POINT OF CARE IMAGING WITH MOBILE COMPUTED TOMOGRAPHY

Abstract

This chapter explores the impact of Mobile Computed Tomography (CT) on healthcare, emphasizing its significance in improving patient care and outcomes. It highlights the limitations of fixed CT scanners, such as their size, weight, and reliance on complex infrastructure, particularly in scenarios like stroke care, emergency rooms, and intensive care units (ICUs), where patient mobility is restricted.

Mobile CT scanners address these challenges by offering portability and adaptability to various patient settings, including bedside operations, operating rooms, ICUs, radiation oncology suites, and emergency departments. These scanners are designed to accommodate patients of all sizes and can be easily powered by standard wall outlets or battery systems, eliminating the need for extensive building modifications.

The implementation of mobile CT has demonstrated numerous benefits, including reduced wait times for diagnostic imaging, improved patient recovery, enhanced accuracy in patient management, and shorter hospital stays. By eliminating the need to transport critically ill patients to radiology departments, mobile CT scanners save resources and time while also reducing patient stress and minimizing risks associated with movement.