About Shimadzu

BRANSIST safire Digital Angiography System
(Ceiling-Mounted Type)

Shimadzu Corporation launched the BRANSIST safire digital angiography systems (ceiling-mounted and floor-mounted types) on 11th October. These novel angiography systems feature a flat panel detector (FPD) with an industry-leading 17 x 17-inch field of view detector which achieves ultra-high-quality images. The system aims to promote sales to radiology departments at university hospitals and other medium- to large-scale medical centers that offer vascular examinations and interventional procedures *¹.

*¹ Interventional Procedures
This is a method to conduct examinations or treatments using a catheter, during x-ray fluoroscopy and radiography. This is a minimally invasive, rapid treatment method.

This new product is an X-ray angiography system that supports full-body vascular examinations and treatments from the head region to the lower extremities, particularly the abdominal region, including embolization treatment of liver tumors or gastrointestinal hemorrhage. The direct-conversion flat-panel detector has excellent imaging of fine detail such as peripheral arteries and endovascular therapy devices. The large 17 x 17-inch field of view detector provides wide range of coverage to decrease the number of fluoroscopy or radiography steps and therefore reduces the burden on the patient of long examinations.

In the pursuit of greater safety, the system is the first in the industry to incorporate the Intellishield Hybrid Sensor. Intellishield is a contact-avoidance feature that uses capacitive sensors in the FPD to automatically stop the C-arm operation when the patient is detected. In addition, a touch-type safety sensor is provided at the center of the FPD where detection is difficult. This duplicate safety mechanism allows the operator to use the C-arm *² with complete confidence.

*² C-arm
C-shaped support device with the X-ray tube at one end and the FPD at the other.

Shimadzu has previously launched angiography systems incorporating a 9-inch direct-conversion FPD detector and has achieved sales of over 100 units in the domestic Japanese market. This new product completes the lineup of Shimadzu's “BRANSIST” series of angiography systems and will expand sales in its target market of radiology departments. Shimadzu aims to capture at least 30% of the angiosystem market in Japan after three years with full coverage of the marketplace with the “BRANSIST” series.

Features of the New Product

17-inch FOV and Easy-to-Use High-Speed C-arm Provide Full-Body Coverage

The industry-leading 17-inch field of view permits observations over a wide range to support full-body vascular examinations and treatments from the head region to the lower extremities, centering on the abdominal region. The C-arm can be freely moved around the table longitudinally or in the transverse directions to allow smooth examinations and treatments, from catheterization insertion into the upper arm or from the femoral artery in the groin area, without moving the patient. This significantly reduces the burden on operator and patient alike.

The Ultra-High Image Quality of the Direct-Conversion FPD Offers Images with High Diagnostic Capability

The direct-conversion FPD detector mounted in the “BRANSIST” system uses an amorphous a-Se X-ray conversion film layer that directly converts the X-rays to electrical signals, without first converting them to light. It creates sharp images with no blurring due to light scattering. The FPD’s 150 mm pixel pitch achieves ultra-high image resolution that reveals fine details such as peripheral arteries and therapeutic devices. It provides a powerful tool for the treatment of liver tumors or gastrointestinal hemorrhages where images with high resolution and high contrast resolution are required.

Realtime DSA *³ with No Breath Holding and Small Volume of Contrast Medium

Shimadzu's unique RSM-DSA radiography technique offers realtime DSA from the pelvic region to the lower extremities with the injection of just a small volume of contrast medium. Precessional or pendulum C-arm motion during imaging (patented by Shimadzu) obtains 3-dimensional information on blood vessels, which is extremely useful for treatment in the abdominal region. Shimadzu's unique RSM-DSA creates DSA images in real-time from a single imaging operation.
*³ DSA (Digital Subtraction Angiography)
A technique that subtracts images, with contrast medium from the mask images to create images of the blood vessels only. Shimadzu’s unique composite mask technique compensates for small movements of the blood vessels eliminating some movement mis-registration between the mask image and the live image to provide a clearer image of the blood vessels without the operator having to pixel shift images.

Excellent Image Processor Response Allows Instant Image Acquisition and Display

The excellent response of the image processing unit allows image playback just 0.5 s after image acquisition to eliminate the stress of waiting. The fully independent image acquisition computer and the reference image computer provide a system that has the highest multi-tasking capability of any manufacturer. Dynamic Reference Images can be viewed or changed simultaneously while the acquisition computer is independently being used by the doctor during fluoroscopy or radiography. This is a powerful tool to support interventional procedures.

Patient-Friendly Low-Dose System

The high resolution and sensitivity of the direct-conversion FPD detector achieves ultra-high image quality while contributing to the reduction of the X-ray dose. The combination of MBH (Multi Beam Hardening) filters with Grid-Controlled Pulsed Fluoroscopy eliminate soft X-rays that do not contribute to image quality and also reduce X-ray dose to the patient and operators.

Outline of the Product