COVID-19 support
Here at Canon Medical, we are doing everything we can to mitigate the impact of COVID-19 on your operations.
This is a pandemic of unprecedented proportions, but we are working tirelessly to provide you with the support you need to continue delivering high-quality care to your patients.
Even in the midst of challenging times such as these, we remain your committed partner, guided by our Made for Life Philosophy.
Our goal is to let nothing stand between you and the important work you do, which is why we continue to expedite the delivery of parts and products, sustain our manufacturing output and implement mobile solutions where possible.
We will also continue to monitor the situation carefully, both in Japan and around the world, and will provide relevant updates as they are made available.
FAQ
General
What is Canon Medical’s position on COVID-19?
While the impact of COVID-19 is being felt across the globe, we are doing everything we can to support our customers, employees, and those affected by the pandemic.
The more we learn about the virus, the more evident it becomes that medical imaging has a key role to play in the management and follow up of infected patients. And while we defer to the relevant advisory boards and radiological societies to provide guidance on appropriate medical protocols, we will continue to supply quality products that can aid in addressing this disease.
Is Canon Medical service operational globally?
Yes, our global service operations remain up and running and we have contingency plans in place to continue our high standard of service in the event that anything changes.
Have service response times changed due to the COVID-19 pandemic?
We have not experienced a significant change in response times due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
Are the call centers still taking calls?
Yes. In some regions, we have relocated our call center staff to a separate office so they can stay in touch with our customers without putting themselves at an increased risk of infection.
Is Canon Medical still offering 24-hour support*?
Yes, our hours of operation remain unchanged so please continue to reach out to your local support team as and when you need to.
Is there any change in lead time for spare parts?
So far, Canon Medical has not experienced any delay to the supply of parts, as we have increased our in-country inventories to circumvent the impact of any air travel or customs delays.
However, this is an evolving situation that we continue to monitor closely, so please contact your local sales representative for the most up-to-date information.
Are Canon Medical employees able to stay up-to-date on training requirements?
All face-to-face training is currently on hold in Japan. However, we are working diligently to implement online training technologies to enable our engineers and applications staff to continue working with the most up-to-date information.
Does Canon Medical have disinfection protocols for its systems as well as a recommended disinfectant list?
Yes, we have compiled a list of recommended procedures and disinfectants here.**
What measures is Canon Medical taking to protect its employees and others at customer sites?
Our teams in the field are required to be equipped with appropriate personal protective equipment (PPE) in line with specifications outlined by national and/or local authorities, as well as the healthcare facility itself.
Additionally, we will continue to monitor our employees’ health to maximize safety and minimize any impact on our operations.
Our hospital has confirmed cases of COVID-19 on site. Will Canon Medical’s field engineers be able to continue to provide support?
Canon Medical service operators continue to provide vital support, both in person and remotely, to ensure you’re able to access the high-quality service solutions you need.
As this is an extraordinary situation that continues to evolve rapidly, we will remain in close contact with our customers in each region to inform them directly of any change to normal procedures.
*Remains unchanged in areas where it is currently available
**Please note that recommended cleaning agents were evaluated based on their chemical compatibility with the device materials and have not been tested for specific effectiveness against the SARS-CoV-2 coronavirus. Not all cleaners and disinfectants listed are available for use in every region. Please select compatible cleaning agents that comply with local regulations and utilize them in line with hospital procedures for infection control.
While the impact of COVID-19 is being felt across the globe, we are doing everything we can to support our customers, employees, and those affected by the pandemic.
The more we learn about the virus, the more evident it becomes that medical imaging has a key role to play in the management and follow up of infected patients. And while we defer to the relevant advisory boards and radiological societies to provide guidance on appropriate medical protocols, we will continue to supply quality products that can aid in addressing this disease.
Is Canon Medical service operational globally?
Yes, our global service operations remain up and running and we have contingency plans in place to continue our high standard of service in the event that anything changes.
Have service response times changed due to the COVID-19 pandemic?
We have not experienced a significant change in response times due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
Are the call centers still taking calls?
