Grand River Hospital (GRH) and KA Imaging are
partnering on an innovative commercialization project supported by the Coordinated
Accessible National (CAN) Health Network. Looking to transform existing hospital x-ray
technology, GRH is adding a device that is designed to produce higher-resolution
images for improved patient monitoring and faster, more accurate diagnosis for patients
in its intensive care unit (ICU).
The Reveal™ 35C created by KA Imaging, is a single-exposure, portable, digital dual-energy subtraction X-ray detector. The technology produces images that separate soft
tissue and bones and are much higher resolution creating images that are easier to
read. It also uses the same radiation dose as a traditional X-ray to create three different
images without blurring or streaking due to patient movement.
"Dual energy x-ray technology has been around for years, but it’s the first time we can
really benefit from it,” explains Carla Girolametto, Director of Innovation and Research at
GRH. According to Girolametto, older
versions of the technology are very limited, as they need dedicated rooms, require more
radiation than traditional X-ray and can have image quality issues. The high cost of
implementation also prevents adoption. KA Imaging’s device, on the other hand, solves
these problems and can be retrofitted onto existing x-ray machines, including portable
machines. “This means that hospitals can upgrade existing x-ray units to create images
that are close to CT image quality without significantly increasing the radiation dose –
compared to traditional x-ray – while using the units they already have,” says
Girolametto.
KA Imaging’s Reveal™ 35C will help GRH clinicians in the ICU validate
patient tube and line placements as well as monitor the health of patients to prevent
respiratory conditions. Image quality, impact on work processes, and the need for more
images will be tracked to measure the impact of RevealTM 35C.
"We are excited to put to use a novel method of analyzing the information in a relatively
routine tool, the chest X-ray,” says Dr. Paul Hosek, staff intensivist at GRH. “We hope this provides additional necessary bedside information that we can
put to use to save lives."
“This is an exciting project and we are pleased to partner with Grand River Hospital to
support innovation that will improve patient care and outcomes,” says Amol Karnick,
president and CEO of KA Imaging. “This is a great opportunity for Grand River Hospital
and KA Imaging to be a showcase for Canadian hospitals,” says Karnick.
This project is made possible by the CAN Health Network, a nationwide network of
hospitals and other healthcare institutions known as “Edges”. This federally funded
initiative provides Canadian companies with access to real healthcare environments in
which they can implement their market-ready solutions, gain valuable feedback from
end-users, and scale rapidly across the Network and beyond.
“These partnerships are helping to promote and accelerate the adoption of home-grown
solutions in health care,” says Dr. Dante Morra, Chair of the CAN Health Network. “We
are pleased to work with leading organizations like Grand River Hospital and KA Imaging
who are validating Canadian technologies and creating new, streamlined paths for
scaling that benefit all Canadians.”