Picker International Deploys Custom-Engineered CT Scanner to U.S. Troops in Bosnia

Picker International is gearing up to deploy a custom-engineered computed tomography scanner to support U.S. troops in Bosnia. The CT DEPMEDS (deployable medical system) is designed for use in challenging environments and will provide advanced diagnostic imaging capabilities at a U.S. army field hospital in Budapest, Hungary. This cutting-edge technology will enable military physicians to quickly and accurately diagnose injuries and disease, leveraging the scanner's ability to acquire diagnostic images every four seconds and complete an entire patient exam in just five minutes.

Key Takeaways:

• The CT DEPMEDS is designed to operate under extreme conditions, including temperature variations, space limitations, shock vibrations, and dust.
• The scanner features an UPLINK (modem) to transmit images to other sites for expert diagnosis.
• CT scanning is a safe, fast, and painless procedure that eliminates the need for some exploratory surgery.
• The CT scanner is equipped with spiral scanning capability, allowing radiologists to scan patients within a single breath-hold, ideal for trauma cases, pediatrics, and geriatrics.
• Spiral scanning provides greater diagnostic accuracy with less radiation dose to the patient.
• Picker International has a rich history of supplying medical imaging technology to the armed forces, dating back to the development of a portable X-ray unit in 1937.
• The company has installed shipboard CT scanners in 1989 and previously deployed DEPMEDS units in Somalia and South Korea.
• Picker International is the only supplier of DEPMEDS CT systems to the U.S. government.
• The isoshelter that houses the CT scanner weighs 10,000 pounds and measures 8' x 8' x 20', making it easily transportable.

Statistics:

• The CT scanner can acquire a diagnostic image every four seconds.
• The CT scanner is capable of completing an entire patient exam in just five minutes.
• Pick International has operations on six continents with more than 4,300 employees worldwide.
• The company's annual revenue is $1 billion.
• Picker International has been supplying medical imaging technology to the armed forces since 1937.
• The company has developed and installed shipboard CT scanners in 1989 and deployed DEPMEDS units in Somalia and South Korea.

Sources:

• "Picker International Deploys Custom-Engineered CT Scanner to U.S. Troops in Bosnia."
• Picker International press release, dated Dec. 19, 1995.
• /CONTACT: Mike Peterson of Picker International, 216-473-3539; or Greg Connel of Watt, Roop & Co., 216-566-7019/