The Standing CT Company was formed in 2016 with the goal of providing cutting edge weight-bearing CT imaging to UK and Europe using the low-dose technology of cone beam CT (CBCT). The Standing CT Company provides high quality weight-bearing CT scans using either a mobile unit or by installing the scanners into customers’ premises. The scanners are CurveBeam’s pedCAT system, which is widely used by foot and ankle surgeons in the USA.
The key benefits of weight-bearing CBCT over conventional CT are:
• The foot and ankle can be visualised in a functional posture in just 60 seconds, with a radiation dose equivalent to a plain x-ray series (approximately 5Sv). The contralateral ankle and foot can also be imaged, in the same acquisition, as a control
• Standing scans are particularly helpful to assess: hind/midfoot deformities (flat or cavus feet, to rule out tarsal coalitions, Lizfranc injuries or tarsometatarsal arthritis) and to assess the metatarso-sesamoid joints in bunions. In ankle trauma you can assess the syndesmosis and compare it to the contralateral side
• The pedCAT scanner has a walk in access port and a seat and handrail, so that elderly patients or patients in a plaster can be scanned easily, in comparison to other scanners which require the patient to climb up or into the scanner
The Standing CT Company’s mobile scanners, equipped with a pedCAT scanner, are the first of their kind in the world. These small 3.5tonne units requires only a 13A supply and take up less than two parking spaces. The units are able to interface to RIS/PACS systems and available either staffed (by HCPC registered radiographers) or unstaffed (with the host site providing the radiographers)
Managed services – The Standing CT Company has also installed pedCAT scanners into leading hospitals in the UK.