Agfa HealthCare announced that the Bristol Royal Infirmary has replaced its existing computed radiography (CR) systems with Agfa HealthCare CR, including five CR 30-X digitizers and four advanced, high-throughput CR solutions. All of the new systems being implemented come with Agfa HealthCare's gold-standard MUSICA image processing and workstation, which supports a highly efficient and optimized radiology workflow. The agreement also includes a DRYSTAR 5300 next-to-application direct digital printer.
The Bristol Royal Infirmary (BRI) is a teaching hospital providing acute medicine and surgery, critical care, trauma, orthopedic and accident and emergency services to the population of Bristol, UK. It is one of eight hospitals within the University Hospitals Bristol NHS Foundation Trust, and one of the oldest Infirmaries in the UK. Since 2011, it has been undergoing a major redevelopment, including a new accommodation block and refurbishment of the existing wards.
Potential dose reduction, smoother workflow, excellent image quality
The four new advanced Agfa HealthCare high-throughput CR systems unite excellent image quality with a drop-and-go buffer that can handle a mix of five cassettes of different sizes, for a smoother, more productive workflow. They support both standard phosphor plates and cesium-bromide (CsBr) needle detectors. Studies have shown dose reductions of up to 60% can be achieved with cesium-based detectors[1].
The CR 30-X is a highly versatile digitizer that offers no-compromises image quality for a broad range of applications. It reads imaging plates at the high resolution of 10 pixels/mm for all image plate sizes.
Exam-independent, automatic optimization of image quality and workflow
Both the advanced high-throughput CR systems and the CR 30-X come with MUSICA image processing software and workstation. Fully automatic and exam-independent, MUSICA provides consistently high image quality, while the workstation platform improves workflow and reduces waiting and examination times, to optimize patient care.
The Bristol Royal Infirmary is also implementing a DRYSTAR 5300 direct digital printer, offering convenient next-to-application installation in a solution requiring low investment and running costs.
Advanced tools support patient care objectives
"Our hospital's overall mission is to provide patient care of the highest quality; implementing advanced tools and systems such as Agfa HealthCare's CR solutions clearly demonstrate how we are following up on this commitment," says Simon Brown, Superintendent Radiographer of Bristol Royal Infirmary. "We chose these solutions as they will support us with faster processing, combined with higher resolution images and the potential to reduce radiation dose, to enhance our overall patient care."
"We are very proud that Bristol Royal Infirmary has chosen our advanced CR solutions to replace their existing CR imaging systems and support the hospital's ongoing mission with solutions and services that meet its needs." comments John Flavell, Imaging Business Manager of Agfa HealthCare UK.
1. Testing with board certified radiologists has determined that cesium bromide (CR) and cesium iodide (DR) detectors when used with MUSICA processing can provide dose reductions of between 50 to 60% when compared to traditional barium fluoro bromide CR systems. Contact Agfa HealthCare for more details.
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- Agfa HealthCare's Profile
About Agfa
The Agfa-Gevaert Group is one of the world’s leading companies in imaging and information technology. Agfa develops manufactures and markets analogue and digital systems for the printing industry (Agfa Graphics), for the healthcare sector (Agfa HealthCare), and for specific industrial applications (Agfa Materials). Agfa is headquartered in Mortsel, Belgium. The company is present in 40 countries and has agents in another 100 countries around the globe. The Agfa-Gevaert Group achieved a turnover of 2,865 million euro in 2013.
About Agfa HealthCare
Agfa HealthCare, a member of the Agfa-Gevaert Group, is a leading global provider of diagnostic imaging and healthcare IT solutions. The company has nearly a century of healthcare experience and has been a pioneer on the healthcare IT market since the early 1990's. Today Agfa HealthCare designs, develops and delivers state-of-the-art systems for capturing, managing and processing diagnostic images and clinical/administrative information for hospitals and healthcare facilities, as well as contrast media solutions to enable effective medical imaging results. The company has sales offices and agents in over 100 markets worldwide. Sales for Agfa HealthCare in 2013 were 1,160 million euro.