DX-D 600 DR X-Ray room, IMPAX PACS, and IMPAX RIS. The addition of the DR 600 provides a unified look and feel to image quality across yet another X-ray modality.

Vast Array of DR Benefits
“We are excited that Sunnybrook chose to upgrade its DR purchase to include our most current and innovative offering, the DR 600 X-ray room,” commented Lisa Shoniker, Regional Vice President, Sales, Agfa HealthCare Canada. “ZeroForce Technology has a unique ergonomic design that makes performing X-rays exams quicker and virtually effortless for technologists. These improvements often result in enhanced patient satisfaction by decreasing exam times and reduced strain on technologists when moving the equipment in place. In addition, the installation of the DR 600 will provide Sunnybrook technologists and their patients with a vast array of DR benefits including image quality excellence which are available in a faster timeframe, enhanced workflow and the potential to reduce radiation dose exposure.”

The DR 600 fully automated X-ray room streamlines workflow, increases throughput and enhances the experience of patients and operators alike, even in the busiest imaging environments. Full automation, auto-positioning and auto-tracking allow light, fast and easy operation.

The ZeroForce technology enables manual movement of the tube head in all directions quickly and with almost zero effort. In addition, the system shows particular strength in full leg and full spine imaging with its EasyStitch technology. Based on fully automated single focus technology, EasyStitch minimizes distortions. Angular tracking is available for dedicated exams, while motorized movement of the wall stand and tube head provides accurate stitching capabilities, for high precision in images. An optional table overlay allows these exams to be performed right on the table.

The DR600 full room DR suite is a high-productivity, high-throughput general radiography system available in different configuration options to meet the demanding needs of busy radiology departments. The system can be equipped and combined with multiple digital detectors – fixed or portable – which all deliver crisp diagnostic images.

Integrated with all Agfa HealthCare digital radiography solutions, Agfa HealthCare’s industry-leading third generation MUSICA image processing software brings multi-scaled processing to a new level by displaying exquisite detail that allow technologists to capture consistently high-quality images. Furthermore, MUSICA is applied automatically without the need for time-consuming configuration, window leveling or re-processing of images. The Cesium Iodide (CsI) detectors, which can be used with Agfa HealthCare’s full line of DR product solutions, offers potential dose reductions of up to 60%*, furthering healthcare providers’ goal of using the lowest dose reasonably achievable during each X-ray exam.

* Testing with board certified Radiologists has determined that Cesium Bromide (CR) and Cesium Iodine (DR) Detectors when used with MUSICA processing can provide dose reductions between 50 to 60% when compared to traditional Barium Fluoro Bromide CR systems. Contact Agfa for more details .