Siemens Healthcare announced that the US Food and Drug Administration has cleared the Multitom Rax Twin Robotic Advanced X-ray, a universal diagnostic imaging system that enables a wide range of imaging exams and is designed for use in multiple clinical areas.

According to Siemens, the Multitom Rax can be used in emergency medicine and interventional medicine, pain management, orthopedics, and with conventional 2D radiography or fluoroscopy examinations and angiography applications using one x-ray system that doesn’t require moving the patient. The company says the Multitom Rax is the first Twin Robotic X-ray system whose design enables, for the first time, the acquisition of 3D natural weight-bearing images whether the patient is seated, lying down, or standing. The knees, pelvis, and spinal column appear differently in images when the patient’s body weight is applied compared to when the patient is lying down, Siemens says.

The company reports that the open design of the Multitom Rax Twin Robotic X-ray system features a height-adjustable patient table and two independent, ceiling-mounted robotic arms for the x-ray tube head, and the flat-panel detector for positioning freedom anywhere in the room. Both robotic arms can be moved into position automatically or manually with servo motor support to make fine adjustments. While one robotic arm moves the x-ray tube, the other arm carries the 17-inch by 17-inch flat panel detector, which can acquire static, dynamic, and real 3D sequences. The operator is always in control of the system’s movement and able to position both robotic arms precisely and safely around the patient.

In cases of a suspected bone fracture, the patient historically has required a computed tomography (CT) 3D image to confirm the diagnosis. With the Multitom Rax Twin Robotic X-ray system, a 3D image can be acquired on the same system, so the patient does not have to wait for a future appointment or be transferred to a CT system. Built-in features like Comprehensive CARE (Combined Applications to Reduce Exposure) and more precise positioning of the system aid in reducing patient radiation dose.

For more information about the Multitom Rax, visit the Siemens Healthcare website.