If you're looking into a Siemens Scope 16, chances are you're after a compact, budget-conscious, 16-slice CT system. The Scope lives up to those requirements, but that isn't the end of the story.
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While the Scope will satisfy in some regards, there are some design decisions made by Siemens that limit the utility of this platform. Depending on your facility's needs, these may or may not be "dealbreakers", but it is important that you be aware of them.
It's also important that, if they are dealbreakers, you be aware of an alternative to consider. To that end, we've put together the following to compare the Scope 16 with Neusoft's NeuViz 16 across several criteria.
At 8m/sq, the Scope has the smallest footprint of any 16-slice CT. Being this compact makes it a good candidate for a physician's office or in a mobile setting to be shared among sites. By comparison, the NeuViz 16 has a footprint of 18m/sq. While this is a significantly larger footprint, it should be noted that the majority of existing CT rooms were built to accomodate older, larger CTs with footprints around 25m/sq.
Ultimately, either of these systems constitutes a space savings over most systems that are at replacement age. If you're installing into an existing room, the extra gains of the Scope are a moot point. If you're starting fresh in a place where space will be an issue, the Scope can fit where other scanners can't.
When using a Scope 16 the maximum available kilovolt (kV) station is 130. Below is a graph that shows the CT "contrast to noise ratio" at various kiloelectronvolt (keV) settings. As kV increases, so does keV, which reduces contrast and, thereby, image quality until the relationship between kV/keV and contrast goes from inverse to converse around 140 kV. This station is beyond the reach of the Scope 16, but within the range of the NeuViz 16.
The first response to this issue that I normally hear is, "Well, you could use 110 kV." That solution might work for small to average-sized patients but, unfortunately, 110 kV is not adequate for patients with a BMI over 20. A 130 maximum kV station does not provide the reserve penetration that a 140 kV station will.
The maximum kV of the Scope makes it adequate for about 80% of the patients a given hospital might want to scan. The other 20%, including patients with a 20+ BMI or those who need scans like multi-phase GI exams will need the higher kV provided by the NeuViz 16.
The Scope 16 has a maximum miliamp (mA) output of 345. This max mA is a limiting factor in several areas. The most obvious of these is penetration for larger patients. For comparison, the NeuViz 16 has a maximum mA of 420. Because mA and dose share a linear relationship, the Scope 16 has 21% less dose available for imaging larger patients than the NeuViz 16.
A lower maximum mA also means there will be fewer miliampere-seconds (mAs) available. Because of this, smaller pitches and lower rotation speeds are required to scan larger patients. This has the potential to increase patient dose even further beyond the increase necessitated by their size.
Detector coverage is the measure of how much anatomy the CT covers per rotation. The Scope 16 has a maximum detector coverage of 192mm while the NeuViz 16 covers 240mm. This means that the Scope has 25% less detector coverage and will need that much more time to cover the same anatomical region as the NeuViz.
Scan time relates directly to patient dose. Consider this in conjunction with the limitations on pitch due to available mAs and the potential for higher patient dose becomes evident.
Current iterative reconstruction (IR) products operate on both image data and raw data to remove noise and artifacts and make low-dose images more diagnostic. The IR product offered on the Scope is the first generation from Siemens, called image reconstruction image space (IRIS).
"Image space" is another name for image data. As spelled out in the product's designation, IRIS only operates on image data and not raw data. Unfortunately, electronic and photon noise can only be removed in raw data. Once the noise is reconstructed into the image it cannot be removed. This means that IRIS is only partially effective in cleaning up images.
A common response to some of the higher dose and lower power design elements of the Scope is that using IR will reduce the amount of power you need for imaging so that higher mA and kV won't be necessary. While this may be true for IR products that work on both image data and raw data, it is not true of a product like IRIS that only works on image data. Because IRIS only operates on a portion of the data that makes up a CT image, it cannot fully compensate for inadequate power or poor dose efficiency.
