of Temporal Bone Fractures and Temporal Region Anatomy in Horses at Department of Clinical Sciences (Pownder, Scrivani, Divers, Ducharme) and the Department of Biomedical Sciences (Bezuidenhout), College of Veterinary Medicine, Cornell University, Ithaca, NY
See the whole study here: http://www3.interscience.wiley.com/journal/123245846/abstract
Local veterinarian cites 'unique maneuverability, fast scan' helped in diagnosis prior to surgery to treat lumbar disk problem
SACRAMENTO, Calif., Aug. 27, /PRNewswire/ -- When Ralphy, a six-year-old beagle from Sacramento, needed comprehensive diagnosis to help generate insight into the sudden near paralysis of his rear legs, Dr. Robert Richardson of Campus Commons Pet Hospital, Inc. turned to his newly installed "Charlie-SPS," (Small Pet Scanner) the world's first fully portable small-pet-dedicated, multi-slice CT scanner.
Ralphy, a normally active, lovable dog who is the delight of his owners, suddenly began showing signs of being in acute pain and having trouble walking, and a quick and accurate diagnosis became necessary. It turned out Ralphy was suffering from a lumbar disc rupture.
"Ralphy had come to us after a one-day course of increasing pain and weakness in the hind limbs," says Dr. Richardson. "Our studies indicated the need for decompressive surgery of the spinal cord at L2 and L3. Ralphy was wobbly but up on his feet again within six days, I am happy to say."
Dr. Richardson, a noted veterinarian specializing in surgeries of the spine as well as orthopedics, obtained the Charlie CT scanner from Universal Medical Systems, Inc. of Ohio (UMS of Ohio).
Universal Medical Systems is the leading worldwide supplier of innovative veterinary computed tomography (CT) and magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) systems. Campus Commons Pet Hospital, in which Dr. Richardson is owner and president, had acquired the Charlie-SPS system just one week prior to Ralphy's emergency, and in so doing it became the first veterinary hospital in the nation to offer Charlie to its patient animals.
"In this particular case," says Dr. Richardson, "we were able to scan Ralphy in just a few minutes time and then generate a diagnosis immediately. We, thus, were able to progress into surgical corrective procedure very soon after the diagnosis.
"We conducted the usual Myelogram to correlate and support the Charlie scan," says Dr. Richardson. "I felt the Myelogram was necessary to support the Charlie diagnosis since this was our first time using the system, let alone for a spinal application. We were very pleased with the comparative data. Charlie delivered a magnificent, beautiful series of images of Ralphy's lower lumbar region. I can honestly say we were mesmerized by the results."
According to Dr. Richardson, soon thereafter, Chloe, a female Homeward Bound-rescued golden retriever presented with an ear infection. Dr. Richardson was able to determine, through the Charlie-SPS scans of the seven-year old retriever's auditory canal anatomy and middle ear, that he could save the middle ear function without concern for abnormal contents within the bulla.
Also, a third case occurred in the first two weeks Campus Commons Pet Hospital acquired the Charlie-SPS and it involved an eleven-month-old Rottweiler female with an obscure lameness.
"Plain X-rays had been taken and reviewed by a veterinary radiologist without diagnosis," says Dr. Richardson. "Our new Charlie scanner displayed that she had two tiny chips in her elbow, a common discovery in lameness of large breed dogs during their rapid growth phase. We were able to take care of this problem quickly and this young dog is now on the mend and has a very good prognosis."
The compact, mobile Charlie-SPS offers most of the features of large, stationary CT scanning units being utilized in either temporary or permanent veterinary hospitals, according to Dr. Richardson. "It is simply more portable and easier to use," he adds.
According to David Zavagno, president and CEO of Universal Medical Systems of Ohio, there is no other high-tech diagnostic CT imaging system that is as portable and affordable for smaller animals. "Charlie eliminates the prohibitive costs of power installations, leaded rooms and climate controls and represents a savings of $30,000-$50,000 for starters," Zavagno says.
Charlie offers the veterinarian a compact, lightweight, portable, high-speed, battery- and 120-volt-line powered system while generating advanced multi-slice high resolution images (up to eight CT slices per revolution) in a customized 12-inch pet-focused aperture. Charlie also provides for contrast study protocols such as CTA and CTP, which become extremely valuable in making diagnoses. And, since the Charlie-SPS is a fraction of the size and weight of a traditional fixed scanner, limited installation is required.
