National Hospital gets artificial intelligence driven CT scanner

*First and highest spec machine in Sri Lanka with AI-based image-quality optimization

*First spectral CT-capable 320 row/640 slice scanner in the country

*Ideal for advanced heart and brain scanning

*Enables unprecedented diagnostic and imaging capabilities, as well as patient safety

Mediquipment Ltd, a leading biomedical engineering service provider here, specializing in high-end medical imaging technology, announced the introduction of an advanced standard in medical diagnostics with the successful installation of the first ever Canon AQ One PRISM Edition CT scanner at the Radiology Department of the National Hospital of Sri Lanka.

The machine costing Rs 200 million was installed in accordance with stadard processed with o significant delays, a company spokesperson said.

The new Cannon scanner is currently the only machine in the global market which combines Artificial Intelligence with Deep Learning Spectral Reconstruction using an advanced intelligent Clear-IQ Engine (AiCE). This delivers a quantum leap in the quality of imaging and diagnostics, a news release said.

“The successful installation of this advanced CT scanner, which is the first of its kind in Sri Lanka, and in the public health sector, represents a vital and significant upgrade of the diagnostic capabilities in the country. This system gives radiologists immense new capabilities and capacity through Spectral CT scanning, advanced visualization and Deep Learning-based CT imaging.

“For patients, this means access to the highest global standard of diagnostics, delivered with greater accuracy and speed than ever before. Such technology could potentially redefine the standard of medical care in Sri Lanka,” Mediquipment Vice President – Applications, S. Senthuran said.

In addition to enhancing the images used by radiologists, the scanner is also one of the safest and most efficient on the market. The machine’s 16cm wide area detector significantly improves the consistency and quality of images. This means that cranial or cardiac scans can be completed in a fraction of a second, and then rapidly reconstructed into quality images in a few seconds, the release explained.

“Notably, this installation at the National Hospital is the latest in a series of recent deliveries successfully completed by Mediquipment, which previously installed the first and second generation Aquilion ONE CT scanners at some of Sri Lanka’s most prestigious private healthcare facilities, having installed the island’s first CT scanner in 1987, the release said.

“Medical-imaging technology is evolving at an incredible pace,” said Rienzie Nanayakkara, who leads the company’s radiology division. “Our challenge over the past 35 years has been to remain at the forefront, delivering safe, reliable and cutting-edge technology to Sri Lanka’s ever more sophisticated medical diagnostics sector. In addition to this, I think our most important selling point is the fantastic quality of our skills-enhancement and service capability.”

With a history stretching back 35 years, Mediquipment claims to be the country’s leading biomedical engineering technology provider. The company serves as exclusive distributor for Canon Medical Systems Corporation which includes an array of imaging equipment such as MRI scanners, CT scanners, angiography systems, x-ray systems and ultrasound scanners. It has, to date, successfully completed equipment installations at every one of the 400+ hospitals currently operating in Sri Lanka.