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Contributing to the Success of the Birmingham 2022 Commonwealth Games
October 12, 2022
Canon Medical UK, Presenting Sponsor – Birmingham 2022 Commonwealth Games Polyclinic, provided athletes with access to state-of-the-art medical imaging and diagnostic services. The Games, which is a key global sporting event, was held in Birmingham, UK, between July 28 and August 8.
From left to right: René Degros (VP Sales & Marketing, Canon Medical Systems Europe), Tessa Sanderson CBE (Commonwealth and Olympic gold medallist), Mark Hitchman (Managing Director, Canon Medical Systems UK), Zak Skinner (Paralympian), John Crabtree OBE (Chairman of the Board at Birmingham 2022 Commonwealth Games), Perry (Birmingham Commonwealth Games 2022 mascot).
Canon Medical provided the very latest medical imaging modalities within the three of the Athletes Villages’ Polyclinics. This supported the athletes with sports health surveillance leading up to and beyond the Games, and provided them with access to AI-assisted MRI, diagnostic ultrasound and digital radiography X-ray with full health IT connectivity, enabling them with early detection, prevention and faster rehabilitation of sports injury.
From left to right: René Degros (VP Sales & Marketing, Canon Medical Systems Europe), Tessa Sanderson CBE (Commonwealth and Olympic gold medallist), Mark Hitchman (Managing Director, Canon Medical Systems UK), Zak Skinner (Paralympian), John Crabtree OBE (Chairman of the Board at Birmingham 2022 Commonwealth Games), Perry (Birmingham Commonwealth Games 2022 mascot).
Experts and advanced systems
The Games was the first UK multi-sports event to offer all competing athletes access to advanced diagnostic healthcare imaging featuring Artificial Intelligence. The two Vantage Orian 1.5T MRI scanners housed in modular units featured Canon Medical UK’s pioneering Advanced Intelligent Clear-IQ Engine (AiCE), a Deep Learning Reconstruction technology. This technology uses training data from thousands of images/ data sets to intelligently remove the noise, allowing anatomy and pathology to be clearly visualised. AiCE is an algorithm that can be used to shorten scan time, improve resolution, or a combination of the two, offering greater efficiency and patient comfort.
Diagnostic ultrasound support at the Games was provided by the Canon Medical Aplio i800 Prism Edition. This is an easy to manoeuvre cart-based system with touch screen controls or can be operated by a wireless tablet. It produces crystal-clear images to diagnose ligament tears or muscle strains. It also includes Canon’s unique proprietary technology, called Superb Micro-vascular Imaging (SMI), which visualises blood flow in colour of very low-velocity and small diameter blood vessels in the evaluation of musculoskeletal disorders. Digital Radiography X-ray supports the examination of suspected bone fractures.
Diagnostic ultrasound support at the Games was provided by the Canon Medical Aplio i800 Prism Edition. This is an easy to manoeuvre cart-based system with touch screen controls or can be operated by a wireless tablet. It produces crystal-clear images to diagnose ligament tears or muscle strains. It also includes Canon’s unique proprietary technology, called Superb Micro-vascular Imaging (SMI), which visualises blood flow in colour of very low-velocity and small diameter blood vessels in the evaluation of musculoskeletal disorders. Digital Radiography X-ray supports the examination of suspected bone fractures.
A key element to the success of the Birmingham 2022 Commonwealth Games were the volunteers that were present, including radiologists and radiographers. A team of Application Specialists were always present to support these radiographers on how to use the technologies available on the scanners, and to guarantee optimal image quality for the radiologists, using for example advanced imaging technologies like Advanced intelligent Clear-IQ Engine (AiCE). The radiographers and radiologists were also able to visit the online Medical Imaging Academy to access application training before they arrived onsite.
“Road closures, transportation and specialist equipment, we have even put a CT scanner on a barge to reach a customer”
Ian Watson, UK Director of Commercial Solutions, Canon Medical Systems Ltd
Challenging installation
Onsite installation of the modular MRI units was challenging, with steep narrow roads to negotiate. Specialist transport equipment was required.
“The MRI Modular buildings are extremely heavy, weighing in at around 40 tonnes – so project planning was absolutely vital,’ said Ian Watson, Canon Medical System’s UK Director of Commercial Solutions. “Due to the design and manufacture of the modular units, once they were placed in position, all that was required was connection of the main services and the units were ready to use.”
“The physics behind achieving the best image quality from the MRI scanner was also key,” Ian continued. “The scanner uses RF technology and to ensure high image quality it is essential that the scanner be shielded from interference from other RF signals. Therefore, locations away from moving traffic, lifts and substations are critical.”
“The MRI Modular buildings are extremely heavy, weighing in at around 40 tonnes – so project planning was absolutely vital,’ said Ian Watson, Canon Medical System’s UK Director of Commercial Solutions. “Due to the design and manufacture of the modular units, once they were placed in position, all that was required was connection of the main services and the units were ready to use.”
“The physics behind achieving the best image quality from the MRI scanner was also key,” Ian continued. “The scanner uses RF technology and to ensure high image quality it is essential that the scanner be shielded from interference from other RF signals. Therefore, locations away from moving traffic, lifts and substations are critical.”
Security
There were also issues of information security to be addressed.
“When you scan an athlete, both the image and the data need to be transferred from the scanner to a central facility for radiologists to assess it and see what the problem is,” Ian explained. “There are GDPR and data transmission compliance to be considered. Also, in a temporary location, it’s crucial to consider how to facilitate the data transfer - Network cables? Or 4G, 5G? Satellite? There were plenty of challenges we needed to find solutions for. However, we work regularly with tricky installations, so could provide the right answers.”
“When you scan an athlete, both the image and the data need to be transferred from the scanner to a central facility for radiologists to assess it and see what the problem is,” Ian explained. “There are GDPR and data transmission compliance to be considered. Also, in a temporary location, it’s crucial to consider how to facilitate the data transfer - Network cables? Or 4G, 5G? Satellite? There were plenty of challenges we needed to find solutions for. However, we work regularly with tricky installations, so could provide the right answers.”
Support for sport
The Birmingham 2022 Commonwealth Games is one of many global sports events that Canon Medical has contributed towards through use of its advanced technologies. As top sports events across the world resume in 2022, with lifting of pandemic restrictions, Canon is delighted to be able to continue developing its important role in providing on-the-spot MSK imaging solution to sporting professionals. //
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.
