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610-444-5800
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Credits: Video produced by University of Pennsylvania University Communications Text: Katherine Unger Baillie; Video: Chip Murphy, Photography: Steven Minicola


Robotic Imaging


Penn Vet is the first veterinary teaching hospital in the world using the EQUIMAGINE robotics-controlled imaging system, which has clinical and research applications for both animal and human medicine.

New Bolton Center now offers robotics-controlled computed tomography (CT) scans of the following body parts in the standing patient:

  • Head
  • Cervical Spine
  • Distal Limb (mid-radius to foot and distal tibia to foot) 

Robotic Imaging

Questions?

Dr. Kate Wulster, Assistant Professor of Diagnostic Imaging
Email: kwulster@vet.upenn.edu

Carole Johnson, Director of Imaging & Clinical Care
Email: carolej@vet.upenn.edu

Appointments

  • Cindy Stafford
    610-925-6125
  • Karen Kohlmorgen
    610-925-6140

Diagnostic Advantages

Obtaining CT scans with New Bolton Center’s EQUIMAGINE system offers several 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 only about 30 seconds.
  • 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, including 360-degree studies
    • Fluoroscopy with a high-speed radiographic camera, capturing up to 16,000 frames per second
    • Tomosynthesis, high-resolution images of focused area of clinical interests
  • Clinical Uses
    • Most specialists at New Bolton Center will be able to take advantage of the technology, including but not limited to those in:
      • Surgery, particularly orthopedics
      • Sports medicine
      • Neurology
      • Cardiovascular medicine
      • Internal medicine
  • Translational Opportunities
    • Penn Vet researchers and clinicians are in discussions 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 Videos


Robotic Imaging in the News

Associated Press released this recent video that describes our new Equimagine Robotic System.


Meet the Robotics Imaging Team

EQUIMAGINE™ Team at New Bolton Center
Dr. Barbara Dallap Schaer
Dr. Dean Richardson, New Bolton Center
Dr. Thomas Schaer, VMD
Kathryn Wulster, VMD, New Bolton Center
Carole Johnson, Imaging, New Bolton Center
  • Carole Johnson, RTR, Director of Imaging & Clinical Service

Our Collaborative Approach

At New Bolton Center, we believe in collaboration across all services. If we find an issue with your animal while we are studying imaging results, we'll talk to you about how to best solve the problem.

About 4DDI

4DDI’s technology was developed over the past decade as a solution to address many of the shortcomings and limitations of conventional imaging technology. Originally intended for human application, 4DDI’s robotic-controlled imaging system has been adopted for animal and industrial applications. Its innovative employment of industrial robots to manipulate the imaging apparatus, coupled with 4DDI’s proprietary software, provides an unlimited scanning geometry capable of producing images of an unprecedented quality and resolution. 

About ABB

ABB, a leading global manufacturer of industrial robots, supplies the robots and many of the control components used in 4DDI systems. Learn more about ABB.

With Thanks

This acquisition was funded in part by a generous gift from the estate of Mimi Thorington.