Health Tech – Technology to revolutionise patient experience

Pacific Radiology and MARS Bio-Imaging New Zealand are collaborating to develop ground- breaking, world-leading technology to revolutionise how you are treated if you ever have an accident – and even get you back to work quicker.

Using homegrown technology in combination with a special detector chip all the way from CERN in Switzerland, the MARS scanner has the potential to transform point-of-care diagnoses when patients present with injuries at Pacific Radiology’s After Hours clinic in Christchurch.

“It’s very exciting to be working on a research collaboration that will look at translating spectral imaging from the laboratory into clinical care that will improve the patient experience for the public”, says Dr Ross Keenan, Director of Research & Development for Pacific Radiology.

When the new scanner is introduced, patients arriving at the After Hours clinic having sustained a wrist trauma may be offered to be part of the trial for the new high-tech MARS scan, alongside a standard xray. The scanner, once in routine clinical use, has the potential to provide emergency doctors with an immediate, definitive diagnosis, minimising time required for diagnosis and optimising treatment, along with cost-saving benefits for all involved.

Dr Keenan notes that this new, innovative technology could be the way of the future. “Patients have access to acute imaging where they are and when they need it, making this technology truly world-leading. It could transform the way we do point-of-care imaging around the world. There is nothing else like it globally”, he says.

The new MARS scanner looks like a mini CT scanner and rotates around the injured wrist. It then separates the energies that pass through the body to collect extra information not just about bone imaging but also about soft tissue, marrow oedema and even cartilage injuries. The scan provides similar information to CT scans as well additional information normally only available with MRI and PET imaging.

Professor Anthony Butler, Co-Founder and Director at MARS Bio-Imaging, says this technology is cutting-edge in improving patient outcomes in healthcare. “We can use this technology in a wide variety of clinical scenarios ranging from joint imaging, molecular imaging in cancer through to vascular diseases.”

The new MARS scanner will initially be trialled at Pacific Radiology’s Christchurch After Hours clinic within the next few months. Once trials are complete, New Zealanders are likely to be the first in the world to have MARS technology readily available to them as part of routine care.

Dr Keenan says, “Our aim is to improve acute point-of-care patient management, save money and most importantly get the patient back to work quicker. This technology could be widely available to the public sooner rather than later.”

– Pacific Radiology is New Zealand’s leading radiology provider of specialist radiology imaging, diagnostic and interventional services with more than 800 staff employed across 42 branches nationwide.

– Proudly 100% owned by shareholding radiologists, Pacific Radiology aims to bring its purpose – world-class radiology, delivered locally – to life for patients, staff, business partners and all its communities around New Zealand.

– “Our resounding commitment to delivering world-class radiology, locally means we will continue to invest in our people, leading-edge clinical technology, research and community initiatives for the benefit of future generations.” Terry McLaughlin, Chief Executive, Pacific Radiology.

– The new MARS scanner will be trialled at Pacific Radiology’s After Hours clinic located in the Pegasus Health 24 Hours Surgery in Christchurch.

– MARS Bio-Imaging was founded in 2007 as a spin out company of the University of Canterbury, to commercialise spectral photon counting technology by selling equipment for medical research.

– “Spectral photon counting allows us to use xrays to measure tissue constituents. The trial with Pacific Radiology is a major step in our pathway to developing scanners for radiology practices. We are passionate about improving health and wellbeing for patients within the New Zealand healthcare system.” Professor Anthony Butler, Co-Founder and Director, MARS Bio-Imaging

– Based in Switzerland, CERN is a world renowned, multinational research organisation that built the Large Hadron Collider.