Canon Europe, world-leader in imaging solutions, further illustrated its commitment to medical imaging with the announcement of a range of new innovations at Canon EXPO Paris 2010, aimed at improving the workflow and efficiency of medical diagnosis whilst maximising patient comfort. Investment in the medical systems business is a key element of Canon's growth strategy for the next five years.
New medical imaging technologies announced today include:
Digital Radiography
High Sensitivity and High Frame Rate Dynamic X-Ray Imaging
This technology is being introduced at EXPO 2010 via the new Canon Mobile C-arm, the first fully integrated digital radiography system available from Canon for healthcare professionals. This solution is also the first to be equipped with Canon’s newly developed X-ray Flat Panel Detector, the CSX.
The high-frame rate linked with the high-sensitivity of the CSX sensor means that a much lower dose of X-Ray radiation is required to provide high quality images, for both static X-Ray images and mobile fluoroscopic live video. Through the wide C-arm depth, a broader coverage of the patient's body parts is now possible in intervention and orthopaedic surgery. Canon's innovative Mobile C-Arm and the CSX Flat Panel Detector are setting new standards in diagnostic radiology and helping healthcare professionals with diagnosis and treatment, which greatly benefits patient care and comfort.
Fully integrated digital radiography systems are essential imaging tools for surgeons in the operating theatre; used for a variety of orthopaedic and trauma surgery as well as vascular and non-vascular treatment.
Eye Care
- Cross media imaging, capturing high quality images of the retina to generate an exact 3D representation using two Canon's XEED WUX -10 MII Medical projectors helps healthcare professionals to present their clinical cases.
- The lightweight Canon CR-2 non-mydriatic digital retinal camera, which incorporates Canon EOS digital SLR technology. It has been specifically adapted for capturing, documenting and portraying the ocular fundus with the aid of a unique 15.1-megapixel digital camera dedicated to retinal imaging. The CR-2 supports the early detection of glaucoma and other ocular disorders, as well as conditions such as hypertension and diabetes.
New Medical Solutions Developments
- Cross reference Information Sharing system under XDS-I, a landmark in hospital IT solutions that links medical information and output equipment to establish an information sharing platform to help healthcare professionals in different locations to make diagnostic decisions quickly. This system supports team medical care from a variety of locations, by combining Canon's imaging and document processing solutions.
- Both the EOS technology integrated in the retinal camera and the hospital IT system demonstrate Canon’s strategy to combine and integrate Canon's core technologies across different sectors and applications from all business areas.
Future Medical Solutions Concepts
- Canon is also demonstrating its future medical system, a Photoacoustic Diagnosis device which would be used for looking inside the human body by using optics technology and ultrasound technology. Canon is aiming to provide assistance in the early detection of breast cancer and related malignancy diagnoses in its development of photoacoustic imaging technologies. This new image diagnosis device is radiation-free and non-invasive.
This is a concept exhibit and full commercial use is not yet determined.
Canon has 70 years experience in medical imaging, specifically in the fields of radiography and eye care. This expertise was strengthened in February 2010 following the acquisition of Polish company, OPTOPOL, a leader in Optical Coherence Tomography for eye care, which is the technology used to aid in the early detection of retinal diseases. This is an area expected to see significant growth as age and lifestyle related diseases such as diabetes, which can be detected early by changes in the retina, become more common.
"The combination of OPTOPOL's OCT technology together with Canon's optics and imaging technology as a leading manufacturer of camera and lenses, means that we take a step further towards our goal of becoming number one in the world for comprehensive ophthalmic diagnostic equipment," said Mr. Yoshiyuki Masuko, Senior Director, Medical Systems Division, Canon Europe. "Canon continues to invest heavily in many aspects of medical imaging, building on our long history of technology innovation in this field."
About Canon Medical Systems
Canon has been an innovator in Medical applications for 70 years. Since 1940, (when Canon's first medical application was introduced - an innovative X-Ray application for tuberculoses screening), Canon has delivered lot's of world's first in the area of radiography and eye care. Today Canon's extensive line of digital radiography systems and eye care diagnostic equipment is used in areas of hospital environment, medical and screening centres as well as a wide range of terrains with portable needs. Canon is continuously working on enhancing patient care, image quality, portability, flexibility and workflow.
For further information about Canon Medical Systems, and details of local distributors please visit: www.canon-europe.com/medical.