January 25, 2012 — Rhode Island Hospital is the first hospital in the world to acquire the BodyTom portable, intra-operative, multi-slice computed tomography (CT) body scanner. The new technology, developed by NeuroLogica, will be used in the surgical treatment of patients with neurological disorders such as epilepsy, Parkinson’s disease, stroke, cerebral palsy, brain and spine tumors.
The first of its kind, the scanner will allow imaging to be performed in the operating room, thereby reducing the need to transport patients to and from the radiology department. Unlike other CT- or magnetic resonance imaging (MRI)-guided surgical systems, this device will provide real-time updates as the surgical procedure unfolds, while the patient is still on the operating table. Additionally, the portable CT body scanner will allow advanced intra-operative imaging of the brain and spine for image-guided surgery, and will increase accuracy of a wide range of neurological and spinal procedures.
The BodyTom is a 32-slice portable CT scanner that provides high-quality imaging of bone and soft tissue, and boasts an 85 cm gantry and 60 cm field of view – one of the largest bore and field of view combinations in the world. It includes advanced visualization software that allows for two-dimensional, three-dimensional and multiplanar reconstructed (MPR) viewing. Radiation shielding is built into the scanner, reducing the need for technicians and other clinicians to wear lead shields.
The BodyTom can obtain images of the entire spine in one pass, providing high-quality three-dimensional images of both bone and soft tissue. It is battery powered, plugs into a standard wall outlet and has wireless communications capabilities that enable the BodyTom to interface with modern hospital information systems. The BodyTom also comes with two Apple iPad tablet computers with a secure application, allowing physicians to transfer images directly to the iPad to share with other clinicians, the patient or family members. Images also can be retrieved with a USB port, wireless transmission, or direct connect.
This unit has an internal drive system that allows a single operator to move the scanner easily in and out of elevators, over doorway thresholds and on any type of flooring, and can fit in rooms as small as 10’x10’. The BodyTom will be used among three operating rooms at Rhode Island Hospital, providing real-time results during surgery. The purchase of the BodyTom inter-operative portable CT scanner was made possible by a Champlin Foundations grant awarded to Rhode Island Hospital in January 2011.
For more information: www.neurologica.com
July 16, 2024 