A veterinarian or technologist can be trained quickly to conduct a CT study on the Charlie system. A study, in fact, can be initiated with the touch of a few panels. Interestingly, Dr. Richardson, who has his own small vineyard in the backyard of his Sacramento-area home, decided he'd try to scan some grapes and later a rose. He says the images "were truly artistic in detail and resolution." While Charlie-SPS was not designed for artistic applications, Dr. Richardson says he'd like to show his fellow doctors in his local veterinary association these results. "As I said, we are just starting to put Charlie-SPS to use at the hospital. My staff and I are taken by what this system will do and at the very high quality of the scans produced."
Charlie-SPS (SPS stands for "Small Pet Scanner") is a small pet-dedicated (i.e., dog, cat and others), non-destructive CT application of NeuroLogica's CereTom(R), a compact, lightweight, portable, high-speed, battery- and 120-volt-line powered multi-slice CT scanner that generates up to eight slices per revolution.
Dr. Richardson is a 1975 graduate of the University of California-Davis School of Veterinary Medicine. He specializes in dogs and their surgeries of the spine and orthopedics needs. He is an owner and president of Campus Commons Pet Hospital, Inc. located in Sacramento, Calif.
Universal Medical Systems, Inc. (UMS) of Ohio is the leading innovative supplier of veterinary computed tomography (CT) and magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) systems worldwide. Headquartered in Cleveland, Universal Medical Systems, Inc. offers medical, industrial and research imaging systems from desktop CT scanners to ultra high field three-tesla MRI scanners. An affiliated network of research, development, sales and service teams supports every Universal scanner. For more information visit: www.universal-systems.com and www.veterinary-imaging.com.
D.R.Zaavgno of Universal Medical Systems, will speak on the subject of "When and why to use MRI" at The Ohio State University Veterinary Continuing Educatiion program Technology in Your Practice, in Columbus Ohio, August 8, 2009.
KENNETT SQUARE, Pa., Feb. 23 /PRNewswire/ -- Universal Medical Systems, Inc. (UMS) of Ohio, the leading worldwide supplier of innovative veterinary computed tomography (CT) and magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) systems, recently unveiled EQUUS One -- the world's first equine-dedicated, portable, battery-operated CT scanner -- at the New Bolton Center in Kennett Square, Pa., the large-animal facility of the University of Pennsylvania's School of Veterinary Medicine.
Shortly after the unveiling, EQUUS One performed a scan on an 11-year-old gelding. Midge Leitch, VMD, the clinician in Radiology at New Bolton Center, explained that, "this horse had been diagnosed with a keratoma, a benign tumor in his hoof. The CT was utilized to locate the area in the hoof wall through which the surgeons would access the keratoma while causing the least damage to the hoof capsule. In the past, this access point was determined either by measurements made on radiographs or by a location on the hoof wall determined by MRI; the former of these methods was subject to a margin of error and MRI required a longer time under anesthesia."
"Maneuvering large animals into correct positions with a standard CT is not only physically challenging for the veterinary staff, but more importantly requires moving the patient to the operating room following the scan, if surgery is the treatment of choice," she continued. "Now, we can bring the CT to the horse. And, in this particular case, the scan of the hoof took us about 90 seconds. With its unique portability, superior scan and low operating cost, EQUUS One is an ideal CT solution for any veterinary center."
According to David Zavagno, president of UMS, the EQUUS One addresses superior-imaging and portability needs of the equine veterinary marketplace, delivers flexibility in scanning process and saves operational costs with limited installation and minimal power requirements.
EQUUS One, a compact, lightweight, portable, high-speed, battery and 120-volt-line powered multi-slice CT generates up to eight slices per revolution so veterinarians are able to scan a horse's partial head and legs to diagnose injuries and diseases.
The EQUUS One provides imaging options such as CTA and CTP, which become valuable in making diagnosis. Since the EQUUS One is a fraction of the size and weight of a traditional fixed scanner, limited installation is required.
A veterinarian or technologist can be trained quickly to conduct a CT study on the EQUUS One. A study can be initiated with the touch of a few panels.
EQUUS One is an equine-dedicated, non-destructive CT application of NeuroLogica's CereTom(R), a compact, lightweight, portable, high-speed, battery and 120-volt-line powered multi-slice CT scanner that generates up to eight slices per revolution.
