The Equina® by Asto CT is a state-of-the-art robotically positioned computed tomography (CT) scanner for imaging a sedated, standing horse – no anesthesia is required.

The Equina® is able to quickly & safely evaluate:

Proximal Limbs: Limb pairs can be imaged from carpus distally to the foot in the thoracic limb, and from tarsus distally to the foot in the pelvic limb in a scan time of 20-30 seconds. Indications for use include: Pre-purchase screening of horses; screening of horses during athletic events, such as jumping & eventing; and diagnosis of lameness problems in thoracic or pelvic limbs.

Head & Neck: The head & neck can be imaged from the neck rostrally to the nose with a scan time of 30-40 seconds. Indications for use include: Diagnosis of equine diseases of the head, such as ethmoid hematoma, sinus problems and teeth/jaw problems; and diagnosis of equine neck diseases, such as osteoarthritis and fractures.

Imaging under General Anesthesia: Large or small animals can be imaged under general anesthesia on a moveable transport/operating table in lateral or dorsal recumbency. CT scanning of an equine patient under general anesthesia may be useful for preoperative planning immediately before surgery or for special procedures, such as myelography.

The Equina has been purpose-built in consultation with equine veterinarians to rapidly acquire CT images from equine patients of all conformations & sizes. The overall strength of the system includes consideration for the weight & power of the horse even in the extreme conditions of kicking or rearing up. Horse-oriented design has informed the choice of colors, materials, sounds, and environmental conditions compatible with horses. The Asto CT Equina is NOT a repurposed human-use CT scanner.

The Equina starts with all of the modern features found on the most advanced fan-beam CT systems: helical scanning; multi-row detector configuration (24 rows); high-speed processing (36 slices/rotation); sub-millimeter resolution. Unlike human scanners, Equina’s patented CT architecture allows for the patients to stand anywhere within the 75cm field of view. This eliminates the need for scout scans, reducing dose and procedure time.

Flexible: Equina is designed to enable the two most common clinical use cases: standing limb pairs and head & neck scans with the flick of a switch making it a cost-effective solution for most full-service equine hospitals & clinics.

Diagnostic: Equina has best-in-class Standing CT acquisition along with equine-specific image processing algorithms for bone & soft tissue.

Simple: All motions & scanning are initiated from a push button controller. This allows the operator to focus 100% of his/her attention on the patient & handlers in the room for maximum safety.

Rugged: Equina has been shielded and sealed to ensure that it can withstand the equine environment, including unforeseen events like rearing and kicking.

Safe: The Equina runs at very low x-ray dose levels allowing handlers to safely stay in the room with the patient while scans are being conducted.

Due to the rapid scan time, movement is not usually an issue. If movement is detected, the operator can move the CT gantry back to the start position and start again. In the rare case of large movements, Equina has a special abort function to stop the scan immediately and rapidly lower the CT gantry.

The CT can provide scans of both limbs at the same time, regardless of if the horse is weight bearing or not. That gives you the information to compare both limbs [affected and unaffected] to find a cause for issues. The horse stands exactly like it normally does … If you had to scan one limb at a time, you would never be able to create the exact circumstances for the limbs.

Because Equina can generate diagnostic results in only minutes it reduces the need for time-consuming x-ray imaging. This both increases throughput for traditional candidates for diagnostic imaging and increases the number of horses who may be candidates for diagnostic imaging by providing a safe, simple option.

The breakeven depends on a lot of different factors, but in general, sites are seeing a breakeven of 12 patients per month with an average client fee of $1000.

Once the equipment is on site, it typically takes 2-3 days to install, 1-2 days to commission, and one week to train – the installation can be completed in just 2 weeks.

Because space in equine facilities is tight, the Equina has been designed to fit in a compact space. It will be necessary to construct a 32-inch pit with machinery base so the scanner can sit below the limbs of the standing horse. Asto CT can generate facility plans and will work closely with facility personnel to make sure the room remodeling is done correctly.

Asto CT offers a comprehensive service plan for maintaining top-level performance, including scheduled maintenance, software upgrades (new features and performance enhancements), and remote support (both telephone and remote login for diagnostics & repairs). Internet access is required for remote login.

