Imaging Equipment

The Institute for Advanced Biomedical Imaging offers cutting-edge technology in combination with some of the best chest radiologists in the world to provide advanced diagnostics that are central to personalized medicine. Learn about some of our imaging equipment:

CT Scanners
PET/CT Scanner
MRI Scanner
Nuclear Medicine Cameras
Dexa Bone Density Scanner
Digital General X-ray
Fluoroscopic Units
Mobile C-arms
Ultrasound

CT Scanners

CT (computerized tomography) uses X-rays and a computer to create images of bones, blood vessels and internal organs to allow the physician to see organs and soft tissue in greater detail than a standard X-ray. CT is used for detecting a variety of conditions and is widely considered the gold standard in detecting lung abnormalities. All examinations are performed with the lowest possible radiation dose to the patient.

Siemens Naeotom Alpha with Quantum Technology

National Jewish Health is one of the first organizations in the western United States to have the Naeotom Alpha CT technology. This is a photon counting CT (PCCT). It is a fundamental breakthrough in CT technology that provides improved spatial resolution, less image noise, a reduced patient radiation dose and true spectral imaging at multiple photon energy thresholds.

Benefits:

Ultra high resolution to visualize the finest details for high diagnostic confidence in evaluating patients with interstitial lung disease, bronchiectasis, coronary diseases and other unusual airway diseases.
Reduces dose for screening and dose-sensitive patients.
Improved image contrast.
Highly detailed reporting to patients and providers.
Follows the progression of lung nodules and other chronic respiratory disorders and cancers.

Siemens Definition AS+ 128 Slice

Benefits:

Reduced Scan Time - With its 128 slices/per rotation, this scanner has a high rotation speed of 300 milliseconds. Because of the high number of detectors, the scanner can acquire more images in a shorter period of time thus reducing the chance of blurriness due to patient movement.
CTAs- Capable of performing CT angiography (a scan focusing on the blood vessels) in just 4 seconds
RealTime Fluoroscopy - Can be used for performing fluoroscopy guided biopsies.
Bariatric Imaging - This scanner also has a high capacity table for scanning heavier patients up to 600 lbs.

PET/CT Scanner

Siemens Biograph 40 Slice PET/CT Scanner

This is a CT scan fused with a PET (positron emission tomography) scan. The CT looks at anatomy within the body. A PET/CT scanner detects cells which are hypermetabolic (use more glucose than other cells). Since many diseased cells use glucose at a higher rate than normal cells, this can help determine the presence of cancer, infection or inflammatory conditions. The PET scanner uses crystals which recognize energy levels from certain radiopharmaceuticals, which gives PET its functional/cellular imaging property. These functional images can detect disease earlier than with just a CT scanner, which allows anatomic correlation of abnormal areas of hypermetabolic activity.

A PET scan combined with a CT scan correlates functioning tissue with detailed images, allowing for more accurate diagnosis and appropriate treatment for patients and is most helpful for detection of cancer, but can also be used in the setting of infection or sarcoidosis/inflammation.

Benefits:

Enhanced Image Quality - It can provide high resolution, distortion-free images throughout the entire field of view. This improved resolution enables physicians to clearly visualize small lesions, from the center to the edges—a revolutionary benefit unique to Siemens' HD-PET technology.
Reduced Scan Time - Four ring technology allows for faster acquisition.
Available Options – Respiratory gating, radiation therapy planning and dual time point imaging can be used to improve image acquisition and diagnostic accuracy.

MRI Scanner

Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI) uses a powerful magnet and radio transmitter to take images of internal structures such as the brain, spine, abdomen, heart, joints and blood vessels (MR Angiogram). It does this by interacting and detecting the signals from hydrogen atoms in the body.

Siemens Magnetom Sola with BioMatrix

Benefits:

Patient Comfort – This MRI scanner has a 70 cm wide open bore, which accommodates more patients. It reduces claustrophobia and noise with customizable video content, scan progress communication and exceptional sound quality for voice commands and entertainment.
Image Quality and Speed - Accommodates each patient’s anatomical, physiological and technologist differences. This helps decrease the need for rescans and increases scan consistency. Takes less setup time and improves the quality and reproducibility of imaging.

Nuclear Medicine Cameras

Siemens INTEVO SPECT/CT Nuclear Medicine Scanner

Utilizing a system that combines SPECT and anatomical CT in one, we secure greater scanner capabilities, increase efficiency, and improve diagnostic confidence.