Yes. In some regions, we have relocated our call center staff to a separate office so they can stay in touch with our customers without putting themselves at an increased risk of infection.
Is Canon Medical still offering 24-hour support*?
Yes, our hours of operation remain unchanged so please continue to reach out to your local support team as and when you need to.
Is there any change in lead time for spare parts?
So far, Canon Medical has not experienced any delay to the supply of parts, as we have increased our in-country inventories to circumvent the impact of any air travel or customs delays.
However, this is an evolving situation that we continue to monitor closely, so please contact your local sales representative for the most up-to-date information.
Are Canon Medical employees able to stay up-to-date on training requirements?
All face-to-face training is currently on hold in Japan. However, we are working diligently to implement online training technologies to enable our engineers and applications staff to continue working with the most up-to-date information.
Does Canon Medical have disinfection protocols for its systems as well as a recommended disinfectant list?
Yes, we have compiled a list of recommended procedures and disinfectants here.**
What measures is Canon Medical taking to protect its employees and others at customer sites?
Our teams in the field are required to be equipped with appropriate personal protective equipment (PPE) in line with specifications outlined by national and/or local authorities, as well as the healthcare facility itself.
Additionally, we will continue to monitor our employees’ health to maximize safety and minimize any impact on our operations.
Our hospital has confirmed cases of COVID-19 on site. Will Canon Medical’s field engineers be able to continue to provide support?
Canon Medical service operators continue to provide vital support, both in person and remotely, to ensure you’re able to access the high-quality service solutions you need.
As this is an extraordinary situation that continues to evolve rapidly, we will remain in close contact with our customers in each region to inform them directly of any change to normal procedures.
*Remains unchanged in areas where it is currently available
**Please note that recommended cleaning agents were evaluated based on their chemical compatibility with the device materials and have not been tested for specific effectiveness against the SARS-CoV-2 coronavirus. Not all cleaners and disinfectants listed are available for use in every region. Please select compatible cleaning agents that comply with local regulations and utilize them in line with hospital procedures for infection control.
Computed Tomography
What CT scanner is recommended for scanning COVID-19 patients?
Every Canon Medical Aquilion CT system is more than adequate for a pre- or post-contrast chest exam. However, the system that is right for your department is dependent on how many patients you are expecting to scan per hour, the range of procedures you need to perform, and whether you require any other specialized imaging capabilities. Please contact your local Canon Medical representative to discuss your individual needs in more detail.
What guidance does Canon Medical offer for detecting and assessing the severity of COVID-19 with CT?
There is currently no consensus for any COVID-19 imaging protocols formed by the radiology community. The situation is changing rapidly, and new cases of the disease are being documented and reported on by medical experts on a daily basis. As such, Canon Medical is not in a position to provide guidance on this issue. Any promotion of a CT protocol and its benefits must be proposed and substantiated by a medical professional.
What we can offer, however, is a complete set of standard protocols that are the default on every Canon Medical CT system. These have been rigorously tested over many years to demonstrate a wide range of pathologies for each body region, for example, the chest CT protocol which can show early inflammatory changes within the lungs, in addition to severe pneumonia.
What disinfection procedures do you suggest?
Because disinfection procedures vary according to local customer requirements, this cannot be addressed with a one-size-fits-all approach. However, we can suggest various table and system covers depending on your region. To find out more about our disinfection guidelines, visit our resource page or contact your local Canon Medical representative.
Are you still providing applications support?
Our applications teams around the world are available to assist you with remote support, including protocol modifications on your scanner via a secure internet connection.
What clinical information, scientific reference, or sources for radiologists can you provide for radiologists?
There are many well-researched articles and references available from established radiology associations, societies and publications. A number of them are featured on our website.
Every Canon Medical Aquilion CT system is more than adequate for a pre- or post-contrast chest exam. However, the system that is right for your department is dependent on how many patients you are expecting to scan per hour, the range of procedures you need to perform, and whether you require any other specialized imaging capabilities. Please contact your local Canon Medical representative to discuss your individual needs in more detail.
