What does CardiArc weigh? Can it go mobile from office to office? Could it get placed on a cart and moved around?
The camera weighs about 1200 pounds. The weight would be less if we eliminated the built-in radiation shielding for the Technologist. We decided that the health of the Technologist was worth a few extra pounds. On a flat floor, CardiArc is easily moved by a single person using a hand trolley or pallet. The system is designed to be practical for transportation in a van. For regular use in and out of a van, a mechanical lift (similar to those used for wheelchair patients) may be helpful.
What is CardiArc’s scan speed?
The acquisition time for an individual patient is, of course, always determined by the attending physician. We have been getting excellent studies in 2-4 minutes. Click here and here for some examples.
Is CardiArc single–head, dual–head,...?
Terms such as single–head or dual–head are not directly applicable to the CardiArc technology. The CardiArc detector assembly covers a full 180° arc, i.e. more than twice the coverage of a conventional dual-detector system.
What are the maintenance costs? Is maintenance difficult or unusual? What type of turn-around time do you have for repairs?
The CardiArc system is designed to be much more reliable and to require much less maintenance than other systems. The clinical prototype machines have born this out. Since the system has just been FDA approved, there is no data yet from “the field”. We are currently negotiating with several experienced field service companies. Until negotiations are completed, the exact price for service contracts (after the first year, which is free) is not pinned down. It will certainly not be higher than 10% of the purchase price and may be lower than that.
Do you guys use QPS, Emory Toolbox, Michigan, etc.... software?
Our software is provided by (provider of software for many systems already on the market). The Wackers quantitative SPECT analysis package comes standard. It is our understanding that the Michigan system, the latest version of QPS/QGS and the Emory Toolbox are all currently being ported to this system and should be available for those that desire them at roughly the same time as systems begin shipping. Additional quantitative packages beyond the included Wackers system are at an additional cost, as required by their suppliers. As shipped, with the Wackers package, the included software is complete and provides all expected processing and analytic capabilities. Gated analysis and display, EF, ED and ES volumes, regional perfusion analysis, etc. all come standard.
Can you send your data in DICOM format to a PACS (picture archiving and communication) system?
DICOM and Interfile capabilities come standard.
Does your system support remote physician reading stations?
Absolutely. Many options are available including and software packages.
How user friendly is the system for nuclear technologists to use?
A great deal of design effort has gone into making CardiArc the most friendly system available for technologists. CardiArc is the only system to provide built-in radiation shielding for the technologist – often essential when imaging in small rooms. Patient setup with CardiArc takes less than 30 seconds, compared to 4-5 minutes on conventional systems. Since the detectors do not move, there is no need to position them for individual patients. There is no need to define orbits. There is no need to position patients’ arms in uncomfortable positions. Regular QC is much faster and easier than in conventional systems and can be done with much less radiation exposure to the technologist. The feedback we’ve had from technologists has been very gratifying.