by
John R. Fischer, Senior Reporter | June 13, 2022
From the June 2022 issue of HealthCare Business News magazine
Demand in the last few years has been especially high for wide-bore MR because of its ability to image bigger and claustrophobic patients. Advanced 64- and 128-slice CTs have also attained popularity due to lung cancer concerns as well as the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic.
Additionally, CT has become a very popular modality on mobile stroke units (MSUs). In 2021, the University of Texas Health Sciences Center at Houston and Memorial Hermann-Texas Medical Center conducted a study showing 9% mortality rates among ischemic stroke patients treated on MSUs, compared to 12% among those on EMS units.
“We're treating stroke victims right at the site versus the hospital, diagnosing them,” said Smith. “We can actually drive the mobile CT right up to the person who has had a stroke and diagnose whether it's a bleed or a clot right away.”
Nuclear modalities like PET/CT and SPECT are gaining traction due to the number of new radiopharmaceuticals being produced to assess different types of cancer and other forms of imaging such as cardiac, according to Taylor Kelly, vice president of Kelly Mobile Services in California. "I've seen a lot more of those lately than I did in the past. As far as whether PET/CT or MR is moving the most across the board, it's pretty even for both."
Nuclear medicine technology is moving from larger footprint PMT (photomultiplier tube)-based technology to solid-state CsI (Cesium Iodide) detectors that are much smaller and relatively lightweight, according to Matthew Hoover, senior manager of business development at Digirad, who says this transition yields a variety of benefits. “You’re able to do as much and possibly more with a smaller piece of equipment and get better results," he said. "New solid-state CsI detector technology also uses less power and emits less BTU (British Thermal Unit), lowering overall operating cost as well as potentially reducing a facility’s carbon footprint.”
Changes in the components for modalities have also led to changes in the design and specifications for trailers, such as the switch from air cooling gradients to water cooling ones. These material changes, along with the faster release of more advanced scanners, have led mobile imaging providers to upgrade their trailers more frequently.
“We're seeing an uptick in manufacturing new trailers. Providers are getting rid of old ones, especially for MR systems,” said Sodomire. “The same thing is happening with CTs and PET/CTs. They're coming to their end of life and providers either have to get a time and material contract on their imaging equipment, which can be very expensive, or providers trade in their equipment or get new equipment and then put in place an annual service contract.”