What guidance does Canon Medical offer for detecting and assessing the severity of COVID-19 with CT?
There is currently no consensus for any COVID-19 imaging protocols formed by the radiology community. The situation is changing rapidly, and new cases of the disease are being documented and reported on by medical experts on a daily basis. As such, Canon Medical is not in a position to provide guidance on this issue. Any promotion of a CT protocol and its benefits must be proposed and substantiated by a medical professional.
What we can offer, however, is a complete set of standard protocols that are the default on every Canon Medical CT system. These have been rigorously tested over many years to demonstrate a wide range of pathologies for each body region, for example, the chest CT protocol which can show early inflammatory changes within the lungs, in addition to severe pneumonia.
What disinfection procedures do you suggest?
Because disinfection procedures vary according to local customer requirements, this cannot be addressed with a one-size-fits-all approach. However, we can suggest various table and system covers depending on your region. To find out more about our disinfection guidelines, visit our resource page or contact your local Canon Medical representative.
Are you still providing applications support?
Our applications teams around the world are available to assist you with remote support, including protocol modifications on your scanner via a secure internet connection.
What clinical information, scientific reference, or sources for radiologists can you provide for radiologists?
There are many well-researched articles and references available from established radiology associations, societies and publications. A number of them are featured on our website.
Do you have cleaning and disinfection information related to ultrasound systems for COVID-19?
Yes, Canon Medical has a dedicated COVID-19 resource page which can be accessed from our website.
Information includes:
What clinical support information for Ultrasound can Canon provide in relation to COVID-19?
We have created a resource page with links to trusted Ultrasound Societies in many regions that have collated clinical resources related to COVID-19.
Clinical Information from trusted Ultrasound Societies: (Protocols, how to, clinical papers)
What Ultrasound system is recommended for scanning COVID-19 patients?
Canon Medical Ultrasound systems provides a wide range of clinical capabilities and the decision on which system to purchase should be based on clinical needs, combined with workflow, productivity and budget requirements. Please contact your local Canon Medical representative to discuss your individual needs in more detail.
What guidance does Canon Medical offer for detecting and assessing the severity of COVID-19 with Ultrasound?
There is currently no single consensus for any COVID-19 imaging protocols formed by the Ultrasound community. The situation is changing rapidly, and new clinical developments with the disease are being documented and reported on by medical experts on a daily basis. As such, Canon Medical does not consider it appropriate to provide specific guidance on this issue. Ultrasound protocols and their benefits during this pandemic must be proposed and substantiated by medical professional or Ultrasound organisations.
All Canon systems are provided with a complete set of clinical presets and Application Specialists in each region are available to remotely support specific requirements that may arise.
What disinfection procedures do you suggest?
Disinfection procedures vary according to local regulatory and facility requirements. Each system is supplied with a manual that explains general cleaning, disinfection & sterilization procedures, in addition the manuals are available online. To find out more about our disinfection guidelines, visit our dedicated COVID-19 resource page or contact your local Canon Medical representative.
Are you still providing applications support?
Our local applications teams in each region are available to assist you with remote support, including preset modifications on your system.
What clinical information, scientific reference, or sources for radiologists can you provide?
There are numerous Clinical articles and references available from established Ultrasound and Imaging associations, societies and publications. A number of them are featured on our website.
Yes, Canon Medical has a dedicated COVID-19 resource page which can be accessed from our website.
Information includes:
- Disinfection & sterilization
- Service & Maintenance
- Manuals and support
What clinical support information for Ultrasound can Canon provide in relation to COVID-19?
We have created a resource page with links to trusted Ultrasound Societies in many regions that have collated clinical resources related to COVID-19.
Clinical Information from trusted Ultrasound Societies: (Protocols, how to, clinical papers)
What Ultrasound system is recommended for scanning COVID-19 patients?
Canon Medical Ultrasound systems provides a wide range of clinical capabilities and the decision on which system to purchase should be based on clinical needs, combined with workflow, productivity and budget requirements. Please contact your local Canon Medical representative to discuss your individual needs in more detail.