Benefits:

Reduced Scan Time - This scanner allows images to be captured in half the prior time. A cardiac SPECT can be acquired in about four minutes.
Enhanced Image Quality - The CT portion of our scanner can be used to perform attenuation correction of radionuclide emission data. Attenuation correction algorithms utilizing CT and iterative image reconstruction techniques have improved the image quality and diagnostic accuracy of SPECT.
Increased Specificity- Through a more precise characterization of functional findings, we increase diagnostic confidence.

GE Millennium Nuclear Gamma Camera

Nuclear Medicine uses a camera capable of detecting energy levels from patients who have ingested, inhaled or received an injection of a radiopharmaceutical. Many different studies are performed on this camera, including: ventilation/perfusion lung scans, hepatobiliary studies (HIDA), resting gated blood pool studies (MUGA), bone scans, gastric emptying studies, and myocardial perfusion imaging.

Dexa Bone Density Scanner

This is a low dose x-ray machine used to measure the density (the amount of calcium and other minerals) in bones. A DEXA scanner is mainly used to detect and measure the degree of osteoporosis, which is a lack of bone density that makes people more susceptible to fractures.

GE Lunar Prodigy Advance

Benefits:

Thorough Bone Density Studies - The unit provides for full capability of performing complete bone density studies on the forearm, lumbar spine and proximal femur (hip) as well as vertebral assessments and fracture risk.

Digital General X-Ray

Digital general x-ray can be used to evaluate the entire body: chest, abdomen, hands, legs, feet, spine etc. An x-ray is often the first test done to evaluate many different lung issues, broken bones, abdominal issues, or other problems. The results of an x-ray may indicate more advanced testing is needed such as Ultrasound, MR, or CT.

Konica Minolta Digital General X-ray

Benefits:

Enhanced Image Quality - With high resolution, direct-capture digital technology, our two general x-ray rooms provide high quality radiographic images.

Digital Portable X-ray

When a patient’s condition does not allow them to be taken to an X-ray room, a portable x-ray machine can be brought to the patient.

Improved Physician Access - High resolution digital portable x-ray allows the x-ray image to be seen instantly at the bedside. Images are then transmitted wirelessly to allow physician access anywhere in the hospital.

Fluoroscopic Units

Siemens Luminos Agile Max and Arcadis Avantic Gen 2

Fluoroscopy produces moving x-ray images. It is used to detect gastric reflux, swallowing problems, aspiration, ulcers, bowel obstructions and other conditions

Benefits:

Optimal Performance - These units provide high quality images for many different types of fluoroscopic studies. For studies such as Tailored Barium Swallows, which show swallowing motion in real time, our TIMS digital recording systems capture detailed video images. Images are obtained at the high frame-rate needed to diagnose subtle swallowing problems which might otherwise be missed.

Mobile C-arms

Siemens Arcadis Avantic Mobile C-arm and GE/OEC 9800 Mobile C-arm

C-arms are mobile fluoroscopic machines, and produce moving x-ray images. They are used to assist physicians performing bronchoscopies in the Minimally Invasive Diagnostic Center (MIDC). Fluoroscopic guidance helps in moving fiberoptic scopes to the correct location in the lungs in order to perform a biopsy.

Benefits:

Portable and Flexible - These portable units can be moved to any part of the hospital as needed. C-arms also twist and articulate along multiple axes, so they can position the fluoroscopic tube where it’s needed without needing to move the patient.

Ultrasound

Ultrasound, or sonography, uses high frequency sound waves to produce gray scale images on a computer screen. It is used to assist physicians in diagnosing a wide variety of diseases effecting soft tissues, internal organs and the vascular system.

Siemens Acuson S2000

Ultrasound at National Jewish Health is most commonly used to examine the liver, gallbladder, spleen, kidney and vascular anatomy. It can be used to evaluate for deep vein thrombosis in the upper or lower extremities, assess the thyroid for nodules and scan the carotid arteries for atherosclerosis.

Benefits:

Non-invasive imaging – ultrasounds do not rely on radiation to evaluate soft tissues, organs and blood vessels.
Real-time – evaluation of blood flow, to and from organs and in the blood vessels of the arms and legs is evaluated as it is viewed.