Shands at the University of Florida Achieves Significant Radiation Dose Reduction Using Toshibas AID

AIDR 3D Reduces Radiation Dose in CT Imaging While Maintaining High Image Quality for Improved Patient Outcomes.

 

In CT imaging, healthcare providers strive to lower radiation dose while maintaining the high image quality needed for accurate diagnoses. Shands at the University of Florida, one of the first facilities to be upgraded with Toshiba America Medical Systems, Inc.’s newest and most advanced dose reduction software, AIDR 3D, found the technology greatly reduced radiation dose without decreasing image quality. Shands, which uses AIDR 3D with Toshiba’s Aquilion™ ONE dynamic volume CT system, conducted dose measurements with phantoms and cadavers and evaluated image quality through a blind review process.

“Our initial use of AIDR 3D has been extremely promising, as we are achieving substantial radiation dose savings, enabling us to deliver better quality care without sacrificing patient safety,” said Dr. Manuel Arreola, director, Clinical Radiological Physics, Shands at UF.

AIDR 3D is Toshiba’s third-generation iterative dose reconstruction software that incorporates significant system enhancements by reducing radiation dose compared with conventional scanning. It is a sophisticated algorithm designed to work in both the raw data and image data spaces, reducing noise while attempting to maintain image quality. AIDR 3D is standard on all new Toshiba Aquilion ONE, Aquilion Premium and Aquilion PRIME CT systems.

“Working with Toshiba on the upgrade process was seamless. We were able to achieve the dose savings almost immediately, with minimal system downtime,” Dr. Arreola said.

“With patient safety top of mind, Toshiba has worked to help facilities implement dose reduction technologies that result in better patient care,” said Satrajit Misra, senior director, CT Business Unit. “Shands exemplifies how facilities can reduce concerns associated with CT dose by conducting safer CT exams.”

Shands is a private, not-for-profit organization and part of UF&Shands, the University of Florida Academic Health Center, with campuses in Gainesville and Jacksonville.

Located in Gainesville, Shands at UF is one of the Southeast’s premier teaching hospitals and the state’s leading medical referral center. Nearly 900 expert UF College of Medicine and community physicians along with 7,297 skilled Shands nursing and support staff provide comprehensive high-quality patient care, from primary care and family medicine to subspecialty tertiary and quaternary services for patients with highly complex medical conditions.

Patients come to Shands at UF from all 67 Florida counties and from throughout the region, nation and a dozen countries each year. The medical center has earned its stellar reputation because of the dedication to patient care, education and research provided by UF and Shands interdisciplinary clinical and support teams.

Shands at UF includes Shands Hospital for Children, the Shands Pediatric Emergency Room, Shands Cancer Hospital and Shands Critical Care Center. Shands at UF also operates the health system’s two specialty hospitals, Shands Rehab Hospital and Shands Vista behavioral health, both located in Gainesville.

Shands is also affiliated with UF Physicians, which offers more than 40 outpatient primary care and specialty care physician practices throughout the surrounding area.

With headquarters in Tustin, Calif., Toshiba America Medical Systems (TAMS) markets, sells, distributes and services diagnostic imaging systems, and coordinates clinical diagnostic imaging research for all modalities in the United States. 

Toshiba Medical Systems Corporation is a leading worldwide provider of medical diagnostic imaging systems and comprehensive medical solutions, such as CT, X-ray and vascular, ultrasound, nuclear medicine and MRI systems, as well as information systems for medical institutions. Toshiba Medical Systems Corporation has been providing medical products for over 80 years. Toshiba Medical Systems Corporation is a wholly owned subsidiary of Toshiba.

Toshiba is a world-leading diversified manufacturer, solutions provider and marketer of advanced electronic and electrical products and systems. Toshiba Group brings innovation and imagination to a wide range of businesses: digital products, including LCD TVs, notebook PCs, retail solutions and MFPs; electronic devices, including semiconductors, storage products and materials; industrial and social infrastructure systems, including power generation systems, smart community solutions, medical systems and escalators & elevators; and home appliances.

Toshiba was founded in 1875, and today operates a global network of more than 550 consolidated companies, with 202,000 employees worldwide and annual sales surpassing 6.1 trillion yen (US$74 billion).