What guidance does Canon Medical offer for detecting and assessing the severity of COVID-19 with Ultrasound?
There is currently no single consensus for any COVID-19 imaging protocols formed by the Ultrasound community. The situation is changing rapidly, and new clinical developments with the disease are being documented and reported on by medical experts on a daily basis. As such, Canon Medical does not consider it appropriate to provide specific guidance on this issue. Ultrasound protocols and their benefits during this pandemic must be proposed and substantiated by medical professional or Ultrasound organisations.
All Canon systems are provided with a complete set of clinical presets and Application Specialists in each region are available to remotely support specific requirements that may arise.
What disinfection procedures do you suggest?
Disinfection procedures vary according to local regulatory and facility requirements. Each system is supplied with a manual that explains general cleaning, disinfection & sterilization procedures, in addition the manuals are available online. To find out more about our disinfection guidelines, visit our dedicated COVID-19 resource page or contact your local Canon Medical representative.
Are you still providing applications support?
Our local applications teams in each region are available to assist you with remote support, including preset modifications on your system.
What clinical information, scientific reference, or sources for radiologists can you provide?
There are numerous Clinical articles and references available from established Ultrasound and Imaging associations, societies and publications. A number of them are featured on our website.
Magnetic Resonance
What MR scanner is recommended for scanning COVID-19 patients?
Canon recommends to follow the latest ACR guidelines for the use of MR during the COVID-19 per the link here: https://www.acr.org/Clinical-Resources/Radiology-Safety/MR-Safety/COVID-19-and-MR-Use
Every Canon Medical Vantage MR system is more than adequate for any mandatory exams.
However, the system that is right for your department on the range of procedures you need to perform, and whether you require any other specialized imaging capabilities including automated slice positioning and fast exams which can help to reduce patient time in the MR room. Please contact your local Canon Medical representative to discuss your individual needs in more detail.
What guidance does Canon Medical offer for detecting and assessing the severity of COVID-19 with MR?
There is currently no consensus for any COVID-19 imaging protocols formed by the radiology community. The situation is changing rapidly, and new cases of the disease are being documented and reported on by medical experts on a daily basis. As such, Canon Medical is not in a position to provide guidance on this issue. Any promotion of an MR protocol and its benefits must be proposed and substantiated by a medical professional.
What disinfection procedures do you suggest?
Because disinfection procedures vary according to local customer requirements, this cannot be addressed with a one-size-fits-all approach. However, we can suggest various table and system covers depending on your region. To find out more about our disinfection guidelines and safe cleaning procedures for MRI systems, visit our resource page here or contact your local Canon Medical representative.
Are you still providing MR applications support?
Our MR applications teams around the world are available to assist you with remote support, including protocol modifications on your scanner via phone or a secure internet connection. Learn more about MR Operation Protocols.
What clinical information, scientific reference, or sources for radiologists can you provide?
There are many well-researched articles and references available from established radiology associations, societies and publications. A number of them are featured on our website.
Canon recommends to follow the latest ACR guidelines for the use of MR during the COVID-19 per the link here: https://www.acr.org/Clinical-Resources/Radiology-Safety/MR-Safety/COVID-19-and-MR-Use
Every Canon Medical Vantage MR system is more than adequate for any mandatory exams.
However, the system that is right for your department on the range of procedures you need to perform, and whether you require any other specialized imaging capabilities including automated slice positioning and fast exams which can help to reduce patient time in the MR room. Please contact your local Canon Medical representative to discuss your individual needs in more detail.
What guidance does Canon Medical offer for detecting and assessing the severity of COVID-19 with MR?
There is currently no consensus for any COVID-19 imaging protocols formed by the radiology community. The situation is changing rapidly, and new cases of the disease are being documented and reported on by medical experts on a daily basis. As such, Canon Medical is not in a position to provide guidance on this issue. Any promotion of an MR protocol and its benefits must be proposed and substantiated by a medical professional.
