New York’s Hospital for Special Surgery approves trial of MARS scanner

In an exciting milestone for MARS Bioimaging, a clinical trial for the MARS scanner at the Hospital for Special Surgery (HSS) in New York City has been approved to move forward by HSS’ institutional review board (IRB). This study marks the first US clinical trial for the MARS Scanner, set to commence in July 2024.

“This is highly significant for MARS Bioimaging,” says Chief Medical Officer, Professor Anthony Butler. “This sign-off marks our company’s first step into the US market as it involves patient trials that are required for FDA compliance and insurance reimbursements, as well as improving accessibility to health care.”

About The Hospital for Special Surgery (HSS)

hss main campus - circle
Figure: Hospital for Special Surgery Main Campus

HSS is renowned globally as a premier academic medical centre and research institution specialising in orthopaedic and rheumatologic conditions. As the oldest orthopaedic hospital in the US, HSS consistently ranks as the world’s leading orthopaedic hospital and performs the highest number of orthopaedic procedures annually. Their dedication to advancing medical science and patient care sets the stage for this exciting collaboration with MARS Bioimaging.

Comparing innovation with standard practice

The trial will compare the cutting-edge MARS Scanner with the General Electric HD750, the current standard CT scanner used at HSS for wrist imaging. What makes this trial particularly exciting is the setting; if successful, instead of using the main in hospital scanner, the MARS scanner could be deployed as a point-of-care system in the outpatient clinic to provide the same quality of images normally only available by sending the patient to hospital. MARS Bioimaging’s goal is to demonstrate that the MARS scanner can deliver equivalent image quality and diagnostic potential while being significantly smaller and more cost-effective.

Streamlining patient care

As an example, HSS performs approximately 3,000 wrist procedures annually. Currently, patients must travel to the main hospital radiology department for high quality imaging before or after the procedure.

The MARS Scanner aims to streamline this process by providing high-quality imaging directly in the outpatient clinic. This innovation offers numerous benefits, including:

  • Immediate imaging – patients can receive imaging the same day, eliminating the often week-long wait.
  • Convenience – patients no longer need to travel to the main hospital, making the process more accessible.
  • Cost-effectiveness – the MARS Scanner is a fraction of the cost of traditional multimillion-dollar machines.
  • Efficiency – streamlined imaging in the outpatient setting reduces delays and improves overall patient care.

The anticipated outcomes of this trial include:

  • For patients – more likely to receive timely imaging, leading to better pre-operative and post-operative care and outcomes.
  • For doctors – enhanced diagnostic capabilities with immediate access to high-quality imaging.
  • For the hospital – a cost-effective, efficient solution that maximises resources, boosts profits and improves patient throughput.

“This is a key step for us,” says Anthony. “It’s not just about being a US-first, it’s also about demonstrating how effective MARS technology is for patients, doctors and healthcare providers.”

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