At the end of March, a new and advanced fluoroscopy X-ray machine, the Canon NRT Celex, was taken into use at the Imaging Department of Akureyri Hospital (SAk). The device replaces an older machine that had been in use for nine years, and frequent breakdowns over the past year necessitated its replacement. The new equipment marks a major technological upgrade and offers more diverse and accurate diagnostic capabilities than before.

Celex combines digital fluoroscopy and conventional X-ray imaging in a single device, featuring automatic settings, improved patient accessibility, and enhanced image quality with lower radiation doses. With this machine, the Imaging Department will be able to perform more specialized procedures than previously possible – including gastrointestinal and urological examinations as well as pain relief and anesthesia interventions – significantly reducing the need to refer patients to the capital area for such diagnostics. It is also expected that within a year, the system will receive an AI-based upgrade, further improving image quality and reducing radiation.

“With the arrival of the Canon Celex, we’ve taken a big step forward in both technological equipment and patient service. The image quality is excellent, the radiation dose is lower, and workflow efficiency for staff has significantly improved. The machine can also be used for conventional X-ray imaging, which the previous device could not. Most importantly, we can now offer more and more accurate diagnostics locally, which previously required patients to travel to the capital,” says Elvar Örn Birgisson, Head of the Imaging Department at SAk.

The implementation of all examination methods with the new machine will be completed by the end of summer 2025, but it is already in active use for a wide range of diagnostic procedures.