All Equina purchases include initial training at the time of installation. Asto CT’s remote support allows Asto CT to provide additional training for any questions that may arise and for new features that come with software upgrades.

Standing CT is the best way to get diagnostic quality images of an injury to your horses head, neck or lower limbs. The procedure is much faster and produces higher quality images than traditional x-rays and does not require general anesthesia, which is required for conventional CT.

Limb scanning: If your horse is scheduled for a limb scan, a facility handler will first bring your horse from the stalls to the Standing CT imaging room. The handler will then lead your horse onto the Equina imaging platform using a lead rope. To image the limbs, either the two front limbs, or the two rear limbs are positioned within the opening of the CT gantry, which sits below the ground. Before scanning, your horse will be sedated to minimize movement during the scan. The operator then positions the CT gantry and collects the images moving the CT gantry up and down the limbs. Scan time is generally only about 20 seconds. After scanning, your horse will be led back to the stalls to recover from sedation.

Head & Neck issues: If your horse is scheduled for a head scan, a facility handler will lead your horse into special stocks with a cushioned head-board, providing a comfortable platform for your horse to rest during the scan. The operator then positions the CT gantry over the head & neck and initiates the scan. Scans take only 30-40 seconds.. The handler maintains control of the patient throughout the scan with the lead rope. After scanning, your horse will be led back to the stalls to recover from sedation.

It is necessary to bring your horse to an equine clinic that has the Equina by Asto CT. Check with your equine hospital or clinic to see if they have this state-of-the-art CT imaging technology.

It is not necessary to remove metal shoes for imaging with the Equina. Your veterinarian may choose to remove them if there is something specific to the hoof that they need to visualize.

The use of mild sedatives allows your horse to remain relaxed and still during the scan. For most patients, cotton will be added to the ears to minimize any distraction from noise, and blinkers will be added to keep your horse from looking down. Often, the handlers will play music to ensure your horse is as comfortable as possible.

The overall procedure will take about 10-30 minutes, including time to chill out in the stalls before & after the procedure, and scanning. The scan takes only seconds, but proper preparation & recovery will make the experience go smoothly.

For most cases, x-rays are not needed if you elect to have a CT scan. CT imaging is far quicker and provides a complete and comprehensive assessment, most often finding far more detail than you can expect to see from conventional planar x-ray images.

Standing CT Is a superb tool for diagnosing lameness problems in limbs. It is also best-in-class for diagnosing diseases of the head, such as ethmoid hematoma, sinus problems and teeth/jaw problems; and for diagnosis of equine neck diseases, such as osteoarthritis and fractures.

Lameness and musculoskeletal issues are common in horses and can be hard to diagnose. Because of the high quality of Equina images, it is particularly helpful in finding the specific causes of lameness and other lower limb problems.

For Thoroughbred owners, who are heavily invested in their horses for racing and breeding, Equina can preserve the quality of life and financial value of racehorses through incorporation into several parts of routine practice. This includes: pre-purchase images of Yearlings; pre-race monitoring for stress fractures in active racehorses; and CT monitoring during training to identify early signs of stress fracture to enable smarter training.

Standing CT is better than other imaging modalities because of the combination of the ease of image acquisition and the quality of the images. In about 30 minutes, your vet can have a comprehensive assessment of the lower limbs, or head and neck of your horse without the risk of general anesthesia. With this detailed information, veterinarians can develop more personalized and effective treatment plans for your horse, leading to quicker recovery and a higher chance of returning to training and performing.

Your horse will not feel anything during the CT imaging procedure. The Equina emits very low radiation compared to other conventional CT scanners. This allows handlers to stay with your horse during the scan to comfort them and react to a situation before it occurs.

Prices will vary based on the number of scans your horse needs and the type of specialist who will interpret the scans. Generally, a standing CT scan with the Equina is comparable in cost to traditional imaging tests. Spending money on high quality CT scans early in the process can actually save you money in the long run, by ensuring that the treatment is correct for the horse’s condition. The Equina standing CT gives a clear diagnosis and peace of mind.