KENNETT SQUARE, Pa., Feb. 23 /PRNewswire/ -- Universal Medical Systems, Inc. (UMS) of Ohio, the leading worldwide supplier of innovative veterinary computed tomography (CT) and magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) systems, recently unveiled EQUUS One -- the world's first equine-dedicated, portable, battery-operated CT scanner -- at the New Bolton Center in Kennett Square, Pa., the large-animal facility of the University of Pennsylvania's School of Veterinary Medicine.

(Photo: http://www.newscom.com/cgi-bin/prnh/20090216/CL70618 )

Shortly after the unveiling, EQUUS One performed a scan on an 11-year-old gelding. Midge Leitch, VMD, the clinician in Radiology at New Bolton Center, explained that, "this horse had been diagnosed with a keratoma, a benign tumor in his hoof. The CT was utilized to locate the area in the hoof wall through which the surgeons would access the keratoma while causing the least damage to the hoof capsule. In the past, this access point was determined either by measurements made on radiographs or by a location on the hoof wall determined by MRI; the former of these methods was subject to a margin of error and MRI required a longer time under anesthesia."

"Maneuvering large animals into correct positions with a standard CT is not only physically challenging for the veterinary staff, but more importantly requires moving the patient to the operating room following the scan, if surgery is the treatment of choice," she continued. "Now, we can bring the CT to the horse. And, in this particular case, the scan of the hoof took us about 90 seconds. With its unique portability, superior scan and low operating cost, EQUUS One is an ideal CT solution for any veterinary center."

According to David Zavagno, president of UMS, the EQUUS One addresses superior-imaging and portability needs of the equine veterinary marketplace, delivers flexibility in scanning process and saves operational costs with limited installation and minimal power requirements.

EQUUS One, a compact, lightweight, portable, high-speed, battery and 120-volt-line powered multi-slice CT generates up to eight slices per revolution so veterinarians are able to scan a horse's partial head and legs to diagnose injuries and diseases.

The EQUUS One provides imaging options such as CTA and CTP, which become valuable in making diagnosis. Since the EQUUS One is a fraction of the size and weight of a traditional fixed scanner, limited installation is required.

A veterinarian or technologist can be trained quickly to conduct a CT study on the EQUUS One. A study can be initiated with the touch of a few panels.

About EQUUS One
EQUUS One is an equine-dedicated, non-destructive CT application of NeuroLogica's CereTom(R), a compact, lightweight, portable, high-speed, battery and 120-volt-line powered multi-slice CT scanner that generates up to eight slices per revolution.


About Midge Leitch, VMD, DACVS
Leitch graduated from the School of Veterinary Medicine at the University of Pennsylvania, completed an internship and residency in Large Animal Surgery at New Bolton Center and remained on the Surgery Staff until 1980. She left to open a referral practice where she continued her surgical service, having become board certified in surgery, and developed a specialty in performance-limiting problems in both race horses and sport horses. Leitch traveled extensively with the US Equestrian Team through 2004, including trips to three Olympics and multiple World Championships. She returned to New Bolton Center in 2005 as a clinician in Radiology and has assumed responsibility for diagnostic imaging including digital radiography, MRI and CT.

About New Bolton Center
Opened in 1954 and located in Kennett Square, Pa., New Bolton Center comprises the George D. Widener Hospital for Large Animals, featuring one of the world's largest equine surgical faculties, the Marshak Dairy, the Laboratory of Aquatic Animal Medicine and Pathology and one of Pennsylvania's three Animal Diagnostic Laboratories. The Widener Hospital sees more than 6,000 patients a year. And that doesn't include the Field Service, which sees more than 19,000 animals annually at farms, breeders, horse-training facilities and agricultural enterprises in the region."¨

About Universal Medical Systems, Inc. of Ohio
Universal Medical Systems, Inc. (UMS) of Ohio is the leading innovative supplier of veterinary computed tomography (CT) and magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) imaging systems worldwide. Headquartered in Cleveland, Universal Medical Systems, Inc. offers medical, industrial and research imaging systems from desktop CT scanners to ultra high field three-tesla MRI scanners. An affiliated network of research, development, sales and service teams supports every Universal scanner. For more information visit: www.veterinary-imaging.com.

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