Mobile imaging is a big business in developed countries, where mobile CT, MRI, and even PET are seen as an economical way to bring imaging services to underserved areas. But sending scanners on the road has taken longer to catch on in developing nations due to various factors, such as the poor condition of roads in many countries.
That may be about to change in India, however -- a Mumbai company has reported strong success with its first mobile CT system, and the company plans to roll out more mobile units for service both in India and in other countries in the region.
SanRad International demonstrated the mobile unit, which it calls the first mobile CT in India, at the 2004 IRIA conference in Hyderabad. The unit went into operation in mid-2003 and serves a number of hospitals in the Mumbai area, according to SanRad executive Ratish Nair.
The system consists of an Xlead CT scanner from Toshiba Medical Systems mounted on a Volvo luxury bus chassis, with the vehicle’s body built and assembled by a local Indian company. SanRad fabricated a custom-built suspension system to absorb vibration while the unit travels on India’s notoriously rough roads, and added lead shielding to the top, bottom, and sides, Nair said.
“The greatest advantage of this mobile scanner is that it is on a bus chassis,” Nair said. “It becomes very small and convenient to move around, smaller than an American (mobile trailer).”
The system also includes an Eastman Kodak DryView 8100 dry laser printer and teleradiology workstation, as well as a generator with a UPS backup power supply. Thanks to the power supply, dry printer, and workstation, the mobile van can operate completely independently, with neither power supply nor chemistry necessary. No radiologist is needed either -- images can be acquired with a technician in the vehicle and sent via the teleradiology link to a base station at a hospital for interpretation.
Although the system just went into service, it has already exceeded SanRad’s projections. The company originally projected that the scanner would do 5-6 patients a day, but instead has seen a workload of up to 15 patients a day, Nair said. The system is operated by QuadVision Social Charitable Trust.
Due to the strong response, SanRad has begun working on a second mobile CT van, this one with modifications derived from the company’s experience with the first one. For example, the second system will have a hydraulic lift for disabled patients -- the first system simply has stairs. SanRad also hopes to export the van to other countries in the region, Nair said.
By Brian Casey
AuntMinnie.com staff writer
March 12, 2004
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