Twin Cities Orthopedics Selects Automated Carestream Digital Radiography Room

ROCHESTER, N.Y., July 11 — Twin Cities Orthopedics (Golden Valley, Minn.) recently installed a CARESTREAM DRX-Evolution Plus System (video) in its orthopaedic specialty clinic in Waconia, Minn. This clinic is one of the practice’s busiest locations and captures approximately 40,000 imaging studies a year. Its highly trained specialists perform surgical and therapeutic procedures for injuries and conditions of the extremities, joints, spine and neck.

Twin Cities Orthopedics has 39 specialty centers that serve patients in the greater Minneapolis area and Western Wisconsin. The Carestream system was purchased through NXC Imaging of Minneapolis, Minn.

“The DRX-Evolution Plus produces images that accurately display fine details in anatomy, which is extremely important for surgical planning,” said Rich Sokolis, Lead Radiologic Technologist at the Waconia orthopedic specialty clinic. “And the system’s automated positioning significantly reduces the risk of injuries for our technologists and enables them to maintain high levels of performance and quality as they capture hundreds of images every day.”

He adds that the automated DRX-Evolution Plus “offers autotracking and autocentering functions that deliver exceptional accuracy as well as speed. The user interface is so intuitive that our technologists became proficient with the new system in less than 30 minutes.”

The system also captures long-length exams, scoliosis studies, weight-bearing images and complex cross-table exams. Carestream’s autostitching software merges up to five images to   produce long-length images. “The software produces accurate imaging studies in two minutes and meets the stringent requirements for our orthopaedic surgeons,” he said.

An extended tube column equips technologists to conduct standing weight-bearing exams of the foot and ankle and an autotracking feature moves the X-ray tube into position to help reduce fatigue and repetitive stress injuries for technologists.

The DRX-Evolution Plus system is equipped with a fixed CARESTREAM DRX Plus 4343 detector in the wall stand and a DRX Plus 3543 detector for use in the table Bucky and for tabletop exams. Carestream DRX detectors can be used with any DRX system to enhance flexibility and boost radiology productivity. Carestream’s table has a four-way floating top and lowers to a height of 21 inches, which is helpful in imaging ill or injured patients.

Carestream also offers the OnSight 3D Extremity System that captures high-quality, low-dose 3D images including weight-bearing exams. Being able to capture 3D images onsite allows orthopaedic specialists to diagnose an injury and discuss treatment options with their patients in a single visit.

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About Twin Cities Orthopedics
For more than 75 years, Twin Cities Orthopedics has proudly provided a full spectrum of orthopedic and sports medicine care, devoted to the diagnosis, treatment, rehabilitation and prevention of injuries and conditions that affect the body's muscles, joints and bones. TCO’s 115 physicians provide superior quality care across 39 state-of-the-art facilities in the Twin Cities and western Wisconsin. Visit www.TCOmn.com to learn more.