The NeuViz 16, on the other hand, does not feature an IR product. The higher kV and mA settings and the dose efficiency afforded by its higher detector coverage are countermeasures against image noise and artifact, providing "cleaner" data to begin with.
Overall, The Siemens Scope 16 is a solid scanner that will serve users well for the majority of common scans on the majority of patients. It will take up less space, if that's a major concern, and, if having iterative reconstruction is a major concern, it will provide at least a portion of the capabilities of current IR products.
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If your facility is looking for a scanner with a broader range of utility, the NeuViz 16 would be a better pick. The available kV and mA make it useful for the studies the Scope can handle, but also for studies that simply require more power. It also reduces dose by covering more anatomy per rotation via greater detector coverage.
If you're ready to start a conversation about your next CT scanner purchase, we're here to help. Contact us here.
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Keith has been in the diagnostic imaging business since . Having held service, management, marketing, and sales positions, he has developed a broad base of experience in areas impacting the diagnostic imaging community and the patients it serves. He has been part of MITA since and involved with all aspects of NEMA XR-29, including its authorship. He is currently the CT Product Manager for Neusoft Medical Systems USA, Inc.
So, you’ve spent the past couple months poring over site drawings and working through construction issues and your site prep work has paid off: you're ready to accept delivery of your new CT scanner and begin installation!
As you move into this next phase of your CT scanner project, we want to help you know what to expect. Keep reading for more details on what exactly takes place during a CT scanner installation.
Installation typically begins with a 2-man crew, arriving early on the scanner's delivery date. They may bring their tools with them or, for installations especially far from their home office, they may ship a crate of tools to your facility. In the latter case, you'll be notified to be on the lookout for the crate a day or two before the installation start date. Your installer may also request a secure space to store tools and equipment during the course of the installation.
Shortly after arrival, your install crew will confirm that the system's entry path is clear of obstruction and prepare it with protective floor covering as needed.
When the truck arrives, the installers will accept and sign for it as well as assist with unloading. Depending on the layout of your facility, this may include blocking off several parking spaces to ensure access and adequate maneuvering space. Once the system is off the truck, the installers will take it into the building.
The first phase of the actual scanner setup is the mechanical side of things. This involves unpacking all the components, running all of the cables, positioning the table and gantry, and mounting them permanently. Please note: At some point during this process you'll need to have an electrician on site to connect the system to your facility's power. We recommend contacting them in advance and having them tentatively "on call" during the first day or two of your scanner's installation.
When the mechanical installation is complete, all tools and supplies will be packed up and removed. All packaging materials will be disposed of, and the room will be swept clean. The mechanical team will also wipe down the scanner itself to remove any dust left over from the shipping or installation processes.
During the final day of mechanical installation, a calibration engineer will arrive to begin calibrating the system to OEM specifications. This engineer will also see to any challenges that may arise during this time to ensure a fully functional, patient-ready scanner.
When calibrations are complete, the engineer will walk you through the unit, showing you the components and basic operation. We refer to this as a "system demonstration of use". This general tutorial should not be confused with the more intensive courses commonly known as "applications training". For further clarification on the distinction, and to help determine what level of training you and your team may need, you can refer to our earlier article: Imaging Equipment Applications Training vs. System Demonstration of Use
The last step for your install crew is the paperwork. The calibrating engineer will fill out the required form, FDA , and leave a copy on site for your records. Click the sample at the right for a closer look.
You may also be asked to sign a form indicating that the installation has been completed to your satisfaction and that you have accepted the system. It is recommended that you keep in touch with your project manager for an estimated time of completion so the appropriate team member(s), with the appropriate knowledge and authority, can be on hand to conduct a final inspection as well as sign for system approval.
When the installation is complete, there are a variety of next steps depending on how you purchased your system. If you'd like a little guidance, you can find help here: Medical Equipment Installation: What to Expect Post-Install.
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