What disinfection procedures do you suggest?
Because disinfection procedures vary according to local customer requirements, this cannot be addressed with a one-size-fits-all approach. However, we can suggest various table and system covers depending on your region. To find out more about our disinfection guidelines and safe cleaning procedures for MRI systems, visit our resource page here or contact your local Canon Medical representative.
Are you still providing MR applications support?
Our MR applications teams around the world are available to assist you with remote support, including protocol modifications on your scanner via phone or a secure internet connection. Learn more about MR Operation Protocols.
What clinical information, scientific reference, or sources for radiologists can you provide?
There are many well-researched articles and references available from established radiology associations, societies and publications. A number of them are featured on our website.
Healthcare has clearly undergone a complete change in recent months. Old ways of working are obsolete, long waiting lists have arisen for regular care patients with the need for critical treatments, which only increases the workload for your organization. In addition, investments are being postponed or are under pressure.
It is abundantly clear that it is now an absolute necessity to prepare for working in the new (imaging) reality. A reality where patients are optimally protected, risks are minimized and resources need to be optimized.
We are committed to helping you by offering:
– solutions to increase your workflow
– practical and flexible rental and mobile solutions that are immediately ready for use
– financially friendly solutions
and much, much more.
Canon Medical’s Made for Life philosophy is a long-standing commitment towards our partners, patients and you. And as befits a real partnership, we are also here to advise and help you adapt to the New Imaging Reality.
Read further down below this page on how we can help you.
It is abundantly clear that it is now an absolute necessity to prepare for working in the new (imaging) reality. A reality where patients are optimally protected, risks are minimized and resources need to be optimized.
We are committed to helping you by offering:
– solutions to increase your workflow
– practical and flexible rental and mobile solutions that are immediately ready for use
– financially friendly solutions
and much, much more.
Canon Medical’s Made for Life philosophy is a long-standing commitment towards our partners, patients and you. And as befits a real partnership, we are also here to advise and help you adapt to the New Imaging Reality.
Read further down below this page on how we can help you.
If there’s one thing we’ve learned during the COVID-19 pandemic, it’s how resilient and adaptable the global healthcare industry is. Even in the midst of higher workloads, longer waiting lists, and lower investment returns, it’s clear to see that all is definitely not lost.
With this new reality comes the opportunity to forge a new path, to work together in pursuit of a healthcare system that’s dynamic, efficient and centred around your patients. At Canon Medical, we’re here to help you navigate this new normal with solutions that streamline your workflow and increase your business’s cost efficiencies.
You can learn more about these solutions at our virtual ECR 2020 booth, we are again showcasing a range of new and exciting innovations across every modality.
With this new reality comes the opportunity to forge a new path, to work together in pursuit of a healthcare system that’s dynamic, efficient and centred around your patients. At Canon Medical, we’re here to help you navigate this new normal with solutions that streamline your workflow and increase your business’s cost efficiencies.
You can learn more about these solutions at our virtual ECR 2020 booth, we are again showcasing a range of new and exciting innovations across every modality.
OUR SOLUTIONS
We are here, even when we’re not there. We understand that your patients are relying on you, and equally, we want you to rely on us too. At Canon Medical we are making every endeavour to minimize the impact of the COVID-19 outbreak and to maintain the highest level of customer service, by providing support on critical healthcare equipment.
Inspired by the famous ‘container concept’, the Canon Medical Scan Unit is a portable imaging solution that can be used wherever and whenever it’s needed most. Not only does it come equipped with an Aquilion Prime SP or Aquilion Lightning SP, it includes a separate operating room to lower the risk of person-to-person COVID-19 transmission.
For more information, click HERE.
To bridge temporary high workloads, we provide static rental or mobile clinical solutions. Our fleet of mobile imaging trailers is equipped with state-of-the-art medical equipment. All that is required to take advantage of a mobile solution is sufficient parking and power facilities. At Canon Medical Systems we’re also offering static rental solutions to meet your immediate clinical needs. Please click HERE for more information.
