Robotic Imaging

Penn Vet was the world's first veterinary teaching hospital to use a robotics-controlled imaging system.

This system has proven value for both clinical and research applications for both animal and human medicine.

Robotic imaging of the head, cervical spine and distal limb (mid-radius to foot and distal tibia to foot)
Esophagrams / TVEC fluoroscopy

Equine patient undergoing CT of the cervical spine.

Diagnostic Advantages

Obtaining CT scans with New Bolton Center’s robotic imaging system offers uniqu advantages:

The patient is awake and standing, unencumbered by an enclosed gantry.
Obtaining the scans with sedation instead of anesthesia saves time and money, and decreases risk to the patient.
Acquiring a scan takes less time.
The modality produces high quality, multi-planar reconstructions and 3D images.
The system enables our radiologists to diagnose conditions difficult to detect with other imaging modalities.
New Bolton Center’s board-certified radiologists interpret the scans and are available to assist in the image acquisition.

Modalities
- Two-dimensional and three dimensional CT scans
- Digital radiographic studies
- Fluoroscopy with a high-speed radiographic camera
- Tomosynthesis, high-resolution images of focused area of clinical interests
Clinical Uses
- Most specialists at New Bolton Center use this technology for more precise diagnostics, including:
  - Surgery, particularly orthopedics
  - Sports medicine
  - Neurology
  - Cardiovascular medicine
  - Internal medicine
Translational Opportunities
- Penn Vet researchers and clinicians collaborate with colleagues at Penn Medicine, Nemours Children’s Health System, and other human medical centers about possible applications of the new imaging system.
  - Ability to compensate for accidental motion opens possibilities to image infants and children while awake
  - Imaging patients in motion could improve evaluations of the back, elbow, shoulder, and knee
  - Possibilities for intraoperative imaging during surgery
  - New opportunities for research

Robotic Imaging Team at New Bolton Center
	Barbara Dallap-Schaer, DACVS, DACVECC, Medical Director, New Bolton Center Board Certifications: Surgery; Emergency & Critical Care
	Dean Richardson, DVM, DACVS, Professor and Section Chief, Large Animal Surgery Board Certification: Surgery
	Tom Schaer, VMD, Director, Penn Vet Preclinical Service Core & Translation in Orthopedic Research
	Kate Wulster, VMD, DACVR, Assistant Professor, Large Animal Radiology Board Certification: Veterinary Radiology
	Tim Manzi, VMD, DACVR-EDI, Assistant Professor, Clinical Diagnostic Imaging Board Certification: Veterinary Radiology-Equine Diagnostic Imaging
	Carole Johnson, RTR, Director of Imaging & Clinical Service
	Josh Benson, Advanced Imaging Technical Specialist
	Katie Minacci, Supervisor of Sports Medicine & Imaging