Carestream Health, Rochester, NY, has announced that it is partnering with leading orthopedic and sports medicine specialists to develop a new 3D imaging system for capturing images of patient extremities (knees, legs, feet, arms, and hands). The company reports that initial clinical studies will focus on the advantages of using cone beam computed tomography (CBCT) technology in the diagnosis and treatment of knee injuries. This system is designed for use by orthopedic surgeons, who recently met at the annual AAOS 2015 conference.

According to the Carestream announcement, 3D imaging systems based on CBCT technology for use in treating orthopedic conditions—including traumatic injuries, joint replacements, arthritis and osteoporosis—can be designed to be lower in cost and lower in radiation dose than today’s full body CT systems. The company says its new CBCT system will be able to provide weight-bearing images of knees, legs and feet, which are difficult to obtain with existing systems, but can deliver critical diagnostic information to physicians.

“We are focused on applying CBCT technology for extremity imaging because it offers excellent visualization of soft tissue and bone with systems that are smaller and more affordable than CT systems,” said Diana L. Nole, president of Digital Medical Solutions for Carestream.

Carestream’s new extremity system, which is not yet commercially available, is intended for use at urgent care facilities and clinics, athletic training facilities, and orthopedists’ offices, as well as other specialty practice offices. The system is aimed at making it easier for patients to obtain diagnostic exams immediately following an injury and help improve evaluation and treatment.

The company’s development efforts reportedly include an agreement forged two years ago between Carestream and the Buffalo Bills with the goal of aiding Carestream’s understanding of the use of advanced medical imaging technology in early detection and monitoring of player injuries. Carestream says this partnership continues to focus on the need for new technology to help address key concerns in sports medicine. For more information about the company’s medical imaging technologies, visit the Carestream website.