To aid in your pressing lung imaging needs, Vital is offering a complimentary, temporary 90-day licensing of the CT Lung Analysis, CT Lung Density Analysis and Vitrea Image Denoising applications for Vitrea Advanced Visualization customers.
Click HERE to download the complete CT Lung Imaging – Temporary 90-day Licensing document
With our InnerVision remote diagnostics, we ensure that most of calls are resolved remotely by our highly trained engineers or application specialists, who can monitor your systems remotely and assist our local engineers in preventing problems. All without the need for an engineer to attend on site. All without interrupting your essential flow of patient care.
Click HERE to download our InnerVision brochure
We provide direct access to the cleaning, disinfection and sterilization guides for our products in order to help health facilities to prevent the spread of COVID-19. Please click HERE to visit our dedicated page for more information.
Webinar : Preparing IR for COVID-19
Watch as Dr Apoorva, the senior consultant in the department of vascular and interventional radiology at the Singapore general hospital, shares his experience on how best to prepare IR for COVID-19 patients.
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Webinar : The “New Routine” for Radiology post Coronavirus peak
Prof. Hamm, Prof. Fischer, Dr. Niehues, and Dr. Diekhoff from the Charité University Hospital in Berlin share how they continued to provide optimal patient care, while developing new ways of working, during the COVID-19 crisis and beyond.
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Webinar : MR in the post COVID era
Hear from leading clinicians as they discuss the importance of MRI in a post-COVID-19 world.
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Webinar : COVID-19 Impact and Experiences
The COVID-19 crisis is perhaps the first global pandemic that has called upon the radiology community to help with the delivery of crucial frontline patient care. Watch the full webinar below to find out how three major European hospitals have utilized diagnostic imaging to detect and monitor the virus in real-time.
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CLEANING PROCEDURES, DISINFECTION AND STERILIZATION GUIDES
Canon Medical is closely monitoring the COVID-19 outbreak situation and focusing our efforts to provide a safe and secure diagnostic environment for both patients and healthcare professionals. As such, we provide direct access to the cleaning, disinfection and sterilization guides for our products in order to help health facilities to prevent the spread of COVID-19. Click on the images below to download the cleaning, disinfection and sterilization guides.
CUSTOMER QUOTES
“The entire Canon team and all the internal and external partners involved in this project have our gratitude. You are doing the hardest part and we will do everything possible on our side to make this beautiful facility a reality for the benefit of the patients.”
“Can I personally thank you and your Canon colleagues for all the hard work that’s going on behind the scenes. Even though none of you work for the NHS, I consider you all part of the family…the NHS isn’t just doctors and nurses.”
“We contacted Canon, the supplier of our current CT scanner, at an early stage of the Corona pandemic. They immediately released a suitable scanner for the hospital and contributed to the placement. It took a lot of thinking, hard labor and tight coordination to get it installed. The job was completed within 10 days. As medical leader of the Radiology department, I am extremely proud of this achievement.”
Stay up to date with Canon Medical’s response
Since the beginning of the year, we have collaborated with a range of international organizations to help lessen the impact of COVID-19 and ensure healthcare professionals are equipped with the vital resources they need. Find more about our activities and stay up to date with our President’s remarks below.
Past updates
- A message from our president (April 21 update)
- A message from our president (April 1 update)
- Press release Development of a Rapid Genetic Testing System for the Novel Coronavirus and Start of Research into Its Practical Application (March 19 update)
- A message from our president (March 18 update)
- Press release Canon Medical to commence development of a rapid genetic testing system for the Novel Coronavirus (COVID-19) (February 25 update)
Explore Canon Medical’s range of solutions
If you have any questions contact us here.
We will continue to add information to this dedicated COVID-19 web page to keep you updated on relevant information.
Due to medical device regulatory reasons, not all products/services displayed on this Canon Medical Systems webpage are available in all countries or markets. Future availability of the products/service cannot also be guaranteed. Don't hesitate to contact your local Canon Medical Systems representative for further details.