Leitch graduated from the School of Veterinary Medicine at the University of Pennsylvania, completed an internship and residency in Large Animal Surgery at New Bolton Center and remained on the Surgery Staff until 1980. She left to open a referral practice where she continued her surgical service, having become board certified in surgery, and developed a specialty in performance-limiting problems in both race horses and sport horses. Leitch traveled extensively with the US Equestrian Team through 2004, including trips to three Olympics and multiple World Championships. She returned to New Bolton Center in 2005 as a clinician in Radiology and has assumed responsibility for diagnostic imaging including digital radiography, MRI and CT.
Opened in 1954 and located in Kennett Square, Pa., New Bolton Center comprises the George D. Widener Hospital for Large Animals, featuring one of the world's largest equine surgical faculties, the Marshak Dairy, the Laboratory of Aquatic Animal Medicine and Pathology and one of Pennsylvania's three Animal Diagnostic Laboratories. The Widener Hospital sees more than 6,000 patients a year. And that doesn't include the Field Service, which sees more than 19,000 animals annually at farms, breeders, horse-training facilities and agricultural enterprises in the region.
Universal Medical Systems, Inc. (UMS) of Ohio is the leading innovative supplier of veterinary computed tomography (CT) and magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) imaging systems worldwide. Headquartered in Cleveland, Universal Medical Systems, Inc. offers medical, industrial and research imaging systems from desktop CT scanners to ultra high field three-tesla MRI scanners. An affiliated network of research, development, sales and service teams supports every Universal scanner. For more information visit: www.veterinary-imaging.com.
For more information please contact:
David Zavagno Universal Medical Systems, Inc. +1-440-349-3210 +1-216-533-3935
Simpsonville, Ky. – March 13, 2007 – Universal Medical Systems, Inc. (UMS), the leading worldwide supplier of innovative veterinary computed tomography (CT) and magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) systems, unveiled the world’s first rotating MRI scanner designed specifically for horses the VetMR Grande XL – installed at Equine Services Surgical Hospital (ESSH) in Simpsonville, Ky.
The VetMR Grande XL, which answers superior imaging and versatility needs of the equine veterinary marketplace, is the latest addition to UMS’ firsttomarket line of specialized veterinary CT and MRI systems. The VetMR Grande XL is manufactured by Genova, Italy based Esaote, the world’s leading dedicated MRI company.
According to ESSH’s Dr. Scott Bennett, the VetMR Grande XL has changed the way he and his veterinary staff look at foot and joint lameness, suspensory disease, and softtissue stifle injuries. The VetMR Grande XL now is an integral part of ESSH’s MRI and surgery suite.
“My ability to diagnose and treat many lameness and illness issues has been exponentially enhanced by this scanner,” says Dr. Bennett. “The VetMR Grande XL’s quality and diagnostic capability redefines how we look at many issues within the horse. I now have diagnostic capabilities I have dreamed about for a decade.”
“MRI scanners designed for humans previously used in the equine industry are highly inefficient, costly and cumbersome with limited access for horses. The horse world needed a better option,” says David Zavagno, president of Universal Medical Systems, Inc., supplier of ESSH’s VetMR Grande XL. “The VetMR Grande XL is significantly more efficient to operate, and has the largest access for equine anatomy capable of scanning heads, necks, limbs and stifles. This is a huge clinical upgrade with superb images.”
VetMR Grande XL is the world’s first rotating MRI scanner designed specifically for horses. VetMR Grande XL utilizes the latest magnet technology and electronics to create exquisite images. The lowmaintenance VetMR Grande XL can be installed within an existing room, and is powered by a dedicated 220volt power source.
VetMR Grande XL uses computercontrolled radio waves to generate feedback from the animal’s body cells. This newly designed strong magnetic technology creates detailed images to assist the veterinarian, or radiologist, with making a diagnosis and planning treatment.
For more than 25 years Equine Services Surgical Hospital has been dedicated to the health and care of the horse. The hospital is located in Simpsonville, Ky., just 20 miles east of Louisville, and is the only equine referral facility in the area. Its continued success is due in part to the wellqualified veterinarians, excellent support staff, and stateoftheart facilities and diagnostic tools. The facility includes three hospital barns (31 patient stalls), an MRI suite, a surgical suite, two outpatient suites, digital and traditional radiology, nuclear scintigraphy, Nd:YAG laser surgery, highenergy shockwave therapy, video endoscopy, digital ultrasound, and a clinical laboratory. Equine Services also has a fully equipped theriogenology lab and recipient mare herd for embryo transfer. For more information visit: www.equineserviceshosptal.com.
