Welcome to Asto CT Inc.
THE NEW STANDARD OF CARE IN EQUINE IMAGING IS HERE
Our Story
Asto CT® was founded on the principle of offering safe, high-quality CT imaging to improve quality of life for horses and ensure peace of mind for their owners. Our state-of-the-art equine CT scanner is customized to meet the needs of horses in a safe and comfortable environment for the animal.
We are pioneering the use of cutting-edge robotics in combination with advanced fan-beam CT to provide state-of-the-art screening and diagnosis. Our first mission is to improve diagnosis and treatment of conditions of the distal limb and diseases of the head and neck in horses.
Our solution
BUILT FROM THE GROUND UP, THE EQUINA HAS THE WORLD’S ONLY TRUE WEIGHT-BEARING FAN-BEAM CT SCANNER WHICH ALLOWS FOR SCANNING IN A NATURAL STANDING POSITION.
Why Choose the Equina?
Main Features
Multi-slice, fan-beam CT with sub-millimeter resolution
92 cm tapered-bore opening to allow for extended cervical spine and proximal limb coverage
Non-slip shock-absorbing surfaces and collision sensors.
Easy-to-use push-button system pendant controller
User-friendly moveable operator console (OC)
Open walk-through design for safe and fast standing limbs
Enclosures are sealed to IP53 standard for easy cleaning and use in dusty environments
75 cm FOV allowing for easy patient positioning and dual-limb and high body mass imaging
Self-shielded gantry results in very low radiation leakage allowing handlers to stay with the patient
Optimizes Operation
Appropriate mild sedation protocols are proven
Scan times are less than 30 seconds
Tested on multiple sizes & breeds
Allows for easier and faster imaging
Less staff involved and less liability and risk to clinics
Proven protocols for imaging under general anesthesia
High patient through-put
Scans are well tolerated by equine patients
Pathology Detection
Detects pathology in limb specimens with break-down injuries
Equina® detection matches traditional CT detection for early signs of stress fractures
Clear visualization of soft tissue such as enlargement and disruption of the tendon
Detects pathology in the head & neck, such as tooth and sinus problems
Equina® standing CT detects more pathology than standard radiographs
case studies
A WORD FROM OUR SUPPORTIVE EQUINE VETERINARIANS
A Solid Foundation
Asto CT® was founded in 2015 as a result of a research collaboration between the University of Wisconsin-Madison (UW) School of Veterinary Medicine and the Morgridge Institute for Research.
Our team has a combined 100+ years of experience with deep expertise in medical product development and hands-on veterinary care. Our patented approach allows imaging of lower limbs and of the head and neck of a sedated horse in the standing position.
David L. Ergun
Co-Founder, Chief Executive Officer
David has more than 40 years of leadership experience in developing and launching novel medical imaging devices. Prior to founding Asto CT, he was Chief Scientist and R&D leader at GE Healthcare where he brought multiple FDA cleared medical imaging products to market. David holds an Adjunct Professor position with University of Wisconsin-Madison Medical Physics. David's current focus is on improving the diagnosis and treatment of conditions of the distal limb and diseases of the head and neck in horses.
Thomas "Rock" Mackie
Co-Founder, Chair
Rock is Emeritus Professor and an internationally renowned medical physicist at the UW, and founder of several successful ventures, most notably TomoTherapy (now Accuray) and Geometrics (now Philips Healthcare). Co-inventor of the standing equine CT system.
Sabrina Brounts
Asto CT Scientific and Clinical Advisor
Dr. Brounts graduated with a DVM from the University of Utrecht School of Veterinary Medicine. After graduating, Sabrina came to the United States to continue her studies. She obtained her master’s degree at the Purdue University and a PhD at the University of Wisconsin-Madison (UW) in Sports Medicine. Currently, Sabrina is a Clinical Professor and Chief of the Morrie Waud Large Animal Hospital at the UW. She is not only a respected surgeon, but an expert in equine sports medicine and rehabilitation. Her research focuses these days on equine tendon issues, regenerative medicine, more efficient surgical techniques, and condylar fractures in Thoroughbred horses.
Lauren Zaddack
Marketing Communications Specialist
Lauren has more 15 years of experience in the equine industry, with an extensive background in marketing and selling high-tier horses. She understands the ins and outs of the equine community, and why the Equina is so important. “I truly believe the concept of this technology is ‘larger than life’ and will forever change how we evaluate and diagnose equine patients.”
Peter Muir
Co-Founder
Peter is Co-Director of the Comparative Orthopedic Research Laboratory at UW School of Veterinary Medicine, and internationally recognized for his expertise in veterinary orthopedics, with a particular focus on prevention of breakdown injuries in Thoroughbred racehorses. Co-inventor of the standing equine CT system.
Mark D. Markel
Co-Founder
Mark is Dean of the UW School of Veterinary Medicine and a boarded large animal surgeon with expertise in equine specialty practice, bone and cartilage regeneration/healing and bone and fracture biomechanics, particularly in equine patients. Co-inventor of the standing equine system.
John Leja
Service Manager
John has more than 30 years engineering, support and management experience in the medical products environment. Communication and cooperation have been a mainstay throughout each of the roles and disciplines. And it is the relationships developed through it all he finds most rewarding.
Michael Bauer
Director of Sales North America
Mike began his professional career in the military as a Medical Specialist (combat medic). Upon graduation from college he worked as a Radiation Therapist for several years before moving into a 20 year Capital Medical Sales career. “Standing CT in the large animal space makes so much sense, and at the heart of this technology is the patients well being!”
Dean Willems
Director of Sales Europe
With over 35 years of experience in Medical Imaging and Radiation Treatment delivery and sales, I look forward to enabling customers in both the human and equine care arenas with the most advanced technologies to the benefit of their patients and practices.
We’re Located All Around the World