Dr. Bennett received his veterinary degree from The Ohio State University in 1977. He was resident veterinarian for a large breeding farm until 1981, at which time he established Equine Services Surgical Hospital. Dr. Bennett's extensive reproduction caseload includes embryo transfer, video hysteroscopy, oviductal evaluation, and stallion evaluation. His surgical practice includes orthopedics (arthroscopy, ASIF), soft tissue (respiratory, reproductive, gastrointestinal), and emergency surgery. Dr. Bennett has pioneered the use of the Nd: YAG laser in a variety of surgical procedures. Currently, Dr. Bennett practices and consults on all breeds of performance horses and provides lameness consultation for many of the top trainers throughout the United States.
Headquartered in Solon, Ohio, Universal Medical Systems, Inc. is the leading worldwide supplier of innovative veterinary CT and MRI imaging systems.
For more information visit www.veterinaryimaging. com
“Will lead to more effective treatments for our greatest equine athletes” -“beautiful imaging” for small and large animals Cleveland - January 4, 2005 - Universal Medical Systems, Inc. (UMS) unveiled today in North America the Vet-MR Grande™, the world’s first dedicated dual-purpose magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) system for all small and large animals.
The Vet-MR Grande, which answers superior-imaging and versatility needs of the veterinary marketplace, is the latest addition to UMS’ first-to-market product line of veterinary CT and MRI systems.
UMS has already sold 10 Vet-MR Grande systems, including one to the University of Pennsylvania School of Veterinary Medicine, according to David Zavagno, president of Universal Medical Systems. The Vet-MR Grande is manufactured by Genova, Italy-based Esaote, the world’s leading dedicated MRI company.
“The Vet-MR Grande offers veterinarians and their equine patients an exponentially improved ability to accurately diagnose the cause of lameness, as well as sinus, neurological and cervical problems,” says Dr. Alexia McKnight, assistant professor of radiology at the University of Pennsylvania School of Veterinary Medicine. “It will lead to more effective treatments for our greatest equine athletes as well as the beloved ‘backyard’ pleasure horse.”
Veterinarians and radiologists at Penn’s School of Veterinary Medicine have successfully utilized the Vet-MR Grande system since July 2005 at the school’s large-animal facility, New Bolton Center, in Kennett Square, Pa. The New Bolton Center is the first facility in North America to offer the Vet-MR Grande.
“Through our consultations with companion animal and equine practitioners over the past year we learned needs exist for a new superior-imaging MRI system that handles all small and large animals,” says Zavagno. “Three of the largest problems reported in the equine market are poor image quality, access to equipment and user difficulties.”
He adds, “The Grande’s scans maintain integrity and are not compromised by blurred images caused by swaying patient animals.”
The Vet-MR Grande’s large surface scanning area and specially designed magnet address these problems and improve image quality dramatically. The system produces advanced diagnostic images from stationary scans of the head, neck and legs of large animals.
Veterinarians and radiologists at Cornell University College of Veterinary Medicine have used Vet-MR technology since November 2004, when UMS installed North America’s first dedicated veterinary MRI system for companion pets.
“The images are beautiful and the machine is here 24/7 just for the animals,” says Dr. Peter Scrivani, a board-certified radiologist at the Cornell University College of Veterinary Medicine. “This is an open MRI, not a closed tunnel that the patient disappears into. Not that dogs and cats care much about claustrophobia, but the open MRI seems to make the pet owners more comfortable.”
Before Vet-MR technology, imaging veterinary cases was a challenge. Animals had to share human MR facilities after hours in medical centers or resort to used people-sized machines at veterinary clinics. The result: escalated costs to pet owners. To achieve improved image resolution, there are several prerequisites: ensuring a stationary animal patient, utilizing a system designed to image specific anatomy and refining a library of protocols developed from decades of imaging experience, Zavagno notes.
The Vet-MR Grande is a clinically refined system designed by Esaote and built from a platform of experience derived from over 1,000 machine installations worldwide.
The Vet-MR Grande, available for purchase or a monthly lease and supported by accessible customer service, does not require costly build-out of special scanning rooms.